"Being a Humanist means trying to behave decently without expectation of rewards or punishment after...

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

That quid pro quo business is definitely the way of the Old Testament. It was meant to change in the New Testament but the old thinking held sway. It's curious that it's also the way the ancient Egyptians thought, weighing up your deeds after death to see if you had a net gain.

e·lan /āˈlän,āˈlan/ noun noun: elan; noun: élan energy, style, and enthusiasm.

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

Leave it to the French - that's an elegant word!

A few witticisms to start the day: I don’t feel old.

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

I'm at the 'forget to pull your zipper up' stage. The next stage will be bad.

New friends....

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

'Don't dream it Just be it'

Do you listen to music from another country whose language you don’t understand but like the song ...

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

Yes, I love Spanish songs but usually don't understand them. Sometimes I translate them. With opera, I found understanding the lyrics often takes away the magic of what the lyrics might mean.

Inter-species Relationships......

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

'Bird cannot live on worm alone'.

My favorite of all.

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

He was out there taking on religion on his own when it wasn't fashionable to do it. He opened the gates to many more vocal critics by doggedly standing his ground and articulating good sense. Then people wonder if he is a bit too entrenched... Leaving aside religion, I read two of his science books and they are marvellous. So I think very highly of the man.

Facebook reminded me this video from American gods. I find this speech amazing. [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

Mr. Nancy not concerned with softening the blow. Facebook me recordó este video de dioses americanos Facebook reminded me of this video from American Gods.

This is a version of Johnny Clegg's famous song in tribute, he died yesterday.

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

Beautiful.

THE CURE - A Forest (lyrics) [youtu.be]

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

Great song! Where'd she go?

BE AFRAID!!! BE VERY AFRAID!! I have been deemed by the agnostic gods to have attained LEVEL 8! ...

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

Jacar with power. Oh, the horror!

Want a multilingual president?

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

Bernie! English and a sense of decency will do.

Seriously looking for friends into people metaphysics, quantum physics, new age thinking, Universal ...

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

It's all here. Welcome to the forum!

Food for thought

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

Real Americans will love it.

If only....

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

I can see it now. Europe welcomes the immigrants home.

Is this at Walmart

brentan comments on Jul 17, 2019:

Where should I put it ? No, don't answer that.

Originally published in 1968.

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Hey...robot.... leave those kids alone.

Corny. I apologize...

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

In all honesty, is that not terrible? I know I'm going out on a limb here.

Or a full glass of wine

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

It's nice to say life's a bitch halfway through a bottle of wine.

Not technically wrong.

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

No good deed goes unpunished.

Tonights convo with Deane. I have been helping her move into her new place for a while now

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

He was doing his best in the only way he knew. That's not good enough. We really must learn new ways of dealing with women. I don't know of anyone offering education in this field, though.

All good questions.

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

LOL - that's for people with no real problems!

Where do myths come from? [facebook.com]

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

I think myths come from the days when humans were grappling with the multifaceted abilities of their brains. The everyday focus on the necessaries of survival and the intuitive awareness of existence as a marvel of unknown proportion were rationalised as best they could. What can The Epic of Gilgamesh tell us about myth? In our day, what can the myths of nationalism and most recently the myths of ideology tell us? I think there is a common denominator as humanity takes data from the material world and translates it, often erroneously and often deliberately too, to create a unified front against fear and other challenges. I hate the deliberate creation of false myth to support the abuse of people. We’re going through a bad time lately where it’s difficult to find a positive myth. By the way, is globalism a myth of epic proportion or simply a historical reality?

A interesting bit I read today.

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

It seems to be a dynamic thesaurus.

Okay I'm completely exhausted I'm giving myself the day off

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

I guess you are the boss of you.

My son's flat is close to "the dead centre" of Banstead!

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Such a short distance between the quick and the dead.

Israel's Archeology is Very Strong.

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

I'm really interested in the recent claims that civilisation goes back further than we are taught. I first came across it in Graham Hancock's YT videos about a civilisation destroyed by flood around 12,000 BC. I'm reading Harari's Sapiens right now and he also claims that civilisation began with foraging tribes rather than agrarian communities. That seems counter-intuitive but I'm always curious to hear more about this distant past.

What does Asylum Mean?

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

I'm all for controlled immigration. Economic migrants are not refugees.

For coffee lovers

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Wow!

Humour.

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

I guess shit stain is out of the question? Or is that what skid mark meant?

A good question for religious types! If God was the architect of humans, why did he put the pleasure...

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Yes indeed, and then he outlawed the use of one of the sewage outlets.

I need this shirt!

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Very chivalrous!

It goes so fast

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

This is where stone weight comes in handy. I'm 210 lbs but only 15 stone. It's nice to feel slim.

I like being alive.

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Me too. I enjoyed the religious hope of everlasting life.

Michael RUSE: "Dawkins et al.

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

Is the basis of his argument not semantical? I think he is saying that atheists are agnostics and new atheists are atheists.

