An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

[coffeegyal]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Originally posted by quodlibet:
[qb]Clarify for me please, anyone:

What makes those so named "Foreign Gods" as such? What makes these "foreign" versus any other?

(Dare I expect an answer, much less one free of dogma?)[/qb]

Well, aren't we sticklers for linguistic accuracy?

Of course, "foreign" in this context means non-Christian (or even "oddball"), even though many of us realize that Christianity is "foreign" to the New World (as in, not from here). Yeah, it was a very interesting word choice.

[rebelgirl]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Originally posted by quodlibet:
[qb]Clarify for me please, anyone:

What makes those so named "Foreign Gods" as such? What makes these "foreign" versus any other?

(Dare I expect an answer, much less one free of dogma?)[/qb]

Excellent question Q and the only answer really neccissary for this thread. You have a flair for simplicy. Very Zen [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[coffeegyal]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Originally posted by servant:
[qb]Top of the morning all ! Well CG an rebel, I have to say I did learn something from you both sharing your experiences. An CG, I thought your comments on my link balanced (si dat Fledgist !).

What you both had to say yesterday made me think of a philosophical question of sorts for the two of you. Here goes.

I have two bottles of water mixed with arsenic. I label one as such with a 'skull and crossbones' pictogram on it. I add orange juice and sugar to the other, masking both its flavor and appearance. And then I label it "Orange Punch".

Which is more dangerous ?

Peeps, mi have plenty work today so will check in much later if I have the time.[/qb]

Yay! Thank you! I've been enjoying our discussion as well. It's nice when we can go beyond the things we don't agree on.

As for the philosophical question, I know where you're going with it. Is it more dangerous if you call it "evil" or call it "new age"--am I right? In your example, one could answer "orange juice," because it pretends to be something good. On the other hand, one could answer that they're equally dangerous because they're the same basic poison.

However, in order to answer the question, we have to start from the same assumption. I don't necessarily believe the bottles have arsenic in them, but you're convinced they do. Because of the power of belief and the mind, whatever's in those bottles is poisonous to you. It may turn out that they're also poisonous to me. Then again, they may well be fine for me.

[rebelgirl]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Originally posted by servant:
[qb]Top of the morning all ! Well CG an rebel, I have to say I did learn something from you both sharing your experiences. An CG, I thought your comments on my link balanced (si dat Fledgist !).

What you both had to say yesterday made me think of a philosophical question of sorts for the two of you. Here goes.

I have two bottles of water mixed with arsenic. I label one as such with a 'skull and crossbones' pictogram on it. I add orange juice and sugar to the other, masking both its flavor and appearance. And then I label it "Orange Punch".

Which is more dangerous ?

Peeps, mi have plenty work today so will check in much later if I have the time.[/qb]

Well even philosophically arsenic and the new age movement have nothing in common. One would have to view the new age movement as poison to answer that question. Which I do not. I think a more appropriate philosophical question would be.....

You have 2 bottles of liquor. One is the excepted brand that everyone has been getting drunk off for years, and one is a new brand made using some ingredients from over sea's. Now some are afraid of the new brand because the have never tasted it. But a few try it, and like it, some try mixing the 2 together and find it tastes even better than either of them alone. Some are afraid the new brand will put the familiar one out of business. some say they don't care cause they like the new one better. So which group of drinkers is right?

answer: none of them are, because it's a matter of personal taste.

The moral of this story is: religion can be dangerous if taken in excess. And should not be left in the reach of children.

Please don't pray, and drive [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

anyway some interesting info relating to arsenic:

Although all arsenic compounds are poisonous, some of its compounds were once medicines. But most of their uses in this area are now banned. Although 0.1 gram doses of arsenic are lethal to humans, traces of arsenic can stimulate the production of red blood cells.

Recently, Chinese teams have shown that arsenic has a therapeutic effect on patients suffering from a type of leukemia.

arsenic trioxide is used to treat Acute promyelocytic leukemia in patients who have relapsed from or are refractory to retinoid and anthracycline chemotherapy.

[NYer]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Those New Agers are definitely evil, they burn down churches and try to stop people from going in and all kinds of stuff

I can understand why Christians, particularly fundamentalist christians, are so fearful of the NAM; it's a rival belief system that will ultimately threaten their existence. Many people are realizing that christianity, for instance, is simply inadequate in terms of explaining the complex realities of our world, and therefore, fail to have meaning.

New Agers may have some pretty outlandish beliefs, but I find that they are concerned with world peace, justice, compassion, environmental preservation, etc, which makes them far less dangerous (if dangerous at all) than fundamentalist christians, especially those driving US foreign policy, who are a bunch of warlords, who support brutish escapades all over the world. We risk a global nuclear war because of these nuts.

I don't think I could have said it better EXCEPT - *I* don't see any new age practices as competition for Christianity - to each their own.

It's the people who want to force everyone else to be just like them, to practice what they practice who are truly evil. You have your religion, isn't that good enough? Why not leave others alone to practice as they see fit?

[Fledgist]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Originally posted by quodlibet:
[qb]Clarify for me please, anyone:

What makes those so named "Foreign Gods" as such? What makes these "foreign" versus any other?

(Dare I expect an answer, much less one free of dogma?)[/qb]

Servant, having forgotten that his religion is one imposed on his ancestors and, thus, originally foreign to them, is applying the term to religious beliefs originating outside of Jamaica.

Of course, the logic of his language would have him worshipping the pantheon of the Tainos, and living in hope of reaching Yocahuna.

