2 John 10-11 (NIV): If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into ...

brentan comments on Mar 8, 2020:

This was a time when they were trying to protect a developing orthodoxy. In the modern world, where each Christian denomination has its own belief system in situ, they protect themselves through excommunication or disfellowshipping, which amount to the same thing. Where there is no threat, there is no problem.

Take two tablets and call Moses

brentan comments on Mar 8, 2020:

The modern mind boggles. There must have been a rationale, for want of a better word, in the thinking of that time but I don't know what it was. It might be something like 'keep your chattles untainted'.

Right-Wing Pastor: God Sent Us Coronavirus Because of Homosexuality | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly ...

brentan comments on Mar 8, 2020:

These guys will never wise up to the scriptures' explanation that the wrath of God comes from the way people treat each other. All you have to do to know this is read the damn book. Ezekiel chapter 16 is a good example. But it doesn't take a prophet to know something bad is coming down the pike when society is breaking down.

Here’s an interesting article about the enigma of conscious awareness.

brentan comments on Mar 8, 2020:

I think Descartes did us no favours in separating mind and matter. That’s not to say he hasn’t contributed tremendously to ‘the great conversation’ of philosophy. But we’ve become locked into the idea that the mind is dependent on the brain and dies when the brain dies. The British biologist Rupert Sheldrake has described the brain as more a transmitter than the originator and storage of thought. His book The Presence of the Past is intriguing. I think this idea originated prior to Rupert but he has developed and championed the idea. His theory is that the experiences of the past (somewhat like Jung’s collective unconscious) exist around us on a different plain (or wavelength) and are downloaded as necessary, processed in the brain and new thoughts upload to that wavelength that he called a morphic field. This would mean that babies are born with anything but the ‘tabula rasa’ that John Locke taught. It would also mean that we leave our mark on the collective unconscious after we die. It might even mean we continue as conscious entities in some manner.

The bible god/Yahweh/Jesus is the greatest abortionist.

brentan comments on Mar 8, 2020:

Yahweh/Jesus aren't the problem. They don't exist. The problem is the believers - no, not believers in general - just those who are fundies and adopt the psychology of the Bible as virtuous.

Piet Mondrian (Dutch, 1872-1944) Meandering Landscape with River 1906-07

brentan comments on Mar 8, 2020:

Owen Barfield saw impressionism as a manifestation of 'original participation', a sense that early man had of being 'in life' instead of 'outside looking in'. When I look at the picture, I get that sense of the life in things, a world of endless wonder. From what I've read, it seems the drug ayahuasca can give the mind the ability to see life in the same way the ancients did.

Richard Dawkins says that some people believe that they draw their morality from Science and some ...

brentan comments on Mar 7, 2020:

I think morality can be drawn from life experience. Religion and science can talk about it but not create it.

From my favorite playwright.

brentan comments on Mar 7, 2020:

That's a very nice sentiment. I read somewhere that the thread running through all his plays was the homosexual son, overbearing father and unfulfilled wife.

Fans and followers of Bernie Sanders keep complaining that it is the "establishment" that is ...

brentan comments on Mar 7, 2020:

I think it isn't an either/or situation. I wonder what attracts the people in suburbia to Biden. I really would have thought Sanders was their man.

“The mind is the friend of those who have control over it, and the mind acts like an enemy for ...

brentan comments on Mar 7, 2020:

I'm slowing coming to believe that this is what the ancients meant by freedom. I think it's what (for me, the mythical) Jesus meant too. It's hard to put it in words, but I see it as something like 'the freedom to choose correctly' which sounds to the modern mind like a contradiction. Kant seemed to have a sense of it too because he called his critique of morality the Critique of Practical Reason.

I am convinced that there is no God! Why?

brentan comments on Mar 7, 2020:

Nobody knows what happens after death. Nobody knows if there is a god or not, or what form it might take. Truth is there's a vast amount of stuff we don't know.

Jihad Report .

brentan comments on Mar 7, 2020:

The thing about it is that Islam is for the most part a religion of peace, in the same way Christianity is. What I mean is the people in general just want to get on with living while they both have hawks that are naturally extremist. Those hawks on both sides need to be watched and contained but otherwise we should just live and let live.

