Current affairs

[P3nT4gR4m]

If you think it's appropriate to die or kill for your beliefs then, as far as I'm concerned, the universe would be better off without you. Better to see your atoms and molecules put toward something productive. A shot of medicine, some food, hell, even a Britney Spears CD ... anything, other than the slavering pile of flesh that sits there, in the corner, talking to it's imaginary friend and ticking, like some kind of retarded fucking timebomb.

You are pointless! And worse than that, you're a pain in the fucking arse. So now some fucking complete idiot, who has seen what your kind of disconnection from reality can lead to but, ironically, doesn't make the connection between your delusion and his, has set fire to some paper, and you think the appropriate response is to kill people? No! If you were even slightly worthy of using up the precious oxygen you do, you'd be laughing at him, like the rest of us - there's a fucking tube who really believes there's a giant invisible fuckhead, casting spells on us from somehwere in the sky and judging our perfomance against some kinda cosmic scorecard.

Your burning book? Is it a "religion of peace"? That whole concept is irrelevant. It's a religion. It's a means to control fucking idiots like you. If I want you to live in peace and be nice to each other then, as your priest, that's what I'll order you to do. If, however, I want to see you cutting the heads off infidels in the name of the wee baby whatever the fuck, then you'll be knee deep in righteous carnage before you can say a hail Gandalf.

It's a drug. It's your disconnect from reality, right? Admit it. it's mostly harmless because, like every other drug, the majority don't get hooked on it. Your average punter might go out, on a weekend, and shoot some alcohol or some X or some Charlie, right? They don't got a problem with it. Just like talking to giant people who aren't really there. Most people just pop on down to the Lord and Zombie, once a week and sing and dance and forget about the real world, right?

Then there's your junkie. The one who spends more time listening to the voices inside his head than the ones outside. This guy's binges have cost him his wife, his family, his friends, his job... This dude is strung out on this shit and he'll rob and kill to support his habit. This guy needs locked up and cured. Or, if he really belives in dying for his creator, maybe he ought to be granted his dream. Can't say I've got a problem with that. "Would you die for your god?", "Yes", "Bang"...

[Richter]

 

Well said.  Anyone can die for an idea.  For some with certain odd self destructive fantasies, it may even be a goal.  The more difficult, more useful thing is living for them

[Luna]

 

Well said.  Anyone can die for an idea.  For some with certain odd self destructive fantasies, it may even be a goal.  The more difficult, more useful thing is living for them

Very that.

[Jasper]

Damn right. 

[Lord Cataplanga]

The mark of an immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.

Why is this so hard to understand for some people?

[Jasper]

Because it's fun to shout GOD WILLS IT while stabbing people.

[Luna]

Because it's fun to shout GOD WILLS IT while stabbing people.

And dying while believing that you're buying an express ticket to paradise with the Fastpass option to all the REALLY good stuff is a lot more attractive than hanging around here dealing with the consequences of your actions.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Knuckle under, head down, nose to the grindstone, anything, anything for your precious life.

[Juana]

Knuckle under, head down, nose to the grindstone, anything, anything for your precious life.

Pretty much this. You wouldn't be where you are without people willing to die for their beliefs. I mean, I totally agree with you about people willing to kill others (and it seems to be that it's mostly these people your rant is directed at), but I can't agree with you on people who would choose to die for what they believe.

[Freeky]

Knuckle under, head down, nose to the grindstone, anything, anything for your precious life.

Pretty much this. You wouldn't be where you are without people willing to die for their beliefs. I mean, I totally agree with you about people willing to kill others (and it seems to be that it's mostly these people your rant is directed at), but I can't agree with you on people who would choose to die for what they believe.

I think it's a case of "Not all causes are equal."  Freedom - the real kind  = worth dying for.  Beliefs (protection of) = dying for.  Money =/= Dying for.  And some people do have "MOAR MONEY" as a cause. It's sad.

[The Commander]

True martyrdom is when one dies while standing firm in ones beliefs and being persecuted for them...not through seeking out the death of others. At least that is how it is understood by us Baha'is.

[P3nT4gR4m]

It's semantics but let me explain where I'm coming from. A belief is bullshit in my view. Any belief. All beliefs. All just a bunch of shit. You come to me waving your favourite belief and see how long you can stand me laughing in your face cos I can go all day. Laying down your life for a cause is doing it for a reason. Reason is the opposite of belief. MLK Never said he believed all men were equal - that was the reason he did what he did. He happened to believe in god, too but fuck it, I'll let that slip he was a generally good guy

[Adios]

I believe in freedom, and would rather die than be enslaved.

[The Commander]

It's semantics but let me explain where I'm coming from. A belief is bullshit in my view. Any belief. All beliefs. All just a bunch of shit. You come to me waving your favourite belief and see how long you can stand me laughing in your face cos I can go all day. Laying down your life for a cause is doing it for a reason. Reason is the opposite of belief. MLK Never said he believed all men were equal - that was the reason he did what he did. He happened to believe in god, too but fuck it, I'll let that slip he was a generally good guy

I guess we differ in that I see reason as informing belief.  I don't see tham as the antithises of each other.  Belief without reason is superstition. Belief with reason is wisdom.

[P3nT4gR4m]

It's semantics but let me explain where I'm coming from. A belief is bullshit in my view. Any belief. All beliefs. All just a bunch of shit. You come to me waving your favourite belief and see how long you can stand me laughing in your face cos I can go all day. Laying down your life for a cause is doing it for a reason. Reason is the opposite of belief. MLK Never said he believed all men were equal - that was the reason he did what he did. He happened to believe in god, too but fuck it, I'll let that slip he was a generally good guy

I guess we differ in that I see reason as informing belief.  I don't see tham as the antithises of each other.  Belief without reason is superstition. Belief with reason is wisdom.

Yeah I can see that. It's one of those words that carries a whole bunch of different connotations for a whole bunch of different people I guess. It's anathema to me, tho. Reason with wisdom makes a lot of sense but I still think I personally would be more inclined to call that "Knowing" I'm very firmly of the opinion that "A belief is where you stopped thinking", it's a trap.