Most people I've talked to do not make the association. They will remember the Shinkansen AFTER I mention it, but they will never... ever... launch into a discussion of the cultural and artistic impact of steam railways on Japan. I have never once had a discussion with some random person about Galaxy Express 999 by itself, let alone how it was inspired by Kenji Miyazawa's work or why the engine is a C62.
At least you noticed how I started out talking about how most people don't make that association and then pulled a "on the contrary" to describe how the railways are iconic and integral to Japanese society. Except for some reason you thought that you were getting a good burn off on me instead of just describing how I consciously structured the article to drive home that iconic status to people who might not otherwise know much about Japanese culture. Very observant.
At least you noticed how I started out talking about how most people don't make that association and then pulled a "on the contrary" to describe how the railways are iconic and integral to Japanese society. Except for some reason you thought that you were getting a good burn off on me instead of just describing how I consciously structured the article to drive home that iconic status to people who might not otherwise know much about Japanese culture. Very observant.
@Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.: I did give it a rest. I was replying to the conversation on religious persecution. I was not goading on anyone.
But whatever...
#trolled
But whatever...
#trolled
@Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.: The problem isn't with theism, as per the Communism example. Goodness, if we wanted to learn how to efficiently kill non-believers, we couldn't do better than to learn from Communists. They are positively ruthless at killing non-atheists for explicitly atheist reasons. More Christians were martyred by them in the 20th century than by anybody else in history ever. And that's JUST Christians... Communists have been pretty indescriminate about murdering anybody who isn't an atheist, or even the right kind of atheist.
The problem is with absolutes and lack of political accountability. That kind of power affects anybody, regardless of stripe or creed. I would be equally as worried looking down the barrel of an Evangelical theocracy or an Atheist atheocracy, especially since BOTH have written ("to the choir") that people like me should be rounded up and put in camps.
Thus I heartily endorse multicultural and liberal democratic values (actually I'm an anarchist in the proper meaning of the term, because it's even "moreso", but that has little functional mileage nowadays I'm afraid). The best safeguard against despotism is not crying foul about people who believe different things from us, but actively maintaining a society that prevents ANY one group from attaining absolute power.
The problem is with absolutes and lack of political accountability. That kind of power affects anybody, regardless of stripe or creed. I would be equally as worried looking down the barrel of an Evangelical theocracy or an Atheist atheocracy, especially since BOTH have written ("to the choir") that people like me should be rounded up and put in camps.
Thus I heartily endorse multicultural and liberal democratic values (actually I'm an anarchist in the proper meaning of the term, because it's even "moreso", but that has little functional mileage nowadays I'm afraid). The best safeguard against despotism is not crying foul about people who believe different things from us, but actively maintaining a society that prevents ANY one group from attaining absolute power.
@Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.: even if we ignore Communism (which we shouldn't), Atheists write whole books about what bad people we religious types are.
@corpore-metal: Corpore, believe it or not, I think it's pretty solid idea if our only fundamental difference is that I think God's behind it and you don't. All that really articulates is that I'm a theist and you're not, which is fine.
@astrogea: One of the things that, I think, an evolutionary theology drives home is the idea of God being constantly involved with Creation. He didn't just make it a bunch of time ago and set it adrift, only involving Himself here and there with the odd prophet or miracle. Not only has He been communicating with us, but His action is intrinsically involved in the ongoing, unfolding process of Creation that is evolution.
And, eschatologically and sacramentally, if God is about drawing all into Himself, then it does make sense that animals can have some kind of experience of Him. It's more than functional (ie: our religiousity had to come from soemwhere), but actually part of His goal.
And, eschatologically and sacramentally, if God is about drawing all into Himself, then it does make sense that animals can have some kind of experience of Him. It's more than functional (ie: our religiousity had to come from soemwhere), but actually part of His goal.
@Mike Caprio: We weren't debating absolutes until Mark2000 decided he needed to fly a plane into me.
@Anekanta - Re-Socialized Killbot: "Religion is evil. Grrr! TAKE THAT!"
LoL, I may use that line some time ^_^
Also, one of the humps that Mark2000 can't get over is the fact that I've had Atheists tell me (even to my face!) that religion is a purely social construction and would not exist on a desert island. They bring it up as a thought experiment to assert that children are tabula rasa which religious people "abuse" by filling their heads with dogma.
So not only is Mark not up to speed on religion, but he apparently doesn't even know that much about what's going on in Atheism.