"And empty words are evil." - Homer

brentan comments on Mar 7, 2020:

I guess it's the morality of a word signifying something, and it should really also signify the thing it is meant to signify. That notion is getting away from us, I think, as words are being used mostly to advance personal aims. It reminds me of Kant's 'concepts without intuitions are empty, intuitions without concepts are blind'.

I don't like many female voices.

brentan comments on Mar 6, 2020:

What a woman - that's intense!

Christian Nationalists Call For Secession, Formation Of White Ethnostate | Michael Stone

brentan comments on Mar 6, 2020:

Could they possibly have read the Gospels? I think they read somebody else's kampf.

Verdi, "Va', pensiero" da 'Nabucco'‬ Always a favorite [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Mar 5, 2020:

That's a humdinger! I read somewhere that it's Italy's alternative national anthem. It said the song came out when Italy was under the Austro-Hungarian empire so the Italians saw it as their own cry for freedom too. The only words I recognise apart from 'go, my thoughts' are: O mi patria si bella e si perduta - O my country so beautiful and so lost. That applies to a lot of our countries these days.

The political lessons of Sanders’ Super Tuesday defeat - World Socialist Web Site

brentan comments on Mar 5, 2020:

I guess Sanders might be swallowed up by his own party and the status quo continues. A third political party is needed to push social democracy but America's system only allows rich people to partake in it. Perhaps a virtual party is worth a try. It could operate through electronic media and only show its physicality when it comes to rallies and voting.

Joe Biden is tring to pretend he isnt as crazy as Bernie and isnt taking money from the healthcare ...

brentan comments on Mar 4, 2020:

I guess the Democrats have placed their bets again on 'same ol', same ol' politics. Would the perceived stability of Biden attract Trump voters now after four years of his presidency? I would say no, even though there's nowt as quare as folk.

Some Atheists can be just as self righteous and judgmental as Christians/religious people.

brentan comments on Mar 4, 2020:

I think you're right. Post-moderns too.

The City: Florence, The Country: Italy, The Continent: Europe.

brentan comments on Mar 2, 2020:

Wonderful! It's easy to forget how great people can be.

I do love Alannis... she is more honest than I am! [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Mar 2, 2020:

I enjoy Jagged Little Pill. I came to it late, not getting her at first. She's going to play in Ireland soon. I've seen one of her live concerts on YouTube and she's very good.

"How unbearable, for women, is the tenderness which a man can give them without love.

brentan comments on Mar 2, 2020:

Well, the ungrateful bitches!

Fareed Zakaria explains.

brentan comments on Mar 2, 2020:

Fairness. Closing the gap between very rich and very poor. Spare me the obfuscation.

Well, it may say so somewhere in the bible...

brentan comments on Mar 2, 2020:

I'll be very disappointed if these idiots are not shooting themselves in the foot. Hopefully, it will create a few more nones.

Virginia to Become First Southern State to Ban LGBT Discrimination

brentan comments on Mar 1, 2020:

That's a pleasant surprise!

How can a Country Founded, Populated and Developed by Criminals Expelled of their Native Nation can ...

brentan comments on Mar 1, 2020:

I would say, like the prophet Ezekiel, that the sins of the fathers should not be laid at the feet of the sons.

I think the each member on the site should be awarded at least 1.

brentan comments on Mar 1, 2020:

What's the thinking behind loss or gain of points - reward or punishment?

There was a short time when I was following Jordan Peterson but after watching some of his ...

brentan comments on Mar 1, 2020:

I would defend Peterson by saying he must sometimes change the question. One example is 'do you believe in god' which he changes to 'do you behave as if there is a god', which he then answers in the affirmative. Peterson couldn't find ground with Dillahunty, a problem I believe was caused by Dillahunty's black-and-white propositions. Peterson was more successful with Harris because Harris was open-minded enough to search out that common ground. I think, though, that all this is small beer in relation to the level of illumination Peterson brings to philosophy.