I think the supernatural has its place in expressing the appreciation for the wonders of life and ...

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

I really enjoy William Blake's idea of looking inward for an appreciation of the wonders of life: I rest not from my great task! To open the Eternal Worlds, to open the immortal Eyes Of Man inwards into the Worlds of Thought: into Eternity Ever expanding in the Bosom of God. the Human Imagination - from Jerusalem

One Night in Bangkok - Murray Head [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Jul 16, 2019:

I thought he was really great as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar.

NO, drumpf.

brentan comments on Jul 15, 2019:

Real American politicians have the right to complain about America. Fake American politicians can fuck off back to where they came from, even if they didn't.

I came across the word "soul" in a book I'm reading and wondered if the word (aside from relating to...

brentan comments on Jul 15, 2019:

It was nephesh in Hebrew and meant the whole person. The Greek pneuma had the idea of immortality. I think you still have the Greek soul to live on after you unless you, like the Hebrews and many non-religious, think the mind dies when the brain dies. I'm hopeful the soul does live on but I'm in a minority.

Hi. Looking for exjws on here

brentan comments on Jul 15, 2019:

I'm an ex-JW. I live in Ireland and I'm in my 60s but I talk about Watchtower stuff online whenever the topic comes up.

I'm a U2 fan but somehow never saw this powerful version of one of their songs.

brentan comments on Jul 15, 2019:

That's very well performed. The 'seven towers where she sees no way out' are probably Ballymun Towers, Dublin. It was like the projects in America with all the attendant problems. Bono lived very close to them.

Old Dan's Records Gordon Lightfoot.

brentan comments on Jul 15, 2019:

I don't think Gordon ever played in Ireland. He's a wonderful talent. My favourite is Canadian Railroad Trilogy.

Wilde at heart.

brentan comments on Jul 15, 2019:

I think we could make it a paradise too if we put our minds to it but it seems more natural to be negative.

Truth! 🤣🤣🤣

brentan comments on Jul 15, 2019:

That's very witty!

How many of you feel as if your lack of any sort of religious or spiritual belief system has ...

brentan comments on Jul 14, 2019:

I wish. My lack of luck is down to me.

Funny enjoy

brentan comments on Jul 14, 2019:

It's indispensable if you want to aim. But do you want the bother?

Read your bible people!

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

That was brave, Tim. We would never have said it.

You asked for it! you'll get it!

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

Thank goodness there's no harm done.

Psalm 137:9 (NRSV) - Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

I must google to see has anyone ever attempted to justify that one.

Ann Widdecombe has come under fire after she suggested science could "produce an answer" to being ...

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

Isn't all this because she got on the Brexit bus? I believe some day we will know some day what, between nature and nurture, causes all these things..

There are basically two types of agnosticism: the first one takes place and participates in the ...

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

I was a Jehovah's Witness and got involved in the ex-JW community online for some time. Many have made it their vocation to try to bring down the Watchtower organisation and challenge JWs online. Some, like myself, don't want to give the organisation any more of my time. So I can relate to what's described here as the 'lazy' approach.

How to save money.

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

Ah but what price is the joy of raising your own little shit-maker!

Liberals hilariously Twitter-troll hypocritical rightwing ‘Christians’ with ThingsJesusNeverSaid...

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

Make 'em pay!

Friends.....

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

My wife's American aunt would always say about pictures like that: "That's darling!"

After crying myself to sleep, the last thing I really wanna do is get out of bed and go to work.

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

I'll bet! Let us know how things went.

They just wanted to get the Papaya😹😺

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

Eating papaya, good. Being impaled, bad.

Current mood. [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

Now listen! This has got to stop!

mystery solved

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

This thing about giving more to those who have is being called the 'Matthew Principle' online. Those who haven't, of course, get less. It's our culture's morality, I guess.

But can he play?

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

He can probably slash to beat the band.

Hey guys, I just cured a narcasist.

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

My mum was not capable of showing much emotion. In her case, it wasn't narcissism. She was raised by a mum who spent all the time my mum was growing up in a wheelchair. So she was wrapped in her own problems and had little to give my mum. My mum's sisters were all much older than her and also gave very little. So that lack was passed on to us. I'm only bringing this up in case it might be relevant and some help.

I experienced profound sadness last night.

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

Yes, it's not fair. Times like that it's not just words.

I LOVE IT! Ed Sheeran-& Travis Scott-Antisocial [youtu.be]

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

Ed, he's so cool!

You got this!! ❤🤗

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

Yay me!!

The Beauty of the English language.

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

It could be the lyrics of a folk song.

They were just happy to have a job, right?

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

The banality of evil, I guess.

So true 🤣😂😅

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

A quick death is better.

Happy Saturday.

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

Best wishes.

I am at Level 4 just in daily log ins.

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

Fuckers probably have a life.

Eventually they too will learn the truth

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

I'm thinking of a new police recruit.

She wishes she could.

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

Surely having to shave is a bigger hassle?

AOC: a total juvenile ignorant.

