Religion?

Totally forgot about this thread. Was just deep thinking about religion while running this morning. I'm at the point where I pretty much reject outright any notion of moral absolutes, but refrain from psychopathy based on the need for self preservation, the complete lack of desire to be a dick to the folks around me, dumb as many of them may be, and an overall acceptance of Belushi's "that's not how community works" mantra.

So basically I don't see having a belief in god or wrong/right as a prerequisite to living up to most of the generally accepted human morality stuff that most religious people are into. And any theoretical god that has a problem with this attitude seems like a jerk imo, so fuck him and his high horse.

I'm into fire and brimstone 'fuck around get dropped' style God. It prevents arrogance in people and I mostly think everyone should be fucking terrified of abstract concepts all the time.

I certainly wouldn't go that far, but I understand the justification for religion as a control tool to keep the masses from ripping each other's heads off. It's just so horribly depressing to me that it's necessary.

Less interested in the behavior aspect and more interested in the deep-rooted metaphysical terror of it all.

Have you had an H.P. Lovecraft phase yet?

No. Also, that doesn't seem like a noticeable tendency in either the typical or atypical 20something. But I'll get back to you if and when it happens.

You're in your twenties now?

I've wasted my life.

21 in February. Ya.

I dunno why but I am dying at the HP Lovecraft post.

Ted Falconi wrote:My daughter is Catholic but I'm an atheist. It would be too disruptive right now to tell her that God is make-believe.

yancy wrote:Hopefully like most smart kids she'll figure it out a few years after she learns the hard truth about Santa.

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, the realization that Santa Claus was make-believe set off an awful chain reaction of constant doubt and cynicism for me.

I'm not allowing my kids to ever believe in Santa because the inevitable disenchantment is too much for some people to really handle.

So, it turns out that they figure it out on their own and then still pretend to believe in order to stay on the gravy train for another year or two.  Probably going to hit the tipping point this year with "You don't play with toys anymore and Santa doesn't make laptops".

The dude in the suit covering his mouth like "awwh shit, he did not, he did NOT just do that!" really makes that picture.

I think Giorgio Napolitano is beatboxing, actually.

I'm not a Catholic, so perhaps my opinion doesn't mean dick, but I love this Pope.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-declares-evolution-and-big-bang-theory-are-right-and-god-isnt-a-magician-with-a-magic-wand-9822514.html

The coverage of this is interesting since this has been Catholic belief for a long time.

Sitting in my car in a church parking lot listening to Physical Graffiti. My nephew's baptism is in 15 minutes and I don't want to go in. I'm actually my neice's Godfather so apparently I've done such a piss poor job my brother asked his brother-in-law this time.

I don't know how it works though if people typically Godparent more than 1 kid? Either way I lost out this time to a 30 year old drug addict that lives at home and has a tattoo of Jesus holding an autatic weapon on his shoulder.

I'm godfather to two of my sister's kids but that's because she's got a goddamned litter of them.

Usually people try to spread the job out more.

Not sure what message the kid wearing the Patrick Kane t-shirt is trying to send to the congregation...

Nick wrote:
I don't know how it works though if people typically Godparent more than 1 kid?

I have like a million catholic cousins and none of them share a godparent. I wouldn't take it personally.

I haven't seen my godmother since I was five years old but I remember her being appropriately plump.

I think they were family friends but the husbsnd became an alcoholic and after they divorced he began wearing shorts in every season

Wearing shorts is not an example of good parenting.

Nick wrote:Not sure what message the kid wearing the Patrick Kane t-shirt is trying to send to the congregation...

I would just pizza you. But apparently I still can't do that...

Toured Melk monastery today. I'm not religious at all but was at times moved to nearly tears.

We (meaning mostly my wife) went to a number of pre schools to check out what they have to offer and which one my daughter would like. Decided on a Catholic school. It is very strange to me because I have never been raised in indoctrinated religion. I wonder if she stays in the school beyond pre school how she will be affected...but we can't afford private and seem to mostly dislike public