AG William Barr: “Men Are Far Likelier to Obey Rules That Come from God” | Hemant Mehta | ...

brentan comments on Feb 29, 2020:

Women are more religious but they're pragmatic enough to only do it when it doesn't matter.

Oasis - Wonderwall [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Feb 29, 2020:

That's a super song! I wonder is it true about the wonderwall being the line of goodies in a quiz show that contestants had to first look at moving along the line and then remember as many as they could to win them.

Undun - Guess Who [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Feb 29, 2020:

All I know is it sure isn't The Roots!

I don't live in America , but America & Americans are very important to your Allies.

brentan comments on Feb 28, 2020:

The most Bernie will do is adjust taxation to make the rich pay a bit more of what they should pay. The talk lately of Bernie as a socialist or communist is ridiculous. He is a social democrat.

It has become abundantly clear that people are insanely preoccupied with definitions down to trivial...

brentan comments on Feb 28, 2020:

Immanuel Kant says human reason works that way. It's very nature is to unify ideas. That nature, he says, is what made it impossible for people to come to any other rational conclusion than the concept of a single god. This works great, as you say, in the world of experience when reason finds its expression in its application to nature. Where reason goes wrong, he says, is when it follows its natural course beyond the world of experience and starts getting dogmatic about things it knows nothing about; things like god, the soul and immortality.

Would someone, using logic, show that the so-called "common sense" gun laws are based on logic?

brentan comments on Feb 27, 2020:

I think the logic is that an armed individual able to protect him/herself is most important. In some countries, like mine, the most important thing is for society to be safe, not the individual. So we have had a low number of fatalities in comparison (the drugs trade and generally high stress levels are raising the numbers these days). So the individual, is in a sense, carrying individual risk for the sake of society. I think vaccinations follow the same way of thinking.

Lately ive been feeling doomed and my mind keeps spinning with multible thoughts of negativity.

brentan comments on Feb 27, 2020:

It sounds like the feeling of being trapped. It sounds awful anyway. The only way I know is to find something you love. Curiously, the singer James Taylor said on a recent YouTube video that when he was hooked on drugs, he used a lot of physical exercise to help break free. If possible, I think some connection with nature would help. But if the situation can't be helped by these things you could do yourself, I say do what the ToolGuy recommends and seek help from a professional.

Apparently, Mario without his hat = Ron Jeremy

brentan comments on Feb 27, 2020:

So that's what Ron looks like with his clothes on.

The Eagles - Waiting in the Weeds [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Feb 26, 2020:

That's quite beautiful!

YO! ADMIN!!! Why was my post deleted?

brentan comments on Feb 26, 2020:

'I hate that shit!. - Chris Rock.

Do you think your lack of God affects how you feel about the insults of aging?

brentan comments on Feb 26, 2020:

I read that one of the old Babylonian gods, Enlil, I think, got so fed up with the noise humans were making, he sent a flood to wipe them out. I'm pretty sure they weren't hassling him with constant requests, just kicking up an awful racket! You didn't want to get on old Jehovah's nerves, either, for the same reason. Is your mother still alive? If so, she must be a great age by now. Maybe you have many years ahead of you - enjoy!

MEN CANNOT BECOME WOMEN just by clicking their little heals together.

brentan comments on Feb 26, 2020:

They are a tiny minority. Granted, they are very vocal right now. Granted too, they have issues. My only issue with rights for minority groups who have been ignored or victimised for so long is when they become bullies themselves (as per Douglas Murray).

Walking Man [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Feb 26, 2020:

It's exquisite. JT said his father was always running away, unable to stay at home and fulfil his obligations there. He thinks it's in the family's blood, who if I remember right, were traditionally seafaring folk. JT's own life seems to fit that mould perfectly too.

Philippines priests have changed their ash Wednesday ritual because of COVID-19 (Corona Virus).

brentan comments on Feb 26, 2020:

I'm sure if the virus gets to America, it will only kill the gay community.

