[soryalomop]

Also, the "unplug your blank stare from my ass" is possibly the most memorable debating line I've heard in a while. I'm frankly surprised that Cheney hasn't used it at least once in Congress yet.

[Alexeric]

Originally posted by Alinestra Covelia
Once something's big enough to be "inside the system", so to speak, you'd be hard pressed to find some action taken that was entirely free from political considerations. I don't think anyone was saying that religion is free from political consideration except for Wiggy.

[aburva.org]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
Jonestown was about communism, drugs, repressed homosexuality/homophobia, racism and, of course insanity, not religion. But communism, drugs, repressed homosexuality/homophobia, racism, and insanity is basicly what religion is all about!

[dubGucKcolo]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
Unplug your blank stare from my ass.



KO!

[HRS1H7gO]

Yo Wiglaf did you change your avatar? I could have sworn it was something different last night but I was very tired.

Wasn't it that dude from Team America after the big explosion?

[FelicitaJ]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
Jim Jones' mass suicide was not caused by any religion. Jonestown was about communism, drugs, repressed homosexuality/homophobia, racism and, of course insanity, not religion. Similarly you can't blame manifest destiny on Christianity with a straight face. There is a relationship between Christianity and those conflicts but it isn't entirely causal. The Christian message is one thing: what people proclaiming to follow Christ's teachings do in quite another.

Wiggy is a great example of the difference.

[illerlytoindy]

Originally posted by Asher
Is this really any different from a Sunday sermon at church? They usually aren't communist?

[cigattIcTot]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
They usually aren't communist? Religion transcends politics.

[iklostardinn]

Wrong

Religionists are generally starving in mud huts and barter for stuff.

[Qauunet]

Originally posted by Asher
Thank you for stating the obvious after somebody has already stated the obvious. All while missing the point. I'm sorry

[leoto5Fm]

Originally posted by VJ

5.1/10 nay. twas a troll thread from teh OP. Did Nostromo think we would all be having a reasoned discussion here with a thread about this...?

also

[JonatonM]

I said generally, buttface. There's exceptions.

[gghrdfffhfyj]

Yes, he's an exception too.

[viagsjicguara]

The only difference between Jones' cult and other religions is that he had fewer followers. All religions start out crazy and have to moderate themselves to become socially acceptable on a large scale. Mormonism is probably the best contemporary example.

Christianity is daft anyway. What other religion tries to get you to believe that three things are substantially the same as one thing (although this did lead medieval philosophers to propose many interesting theories about the nature of identity). At least Judaism and Islam have some intellectual credibility. Yes we all know Arabs were good with numbers, your red herrings are getting stale. The point is that this 'crazy start' you say all religions have is NOT the product of the religion but of social circumstances. As people have started to evolve out of huts and castles with malaria, they also behave less like barbarians and use religion less to justify their murderous cravings and more for peace.

The fact that Jones' cult behaved like this is indicative of the stupidity of his racist black followers, their insanity, and their POVERTY AND COMPLETE LACK OF SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. Take your pick, it has nothing to do with god, thanks.

Originally posted by Alinestra Covelia
Yo Wiglaf did you change your avatar? I could have sworn it was something different last night but I was very tired.

Wasn't it that dude from Team America after the big explosion? Yes it was Spotswood

[patrycjakolekk]

He also preyed on the poor and the insane. You can't blame religion when there are so clearly other factors at work here. These people in Jonestown had persistent problems with diarrhea, malnutrition, and starvation. They were also stupid and paranoid black people who distrusted whites. Furthermore, they were batshit insane, as evidenced by the audio tape in the OP.

Blaming the mass suicide on religion is like blaming America's complete ownage of the Indians on religion. Yes, Americans were religious and used the 'destiny' angle a lot. But they really wanted the land more than anything.

[erelvenewmeva]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
He also preyed on the poor and the insane. You can't blame religion when there are so clearly other factors at work here. These people in Jonestown had persistent problems with diarrhea, malnutrition, and starvation. They were also stupid and paranoid black people who distrusted whites. Furthermore, they were batshit insane, as evidenced by the audio tape in the OP.

Blaming the mass suicide on religion is like blaming America's complete ownage of the Indians on religion. Yes, Americans were religious and used the 'destiny' angle a lot. But they really wanted the land more than anything. Stop making me agree with you!

[expiclefich]

No, land for trade, farming, and the booming population. And to think that you can call me insane, you're still so hung up about slavery that you think America can do nothing right well to hell with you!!1