Quoting Jesus

[Aruntraveller]

Don't think you are fooling anyone.

[Shaker]

Bah 

[Walter]

No I don't, actually - not quite in the way that El Voyager du Trent is probably thinking.

There's no need, principally. It's a question of priorities, the priority being: who is trying to materially affect and influence the lives of citizens on the basis of their unevidenced belief in immaterial entities who supposedly have opinions on how people live? Some Christians are. They're a problem. Some Muslims are. They're a problem. I know of no evidence at all that Buddhists and neo-pagans (for example) are. They're not a problem. I'm not particularly bothered that people think that good karma will lead to a meritorious rebirth in the future if they're not (again for example) agitating on that basis to stop gay couples getting married or to prevent stem cell research. I don't believe a word of it; it would be preferable that people weren't silly sausages in such an egregiously pork-herb-and-oatmeal manner but hey ho.

Like I said: priorities.

well, I wouldn't want you next to me in a battlefield fox hole , grow the eff up.

[Outrider]

well, I wouldn't want you next to me in a battlefield fox hole , grow the eff up.

I wouldn't want anyone in a foxhole with me on a modern battlefield - foxholes are a sure-fire way to get yourself deaded. Modern warfare is primarily about mobility...

O.

[Walter]

I've known him virtually for a number of years - I think I can safely say he does 

and as for you, brown nosing is not a pretty sight .

[Aruntraveller]

and as for you, brown nosing is not a pretty sight .

My you are in fine fettle today aren't you?

[Walter]

I wouldn't want anyone in a foxhole with me on a modern battlefield - foxholes are a sure-fire way to get yourself deaded. Modern warfare is primarily about mobility...

O.

its a figure of speech mate , phew!

[Shaker]

and as for you, brown nosing is not a pretty sight .

No, but neither is your perpetually obnoxious bile even to those on the same (for want of a better term) 'side'.

[Walter]

My your in fine fettle today aren't you?

I have modded myself mate, believe me.

[Aruntraveller]

I have modded myself mate, believe me.

That's nice for you. Are we supposed to be grateful?

[Walter]

No, but neither is your perpetually obnoxious bile even to those on the same (for want of a better term) 'side'.

you only prove my judgment .

[Nearly Sane]

I have modded myself mate, believe me.

Did you sit on your hand till it went to sleep so it could feel like you were being modded off someone else?

[Dicky Underpants]

Quite. What would be the point?

Perhaps to show the total inner coherence between the two accounts, purported to be written by the same person? After all, the Ascension in Luke's gospel is described as occurring a few days after the Crucifixion*, whereas the account in Acts relates that Jesus stayed around for forty days after the Resurrection. Now what could be more historically accurate and consistent than that?

Unless the supposed author had some other significance he wished to convey by his accounts of the Ascension? Jack Shelby Spong, the floor is yours....

*On "the first day of the week" - the day of the supposed "Resurrection".

[Walter]

Did you sit on your hand till it went to sleep so it could feel like you were being modded off someone else?

works every time hahah

[wigginhall]

Actually no - I find my purposes (plural deliberate) in and of my life tend to sort themselves out quite naturally.

But the gut-churning arrogance of the smug and simpering passive-aggressive theist is certainly noted.

I never understand this thing about there being no purpose, without theism.  It's obviously untrue.  As you say, purposes leap out at me all the time.   Right now, for example, I am writing this post.   Hurrah.   I suppose some kind of final purpose is meant - well, there is tonight's drinkies.   Hurrah.   

[Walter]

I never understand this thing about there being no purpose, without theism.  It's obviously untrue.  As you say, purposes leap out at me all the time.   Right now, for example, I am writing this post.   Hurrah.   I suppose some kind of final purpose is meant - well, there is tonight's drinkies.   Hurrah.

don't  wear out your hurrahs old chap , you might need one for later this evening.

[Dicky Underpants]

I never understand this thing about there being no purpose, without theism.  It's obviously untrue.  As you say, purposes leap out at me all the time.   Right now, for example, I am writing this post.   Hurrah.   I suppose some kind of final purpose is meant - well, there is tonight's drinkies.   Hurrah.

I might just get a few posts in before I go to the adjacent Wetherspoons. Then I have to think not so much about purpose as integrity of moral conscience: a lot of my friends (and me) are very anti-Brexit, whereas Boss Tim is emphatically not.

[Walter]

I might just get a few posts in before I go to the adjacent Wetherspoons. Then I have to think not so much about purpose as integrity of moral conscience: a lot of my friends (and me) are very anti-Brexit, whereas Boss Tim is emphatically not.

Dicky , make sure you suitably suck up to Boss Tim if you want to keep your job , even after a few pints.

[Alan Burns]

But science IS my purpose (well, one of them). To learn, to enquire, to explore, to discover, to tease apart the tiny distinctions that differentiate water from sulphuric acid, sunlight from sunburn, weather from climate...

O.

Yes, but you have just defined your purpose with non scientific terms.  There is no scientific definition for enquiring, exploring, discovering or teasing.  These are all activities driven by the conscious will of the human soul - not by any naturally driven chains of inevitable cause and effect.

[Enki]

Well, I'm out at the pub tonight with a few bird watching(please no puns!) mates. That's purpose enough for the moment.

[Dicky Underpants]

Dicky , make sure you suitably suck up to Boss Tim if you want to keep your job , even after a few pints.

I think you may have misunderstood - "Boss Tim" refers to Tim Martin, the boss of the whole of Wetherspoons, who is notoriously pro-Brexit. He's not my personal boss, so I won't be sucking up to him. I simply drink in his pubs (not very much - his firm would have collapsed if all were like me).

[Walter]

I think you may have misunderstood - "Boss Tim" refers to Tim Martin, the boss of the whole of Wetherspoons, who is notoriously pro-Brexit. He's not my personal boss, so I won't be sucking up to him. I simply drink in his pubs (not very much - his firm would have collapsed if all were like me).

okay, I get it , enjoy your baby Cham.

[Outrider]

Yes, but you have just defined your purpose with non scientific terms.  There is no scientific definition for enquiring, exploring, discovering or teasing.  These are all activities driven by the conscious will of the human soul - not by any naturally driven chains of inevitable cause and effect.

Arguably - why is that a problem? Science is one of my purposes, I don't have only one.

As to the rest:
a) in what way are acts of the conscious mind not an example of cause and effect
b) what's a 'soul'? On what basis do you think one exists? How have you validated that concept in any reliable way?

O.

[BeRational]

Arguably - why is that a problem? Science is one of my purposes, I don't have only one.

As to the rest:
a) in what way are acts of the conscious mind not an example of cause and effect
b) what's a 'soul'? On what basis do you think one exists? How have you validated that concept in any reliable way?

O.

By the argument from ignorance fallacy. He cannot understand how the brain can do what it does, so he invents a soul to make the problem go away.

[floo]

I get the impression AB thinks the 'soul' is unrelated to the brain and consciousness and is a separate entity.