Leftist indoctrination in higher education...

brentan comments on Feb 26, 2020:

Nixon knew how to sort those guys out:

Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Feb 26, 2020:

An unusual song, in style if not in content, for a folk-rock singer from the very unusual album One Man Dog.

Debate between Harris and Shapiro on where morality comes from

brentan comments on Feb 25, 2020:

Thanks - I'm going to enjoy this!

Thinking skills: Critical thinking and Mindfulness.

brentan comments on Feb 25, 2020:

I guess you are asking if dispositions are an integral part of thinking that results in learning. It sure would fit in with the mind/body unity of experience we hear about today. I think there was an infamous judge who hung pretty much every defendant because he had hemorrhoids but I'm thinking something more than that. Something like analysis is process and disposition is condition of thought. I'm not sure how good conditions enhance the process unless it helps keeping reason from going off on tangents by allowing adequate time for reflection, eliminating bias and being open to hearing new opinions.

This is especially for @St-Sinner Greta and Malala [twitter.com]

brentan comments on Feb 25, 2020:

Not only that, but they both have vaginas. Run!

Well it’s done.

brentan comments on Feb 25, 2020:

That was a close one!

Listen to today's news piece on NPR - the true independent news.

brentan comments on Feb 24, 2020:

Smacks of desperation. Give it a rest.

Who has been the most influential Atheist/Agnostic famous person for you?

brentan comments on Feb 23, 2020:

Jordan Peterson for me. He's not sure there is a god but he* acts* like there is one in the world.

I am an atheist in a supernatural God but I have come to see that as long as someone is talking ...

brentan comments on Feb 23, 2020:

I think the god of biblical revelation is a disaster but the concept of god, according to Kant, is unavoidable even if unsupportable by reason or nature. He thought of it as an ideal from which moral principles could be made. I can relate to non-believers reacting in horror to the political implications of a belief in the Third Temple but god as an aspiration is just a form of human spirituality.

I am an atheist.

brentan comments on Feb 23, 2020:

I'm not offended but it's anything but nonsense. It's ancient philosophy.

“Because Christians admit that ignorant people are worthy of their God, Christians show that they ...

brentan comments on Feb 23, 2020:

'Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast in His presence.' - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

Divine assets!

brentan comments on Feb 23, 2020:

Mary Magdalene wouldn't stand a chance these days.

This was good, I need to share this one on the public forum.

brentan comments on Feb 23, 2020:

Is it about not sharing the profits?

Curious what people think about how religion has shaped gender roles OR how has gender roles shaped ...

brentan comments on Feb 23, 2020:

I blame the Industrial Revolution more than anything.

Can anyone give me some links for trying to start the talk of my boyfriend leaving this cult?

brentan comments on Feb 23, 2020:

I'm an ex-JW and I think it would take something equivalent to a miracle for this to work out well. My favourite source of JW information at the moment is Kim and Mikey's channel on YouTube. I enjoy how they contrast together, Kim being very staid and Mikey off the wall. Anyway, here's the link: www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2tODD7ys5CYEu6qYvj1SA

An interesting humanist view on some ancient religions

brentan comments on Feb 23, 2020:

That's fascinating, and wonderfully concise. Here's something that's not directly related but has puzzled me. Kant alludes to a evolutionary progress in the development of human reason from polytheism to monotheism when he says: *This supreme cause we then proceed to regard as absolutely necessary, inasmuch as we find it absolutely necessary that we should ascend to it, and find no ground for passing beyond it. And thus, in all peoples, there shine amidst the most benighted polytheism some gleams of monotheism, to which they have been led, not by reflection and profound speculation, but simply by the natural bent of the common understanding, as step by step it has come to apprehend its own requirements.* Jordan Peterson did a great job of explaining the dynamics of the process in one of his videos when he explained the totality of godship being gathered up in the character of Marduk. What puzzles me is why so many millions of people did not progress to monotheism in the clear way that people did in the West and still worship such a multitude of gods to this day.

Suggestion for today: Post a favorite family/dad quote here! My dad had many! Of an ...

brentan comments on Feb 22, 2020:

"That's a good complaint, son!"

