Virtually all the comedians I know are atheists... Page 12

Quote: zooo @ October 2 2009, 1:46 PM BST

I understand people finding all the rituals and stuff calming and comforting.

I don't understand how some people can believe every word of the Bible, say. Especially when they weren't even brought up with that particular belief. But that's almost an entirely different issue.

Thritto, but that fully applies similarly to many religious people. "We'll pray for you" etc. Please do kindly f**k off.

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It's more complex. A person who believes every word of the Bible is in many ways sacrificing their reasoning to their faith. E.g. I want to be part of a greater spiritual truth and I am willing to pay with my abbilty to doubt for this privelege.

Religion is more about using a set of tools to explore space within yourself and the world you are in. Rather like using a flash light but not worshipping the light.

I my self am very much an aetheist. But I think some people come to aetheism with a very shallow understnading of religion.

Quote: Lee Henman @ October 2 2009, 3:09 AM BST

Personally I don't buy the whole trad God thing. Just the word "God" is ridiculous if you think about it. At least other religions took the time to give their spiritual leaders real names and not just some generic tag.

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Could be wrong, but much like 'bible', 'god' has become a generic tag because it is the proper noun in Christianity.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ October 2 2009, 1:49 PM BST

Defintely. But there's a sort of presumption in a lot of comedy that it's just not cool to believe in anything, or you're just a fair game idiot.

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Oh yeah, you're probably right.
American musicians seem to be the ones who all believe in god. Every thank you speech starts with good old Jesus.

Quote: Aaron @ October 2 2009, 1:50 PM BST

Could be wrong, but much like 'bible', 'god' has become a generic tag because it is the proper noun in Christianity.

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*shrugs* God knows!

Quote: Lee Henman @ October 2 2009, 1:49 PM BST

I dunno, I find it equally perplexing when people are completely shut-off to these kinds of ideas. After all, nobody knows for absolute certain what's out there. The universe has been around for an unimaginably-long time, whereas us humans only popped up half a heartbeat ago. We can't even figure out how to invent a roll of sellotape that doesn't take half an hour to find the end, so for us to be making absolute rock-solid judgments on the existence of God or whatever is a joke in itself.

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Faith is more important than reason in any religion.

Douglas Adams covered this stuff really well in HHGG

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ October 2 2009, 3:39 AM BST

Well, if you have a hard time believing that you will some day cease to exist, what do you reckon was going on before you existed?

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The rest of existence.

But where weeeere you?
Where was your soul? The bit you think keeps on going 'somewhere else' after your body dies?

Quote: youngian @ October 2 2009, 11:46 AM BST

when Dave Allen was poking fun at religion he was someone who had grown up in Eire in the 50s where the church was a very dominant Conservative force in society.

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That should be a small 'c'.

Quote: sootyj @ October 2 2009, 11:48 AM BST

I thought it was banned I saw bits.

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It was pulled at the last minute by the wimpish liberal PC don't-offend-anyone BBC c**ts after protests of offence by the Catholic church. But since it wasn't produced by them, the company that did make it were free to release it on DVD. And they did.

See Amazon product listing
[p=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/701991/Popetown/Product.html]
[h=408958]

Quote: Aaron @ October 2 2009, 1:28 PM BST

More to the point, kitties died because they were seen as familiars.

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The rampant killing of cats let the vermin breed unchecked. The vermin carried fleas. Result plenty of Black Death to go around.

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ October 2 2009, 11:12 AM BST

That's a shame. I quite like Tim Vine.

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You're just as much a judgemental prejudiced nutbag as the religious you're protesting so much against.

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ October 2 2009, 11:57 AM BST

Very debateable.

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If you've had your brain removed.

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ October 2 2009, 11:57 AM BST

Oh, look, Tony Blair's about to become president of Europe.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1217569/Ex-PM-Tony-Blair-said-brink-EU-presidency.html

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All so very depressing.

See Amazon product listing
[p=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/701991/Popetown/Product.html]
[h=408958][/quote]
Maybe I'm the only one that sees this. But that looks like a fat Bart Simpson in a pope hat...

Quote: Aaron @ October 2 2009, 1:50 PM BST

Could be wrong, but much like 'bible', 'god' has become a generic tag because it is the proper noun in Christianity.

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I thought the Judeo / Christian use of the word 'God' was because you couldn't use his real name 'Jehovah' or whatever.

However, I am getting my facts from Life of Brian, so I'll let Dolly show off her A Levels - careful Chip, I meant her educational qualifications.

It is amazing though when you meet all these self proclaimed atheists who get married in churches and have their children baptised. But this has more to do with social ritual then any kind of spiritual belief. I still find it kind of hypocritical, but you try pointing that out to the bride on her big day.

Quote: Kevin Murphy @ October 2 2009, 1:24 PM BST

Personally, I just find it hard to take someone as seriously as before when I find out they've made an adult, conscious decision to believe in any of that stuff.

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Being a member of a religion doesn't inherently mean that you believe in whatever god(s) or higher power(s) its scriptures may speak of. Many find comfort in the moral teachings and the thought that there is some form of afterlife.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ October 2 2009, 1:43 PM BST

I married in a church ... I find churches very peaceful, calm places

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I'd quite like a church wedding. And ditto.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ October 2 2009, 1:47 PM BST

I think if you live or have lived a chaotic life some people find it's reassuring to have a set of rules to live by. It takes some descision making away from yourself.

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Exactly.

Quote: zooo @ October 2 2009, 1:55 PM BST

But where weeeere you?
Where was your soul? The bit you think keeps on going 'somewhere else' after your body dies?

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It wasn't created yet. But once it is, it carries on. Like non-biodegradable plastics.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ October 2 2009, 2:12 PM BST

I thought the Judeo / Christian use of the word 'God' was because you couldn't use his real name 'Jehovah' or whatever.

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F**k knows. Never read the thing.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ October 2 2009, 2:12 PM BST

I thought the Judeo / Christian use of the word 'God' was because you couldn't use his real name 'Jehovah' or whatever.

However, I am getting my facts from Life of Brian, so I'll let Dolly show off her A Levels - careful Chip, I meant her educational qualifications.

It is amazing though when you meet all these self proclaimed atheists who get married in churches and have their children baptised. But this has more to do with social ritual then any kind of spiritual belief. I still find it kind of hypocritical, but you try pointing that out to the bride on her big day.

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Apparently 19th century church attendance is lower than current attendance. the ritual side has a power and aura of it's own.

That and getting married dressed as a Dalek always makes you look a twat.

Quote: Aaron @ October 2 2009, 2:20 PM BST

It wasn't created yet. But once it is, it carries on. Like non-biodegradable plastics.

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Ah of course, makes perfect sense.