[Wahalla]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Of course, the logic of his language would have him worshipping the pantheon of the Tainos, and living in hope of reaching Yocahuna.

As the only person claiming Taino ansestry I would like a return to the worship of my foremother goddesses... But since I am an atheist doesnt matter.... (For foregin gods lets take the Pantheon of the Aztecs... a bit of human sacrifice never hurt anybody. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] ...)

[britisha]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Yes Sukuna. Do you really mean 'sew' as in making stitches? This thread is surely getting to me in stitches/ I am cracking up. Lots of good fun! Thanks to servant, Mutty, jedi, you
yourself and the other "burning amateur theologians". Thanks ,britisha, for your testament of faith. I too prefer to stick to the old time religion. It's good enough for me. New broom, sweep clean-they say- but ol' broom know di corner. jedi and fledgist will be happy to hear that.

Hi Oren, good to see you. Juss luvv your semantic spin here. i am still in stitches after reading it.

[Fledgist]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Originally posted by Wahalla:
[qb]Of course, the logic of his language would have him worshipping the pantheon of the Tainos, and living in hope of reaching Yocahuna.

As the only person claiming Taino ansestry I would like a return to the worship of my foremother goddesses... But since I am an atheist doesnt matter.... (For foregin gods lets take the Pantheon of the Aztecs... a bit of human sacrifice never hurt anybody. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] ...)[/qb]

As you also have Germanic ancestry dating back to the Volkerwänderung, you should also be advocating the worship of Woden, Thunor, Frigg, and co.

Which Aztec divinity do you prefer? (I have a certain sneaking affection for Huitzilopochtli, and a long list of students to devote...) [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[rebelgirl]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

I don't know the Aztecs were pretty brutal, not only human sacrifice but making puppets of the sacrifice victims. at least you 2 didn't pick Itzcoliuhqui..........

I think I'd choose a nice peaceful Hindu God like Ganesha, or Lakshmi.

Or maybe a Japanese God like Hotei, or Uzume.

Something Up, happy, peaceful and keeps things running positive. the world has had enough of these dark, angry, vengeful, Gods that say flood a whole planet because they want to punish a few bad ones. Time for a God that likes their job and doesn't get jealous, and homicidal of people who follow others.

Oh and perferably one who doesn't want blood sacrifices. not even lambs, or goats. Milk is good, I'd go for milk sacrifices. as long as nothing has to die.

[fiver]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Something Up, happy, peaceful and keeps things running positive. the world has had enough of these dark, angry, vengeful, Gods that say flood a whole planet because they want to punish a few bad ones. Time for a God that likes their job and doesn't get jealous, and homicidal of people who follow others.

that puts Yahweh out of a job.

Oh and perferably one who doesn't want blood sacrifices. not even lambs, or goats. Milk is good, I'd go for milk sacrifices. as long as nothing has to die.

Ganesh statues all across India were reportedly drinking milk a couple years back. i'm still waiting for mr elephant head to be exploited by the dairy markting board in a "got milk?" ad.

[Fledgist]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Originally posted by rebel:
[qb]I don't know the Aztecs were pretty brutal, not only human sacrifice but making puppets of the sacrifice victims. at least you 2 didn't pick Itzcoliuhqui..........

{Fledgist: I have a little list/They never would be missed.}

I think I'd choose a nice peaceful Hindu God like Ganesha, or Lakshmi.

{Fledgist: Isn't Ganesha a Republican?}

Or maybe a Japanese God like Hotei, or Uzume.

Something Up, happy, peaceful and keeps things running positive. the world has had enough of these dark, angry, vengeful, Gods that say flood a whole planet because they want to punish a few bad ones. Time for a God that likes their job and doesn't get jealous, and homicidal of people who follow others.

Oh and perferably one who doesn't want blood sacrifices. not even lambs, or goats. Milk is good, I'd go for milk sacrifices. as long as nothing has to die. [/qb]

But what if the god in question is lactose intolerant?

[oren cousins]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Originally quoted by DYOLL:

"My attitude to all religions is one that ranges from sceptical to outright dismissive: from the so-called "big three" - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - to New Age and Voodoo. However, just as I have a right to observe none, I also respect the rights of all others to practice their religious beliefs according to the dictates of their conscience, of course, provided that they do not commit violence, or infringe upon the human and civil rights of others."

I TOTALLY AGREE IF YOU GET MY DRIFT:

"That's how I like it--
Each man doing his own thing,
painfully cautious, exploring ,
persistent, unenduring, guiltily satisfied."

(From a poem I wrote in the 60's entitled, "THE SOPHISTICATED WHORE").
__________________________________________________

[Dyoll]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Originally posted by rebel:
[qb]Something Up, happy, peaceful and keeps things running positive. the world has had enough of these dark, angry, vengeful, Gods that say flood a whole planet because they want to punish a few bad ones. Time for a God that likes their job and doesn't get jealous, and homicidal of people who follow others.[/qb]

You may replace Yahweh with what you think is a benign all-powerful being. This being is nonetheless absolute, and a benevolent dictator is still a dictator. (Of course, there may be an oxymoron here.) The idea of God is problematic: did his power and authority originate from among us, the governed? does he have our just consent to govern?

[Dyoll]

Re: An Invasion Of Foreign Gods

Originally posted by rebel:
[qb]Oh and perferably one who doesn't want blood sacrifices. not even lambs, or goats. Milk is good, I'd go for milk sacrifices. as long as nothing has to die. [/qb]

Holy Cow!