“Children today are tyrants.

brentan comments on Feb 22, 2020:

The little bastards! Bring back the birch!

Anyone else miss the sound of a screen door slamming, with the fading sound of an adult's voice, in ...

brentan comments on Feb 21, 2020:

The first time I heard about a screen door slam was in a Joni Mitchell song. Come to think of it, the first time I heard about a turnpike was in a James Taylor song.

Is there anything to say?

brentan comments on Feb 21, 2020:

Probably got off lightly. It fucks a lot of people.

"I've always considered myself a intelligent, sensitive human being with the soul of a clown which ...

brentan comments on Feb 21, 2020:

He must have thought that the things considered important by other people were silly.

It's Friday and time for a little Rory! This song has been played at my birthday for many years and...

brentan comments on Feb 21, 2020:

'Grandmother had 'em too!' Poor Grandma! This is my favourite Gallagher song.

I am sorry to say that the 'Like' menu seems to have stopped working.

brentan comments on Feb 21, 2020:

There's a lot of changes being made at the moment. It might be bumpy for a bit.

Always follow the instructions

brentan comments on Feb 21, 2020:

Autistic little fucker!

BIG wobbles in Salt Lake as member ship levels fall so low, the big three have decided to make huge ...

brentan comments on Feb 20, 2020:

Holy Spirit hates a drop in membership. It spoke to those guys at just the right time!

Trump pardons ruling class criminals - World Socialist Web Site

brentan comments on Feb 20, 2020:

Men of the world!

Shame on you!

brentan comments on Feb 20, 2020:

That's a lost cause!

He totally owns this song [youtu.be]

brentan comments on Feb 20, 2020:

That's a very powerful rendition! My two boys (young men, really) are in awe of it. Their dad, old fuddyduddy that I am in comparison, gets the point well enough in the old version.

Trump Brands Himself as America’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer Shortly after his extremely ...

brentan comments on Feb 19, 2020:

This fits in with a post recently from Mathias, I think, about parts in the constitution that are normative instead of statutory opening the way for abuse of the law. I read too that a group of 1000 judges met to discuss this issue.

“He alone is great and happy who fills his own station of independence, and has neither to command...

brentan comments on Feb 18, 2020:

That has come to me by way of old age and the comforts of a social democracy so it is circumstantial in my case. I'll take my hat off to anyone who can do it on their own initiative.

The blocking process seems to be wrecking havoc, and it is because it is a mutual self destruct.

brentan comments on Feb 18, 2020:

I was surprised when a guy got annoyed with me, left the discussion and took both his and my comments with him. Honest Injun, I was playing by the rules! I was a bit annoyed that he could remove more than his own comments.

Not sure how people don't see a problem with this.

brentan comments on Feb 18, 2020:

If you don't get it, you don't get it. Pity!

If you haven't seen "The IT Crowd", you owe it to yourself. It's on Netflix

brentan comments on Feb 18, 2020:

I wasn't sure I'd like it. I think it's done by the same guy who wrote Father Ted.

I went to see this musical at a theatre in my bible belt city.

brentan comments on Feb 18, 2020:

There are wonderful songs in that musical and I liked the way it linked the Christian with the hippy movement.

If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there. - Lewis Carrol

brentan comments on Feb 18, 2020:

The most traveled roads, or road in the context of the less traveled road. Curiously, when I searched for the 'less traveled road', the first result was Dalton Highway (Alaska State Route 11).

FRESH FROM TODAY'S INDEPENDENT NEWS.

brentan comments on Feb 18, 2020:

That darn Bernie! As if being old or being a Commie wasn't bad enough, Bernie is both!

I have a serious matter to bring before the Senate.

brentan comments on Feb 16, 2020:

Best to let these opinions get an airing and see what the general response is.

The Beatles Things We Said Today [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Feb 16, 2020:

I get a kick out of the young girls' reactions when the lyrics spell out how they feel about love.

James Taylor - Up On The Roof [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Feb 15, 2020:

JT is the man!

Gay Men Shot in Miami After Kissing in Car; One in Critical Condition

brentan comments on Feb 15, 2020:

Dreadful!

