Ashes - will you be getting them

I agree with Liaconn too

Don't see why people should see fit to slag off other people's religious beliefs
 
I agree she should be allowed live her life however she wants, but the reality is she is living her life according to a fantasy and to me this would suggest she has some issues.

Wow - how easy life must be for you!
 
So every practising Catholic in the country has issues. How about Jews, or Muslims or Protestants?

UFC is wrong to say someone with ashes "has issues" but I would suggest they are deluded in the same way that I would include anyone in the the organised religions you mention as being deluded - Jews, or Muslims or Protestants.

For me, organised religion is a social control mechanism and causes more harm than good. But people need to believe in something so I don't know what the solution is.
 
For me, organised religion is a social control mechanism and causes more harm than good. But people need to believe in something so I don't know what the solution is.

OK, it's a different discussion but FWIW I agree with the first part to an extent. As for the second part, I honestly believe that for some - and possibly many - they don't want something else to believe in.

There are plenty of optimistic and positive approaches to life and everything in it, and loads of other secular ethos and belief systems whether casual or formal. BUT - and it's a big but...

...that would mean taking responsibility and a lot of people don't want that. The church will forgive, there is confession. There are plenty of nasty, malicious scumbags from 18 to 80 who go to mass every Sunday who might be forced to examine themselves if they didn't have that cover.
 
Speaking as someone who also believes that people who are in organised religions are deluded, I also agree with Liaconn. Let her at it.

People delude themselves everyday of the week about a variety of different things, that doesnt give anyone else the right to slag them off - and sniggering at the girl behind her back is just downright nasty and pathetic.
 
Should they pity her instead?

Seriously, what's the difference between her coming in with ashes on her head and coming in after Christmas talking about what Santa got her? Both acts are based on believing a fairy tale...


They can pity her or slag, but try and have the balls to do it to her face.
 

Most people that I know take from religion what they want, and there isn't the control there that there once was and that is for the good of everyone. People have believe systems and they can achieve inner peace when they need it much like those that go to shrinks (easier to spell), do yoga etc. Religion can't be black and white even though most of them attempt to be, and it all stems from the fact that the written word comes from men themselves so pinches of salt are often required.
 
I never said she shouldn't be allowed do it (I actually said the opposite) but choosing to delude yourself about life suggests you have issues.

I know it's harsh, but let's call a spade a spade.
 
Well, if we're calling a spade a spade, you sound deeply intolerant of other people's beliefs. I don't believe in the same things that the Jews believe in, but I don't go around saying they all 'have issues'.
 
I never said she shouldn't be allowed do it (I actually said the opposite) but choosing to delude yourself about life suggests you have issues.

I know it's harsh, but let's call a spade a spade.

Why does deluding yourself mean you 'have issues'?
I doubt if you could find yourself a human who doesnt delude themselves in one way or another about something in life. It doesnt mean they 'have issues'. It just means they are human.
 
Well, if we're calling a spade a spade, you sound deeply intolerant of other people's beliefs. I don't believe in the same things that the Jews believe in, but I don't go around saying they all 'have issues'.

I don't think you understand the meaning of the word "tolerance". I have repeatedly said they should be allowed have these beliefs.

I'm just a realistic person who has no interest in being politically correct so I stand by my statement that people who live their life according to obvious make believe have issues. For starters, they can't accept the reality of life, e.g. This post will be deleted if not edited immediately and your dead granny aren't waiting for you when you die.

Fantasy confused as reality should not be encouraged, although I am willing to tolerate it because so many people suffer from this delusion, and as seen here, it's a topic people are very sensitive about.
 
For starters, they can't accept the reality of life, e.g. This post will be deleted if not edited immediately and your dead granny aren't waiting for you when you die.

How do you know?

I personally don't believe it but still ...
 
I don't think you understand the meaning of the word "tolerance".

Do you understand the meaning of the term 'gratuitiously condescending' ?

Hundreds of millions of people draw comfort and spiritual sustenance from their faith and beliefs. For you to dismiss them as 'deluded .. have issues' is offensive.
 
How do you know you're looking at a computer screen?

I'm not - I'm on my phone.

Yet you assume I am on a computer without actually being here. So how you know other things unless you are there experiencing them yourself?
 
Hundreds of millions of people draw comfort and spiritual sustenance from their faith and beliefs. For you to dismiss them as 'deluded .. have issues' is offensive.

Come on, just because many people do it doesn't make it right. That's a fairly basic concept.

Pointing out that religious people are deluding themselves (can you provide any proof to the contrary?) and that people who live their lives according to make believe have issues... that's just being realistic.


DB74 said:
I'm not - I'm on my phone.

Yet you assume I am on a computer without actually being here. So how you know other things unless you are there experiencing them yourself?

Not sure what point you're trying to make there, but my own point was that you can use proof to make the reasonable assumption that you are looking at a computer screen. There is no proof whatsoever that heaven exists, This post will be deleted if not edited immediately was the son of "God", etc.

Just like there is no proof thetans are all around us. But no doubt it's ok to dismiss that fantasy because it's a scientology fantasy, even though scientology fantasies are just as fantasic as christian fantasies...
 
Fair point but you do seem to be getting very defensive about scientology. Hmmmm.

"A cult is a religion with no political power" - Thomas Wolfe