LoL, I may use that line some time ^_^
Also, one of the humps that Mark2000 can't get over is the fact that I've had Atheists tell me (even to my face!) that religion is a purely social construction and would not exist on a desert island. They bring it up as a thought experiment to assert that children are tabula rasa which religious people "abuse" by filling their heads with dogma.
So not only is Mark not up to speed on religion, but he apparently doesn't even know that much about what's going on in Atheism.
@Mike Caprio: As a practicing Christian, I would generally be disinclined to live in a Communist society. A lot of us get killed that way.
@Mark 2000: If you look upthread, I was discussing how I think truly understanding the ramifications of evolution on Christian theology is one of latter's most interesting new fields. Then you popped in with your very insightful comment on how I apparently believe the world was created 6000 years ago and Jesus atones for the sins of Adam and Eve.
A mere mortal might read about how I accept evolution and have no problem withg a study about spiritual animals and think to themselves "hmm, maybe this guy doesn't fit the stereotype of a fundie". You, however, are much smarter than that. You see through my lies and know that ALL Christians are fundies. I can't trick you. No sir.
A mere mortal might read about how I accept evolution and have no problem withg a study about spiritual animals and think to themselves "hmm, maybe this guy doesn't fit the stereotype of a fundie". You, however, are much smarter than that. You see through my lies and know that ALL Christians are fundies. I can't trick you. No sir.
@bookwench: Well, for example, io9 ^_^
I've actually been doing better about avoiding Atheists, but there are still those times I can't even post anything without someone like Mark2000 swooping in and being all "fuck you you fucking fundamentalist fuck".
I've actually been doing better about avoiding Atheists, but there are still those times I can't even post anything without someone like Mark2000 swooping in and being all "fuck you you fucking fundamentalist fuck".
@Jesse Astle: This.
@Shai: But... you HAVEN'T commented on anything I actually believe... Nor have you actually ASKED what I believe... What do you WANT me to do?!
But I am totally fine if you stop paying attention to me. I don't recall ever asking you to comment on my posts.
But I am totally fine if you stop paying attention to me. I don't recall ever asking you to comment on my posts.
@bookwench: I follow from William James, who defined "religion" as however you orient yourself towards whatever you consider to be ultimate truth.
@Mark 2000: And strawmen! You're like an encyclopedia of logical fallacies!
BTW< you might want to look up the definition of a thought-terminating cliche. "Jesus is the answer" would be a thought-terminating cliche. Creationism and substitutionary atonement are developed doctrines.
BTW< you might want to look up the definition of a thought-terminating cliche. "Jesus is the answer" would be a thought-terminating cliche. Creationism and substitutionary atonement are developed doctrines.
@bookwench: I used to get it primarily from Evangelicals, then from both sides for a while, and now primarily from Atheists. I supsect that has a lot to do with a shift in where I hang out online. I'm far more in the general population and much less in a Christian ghetto. In the ghetto it was just Evangelicals telling me I'm stupid. Out here, there aren't as many Evangelicals, so I get Atheists telling me I'm stupid.
@Anekanta - Re-Socialized Killbot: Thanks!
I find myself nurturing "Negative Capability" much more frequently than I used to when I was younger and knew everything. Some things don't have answers, and will never have answers (at least this side of Armageddon), and still we must keep going, doing the best we can with what we got.
In fact, I would say I had a metashift in my religious understanding when I realized that I have to work from what we got instead of kvetch about what we don't. Yep, we sure didn't have camcorders in Jesus' time... now let's work seriously with the material we DO have...
I find myself nurturing "Negative Capability" much more frequently than I used to when I was younger and knew everything. Some things don't have answers, and will never have answers (at least this side of Armageddon), and still we must keep going, doing the best we can with what we got.
In fact, I would say I had a metashift in my religious understanding when I realized that I have to work from what we got instead of kvetch about what we don't. Yep, we sure didn't have camcorders in Jesus' time... now let's work seriously with the material we DO have...
@Mark 2000: "Religion doesn't come from culture. It comes from ignorance."
Thanks for clarifying that for me. I find thought-terminating cliches like this to be very helpful.
Thanks for clarifying that for me. I find thought-terminating cliches like this to be very helpful.
@bookwench: In my personal experience, Atheists (capital-A) have actually surpassed Evangelicals on the "okay, I get it, I'm whatever you're calling me, can you please fuck off now" scale. They have become considerably more annoying in recent years.
@Roklimber: Ah, but the Lord knoweth when the sparrow falls...
