[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: OT: Concert Etiquette

[Silverthorne]

{Pipsqueak}

'We are the only intelligent life in the entire universe' is more a 
scientific, post Renaissance view, 'man is the pinnacle of creation' 
derives more from people misusing Darwin's ideas about evolution. 
Neither is a particularly Christian idea. Even the biblical idea of 
God choosing us often has the distinct flavour of a Royal Marine 
sergeant staring in disbelief at the latest batch of recruits. 

*This* is what I have to work with? God chose *you*? 


{Silverthorne}

**Laughs at that quote**

Ah, glad to know then that from the time I left the Catholic church in 1983, and Christianity totally in 1989 (Which is where *I* learned that many monotheists believe the obviously misinformed idea that 'we are God's Only Children'), that that opionion has changed in the Christian mainstream at the least. ^^ And here I thought it was just the 'evolved' monotheists such as my Prophesy Student (and believer in The End) Lifemate who had gotten over that sticking point.

Again, sorry for the generalization (that does seem to be what gets everyone in trouble, doesn't it?), but I've spent more time arguing things like "well, what about the people who have never heard of Christianty--you mean to tell me *they* go to hell too? even if they died before they ever had the chance to see The Book?". I got tired of that after awhile. Finally walked away from talking to people from my 'mother religion' because of it.

Despite statistics, education, and so forth (All of which you brought to the table, Squeak, thank you, and I really *do* mean that.), my *personal* experience has been that a great many people (mislead by thier spiritual leaders and the interpretations they make of the words in the Bible), do indeed beleive that "We Are the Only Ones'--which leads to discussions on who is 'worthy' to be in heaven, whether or not there's intelligent life (or even just life at all) on some other planet somewhere, and so forth, and usually, the answer I get it "That's a nice theory, but God said..."

Now whether or not the "thinking" religious community agrees is another story, but then I look at it this way--if you were one of the ones being falsely led around by the religious nose, you wouldn't be here reading Harry Potter in the first place, right? (After all, at least in American, there was a short, but loud outcry that HP was 'teaching children witchcraft' and should be banned...O.O).

I think the problem with the whole discussion (and thus one of the reasons I dropped it) was because both Laura and I were speaking from our own personal experiences--not from statistics, not from 'fact' or study (neither one of us reached further than our 'friends' and 'contacts'--all of whom, we would both have to admit if we were being honest, are still limited by thier living area and personal experiences as well). And although 'cold hard figures' may (or may not) carry the burdeon of proof, what it all boiled down to is that we were having a 'personal' argument as opposed to a 'factual' one.

Now, I suppose you guys can pick apart what I had to say until the cows come home (or evolution teaches them to fly, or God instantly makes a flying cow himself...^^;), but at this point, it seems more like nitpicking to see if I'll respond. Let it drop for now, please, until another subject comes up where it's *worth* discussing all of this--at this point, it seems more like you're picking at the bones just to pick.

Tnanks
Silverthorne


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