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

I don't know how anyone can approve of uncontrolled immigration. Are you sure you're not equating her criticism of the camps with free-for-all immigration?

This is our real problem

brentan comments on Jul 13, 2019:

The Protestant work ethic tells these WASPs they're right no matter what justice says.

Just watched a pretty good program on the Dead Sea Scrolls and it brought to mind all the things ...

brentan comments on Jul 12, 2019:

I first came across the idea of the Old Testament as agenda in the free lectures by Christina Hayes in the Yale University lectures on YT. They were an eye-opener!

I just got another 30 days in the Zuckerberg County jail.

brentan comments on Jul 12, 2019:

Is ninja a euphemisn for the N word?

Brazil is becoming a theocracy, in Rio de Janeiro, there are Christian thugs who belong to the drug ...

brentan comments on Jul 12, 2019:

What a shame. It looks like a beautiful place.

Has anyone read this book?

brentan comments on Jul 12, 2019:

It's looks very interesting and goodness knows we need a replacement for religious spirituality. I'm not optimistic at the moment. I fear that, like secular humanism, secular spirituality is only being taken up by a minority of intellectuals. He's probably preaching to the converted.

Magnitude-4.6 Earthquake Rattles Seattle Area Awake | Time

brentan comments on Jul 12, 2019:

Fingers crossed there's nothing seriously wrong along the faultline.

Just saying

brentan comments on Jul 12, 2019:

It's just that there's so much of it.

WRS | News | Prisoners go in strike to demand 'sex room'

brentan comments on Jul 12, 2019:

I wonder if they really have an actual moral/human right to have sex when in prison. Is it something to do with the pursuit of happiness? Does that apply?

Acosta has resigned. Drip, drip, drip. Happy Friday, heathens!!!

brentan comments on Jul 12, 2019:

Hooray! Next....

Karma.

brentan comments on Jul 12, 2019:

I'm not one bit confident that karma does it's job well. And I've lost the idea that wicked people will get their comeuppance in the next world. So I'm glad there's at least an effort by the justice system to put things right.

I actually LIKE laundry and ironing. I should hire out for the ironing.

brentan comments on Jul 12, 2019:

Doing the laundry is easy for me (there's just me) but I never do ironing.

My ex keeps telling me I'm shallow because I will only date women who are small.

brentan comments on Jul 12, 2019:

Why not suit yourself?

Words failed me

brentan comments on Jul 12, 2019:

I think that's one of the animals God wouldn't let you eat. At least I know what he was thinking now.

Making a book on the bible and need help filling in the blanks...

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

I think Jesus is saying "What am I doing here?"

Feminists: Is this a safe place to have a discussion about second and third wave feminism? 🙄🤔

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

There's no problem having the discussion so long as you don't really say anything.

UK secularism on rise as more than half say they have no religion [theguardian.com]

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

It's good in one way but I fear how things are going to go if they don't find a secular alternative.

Robert Foster, Mississippi gubernatorial candidate, stands by refusal to allow female reporter to ...

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

Going by all the accusations these days, I don't blame him. What's wrong with having a witness present?

GIANLUCA GRIGNANI - MY HISTORY BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS A great Italian singer-composer (video with a ...

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

That's a nice song with interesting, honest lyrics. It's not very important but even though there's every reason to think it's Italian I think that song is in Spanish.

Mark Knopfler & James Taylor - Sailing to Philadelphia [youtube.com]

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

Two fine musicians, that's a really nice song!

This is me. Wish it could be everyone

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

Me too.

[jta.

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

I think it is a case of monopolising suffering. Like the black monopolisation of slavery, this is a monopolisation of the concentration camp. I don’t think using the camps works in this situation because nobody would dare claim Trump intends to murder all the inmates. Of course it is dreadful, as was the incarceration of British troops in the Far East under the Japanese and the Japanese concentrated in camps in America during WW2. As for who has a legitimate claim to say how the Holocaust narrative should be used, I would imagine that ‘where you have two Jews, you will always have three opinions’ will always hold true.

This is me after born into Baptist and then raised Catholic

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

Am I right that Baptist would be a bit boring, Catholicism a piece of theatre that you watch, and Pentecostal a theatre where you can be an actor?

Art of the day. What do you see?

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

It looks like a mystic tuning into Ganesh.

If you don't watch out, I'll get loquacious as well.

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

I think affability is a nice quality. I guess there's a line between being garrulous and being affable.

What do people think of the theory that the universe is a living thing?

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

Here's a curious take on this topic from Alan Watts. It starts at 24:30 and is about 2 minutes long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J06YIaQ6Dh8

What do people think of the theory that the universe is a living thing?

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

I think so. I'm thinking of that Gaia idea and maybe it extends to the whole universe.

11am and already 36 degrees (97f). Time to escape to cooler climes.

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

Yes, that's no joke.

What's not to love?

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

I wonder is it FIFO or LIFO?

What's wrong with society...

brentan comments on Jul 11, 2019:

They won't eat your brains anymore either. They devour your mind instead.