Intelligence is not a requirement...

brentan comments on Feb 15, 2020:

I've heard of 'to be sure, to be sure' but that's very, very sure.

To the cute ass that drives me crazy! (When you are poor but has a sensible side) ...

brentan comments on Feb 15, 2020:

'For that little ass that drives me crazy!'

"Only without love, one is physically lonely.

brentan comments on Feb 15, 2020:

I think we're in trouble!

"When tillage begins, other arts follow.

brentan comments on Feb 15, 2020:

I don't think Graham Hancock would agree. He claims civilisation goes way back before 6000 BC and that it was seriously disrupted at the end of the last Ice Age around 12000 BC. He has shown many pieces of evidence for this claim including ceremonial structures that belong to the earlier, hunter-gatherer peoples. Cave art is also a good argument that there was no need for settled life to show our creative side.

"I have a very strong feeling that the opposite of love is not hate it's apathy." - Leo Buscaglia

brentan comments on Feb 14, 2020:

Maybe he has a point. Love is an active thing and apathy is passive.

“If love is the answer, could you rephrase the question?” ---- Lily Tomlin

brentan comments on Feb 14, 2020:

Is it 'how can you fix everything?'

Ex-Hasidic Jews lead court fight against "educational neglect" in religious schools ...

brentan comments on Feb 14, 2020:

Knowledge for (after) life.

Growth of fascistic attacks on refugees in Greece - World Socialist Web Site

brentan comments on Feb 14, 2020:

It's a madhouse there from what I read. The Greeks must feel utterly swamped.

So, I just got suspended from Facebook for a day because of this picture.

brentan comments on Feb 14, 2020:

You're such a bad egg, upsetting good Christian folk!

I'm not sure into which category to post this speculation, so I eventually plumped for "general" ...

brentan comments on Feb 13, 2020:

I don't think old Jehovah liked cities. They seemed to just end up concentrating and encouraging crime, something like what happens in prisons. The thing about Sodom and Gomorrah is it is used as one of plenty of examples of sexual immorality that forgets all the other crimes in cities. Jehovah seemed to connect the sense of pride living in an 'advanced' setting (a city rather than tents in the desert) as the root of sin. I won't quote it but his attitude is well expressed in Exekiel chapter 16 and deals with a lot more than sex.

I started to study Philosophy as I wanted to see if there was any answer to ‘What is the meaning ...

brentan comments on Feb 11, 2020:

I started reading Kant a few months ago and it became obvious really quick that he couldn’t be understood without some knowledge of the guys he was responding to. All these guys are trying to figure out the meaning of life. None of them figured it out. I’m inclined to think the meaning of life is trying to figure out the meaning of life. Socrates thought that was everything. Jesus, who I don’t think was a real person, taught love was the meaning of life. Even if Jesus is fictional, it’s a fine way to think while we work out the details.

So Brian May reveals himself as an over-privileged violent prick! Is it okay for celebrities to ...

brentan comments on Feb 11, 2020:

He then allegedly swiped at the cameraman’s head. It must be a slow news day.

Sinn Féin general election win reflects leftward shift in Ireland - World Socialist Web Site

brentan comments on Feb 10, 2020:

It's hard to say if people wanted Sinn Féin of they just wanted to reject Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. I think it's the latter because if Sinn Féin had known what was going to happen, they would have fielded more candidates. On a personal level, I'm delighted the usual suspects got a beating.

Aren't you behaving like a morally superior person?

brentan comments on Feb 9, 2020:

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? - 1 Corinthians 4:7.

Belief is back: why the world is putting its faith in religion

brentan comments on Feb 9, 2020:

Do we need to worry about atheists going apostate?

Was pleased to come across the full quote.

brentan comments on Feb 8, 2020:

Truth as a verb.

Beware Satan and avoid his works!

brentan comments on Feb 8, 2020:

That Satan fellow is a right bastard!

I wonder how many idiots are going to vote for Bernie Sanders this year. How many dumbass socialist?

brentan comments on Feb 8, 2020:

It's social democracy, not socialism.