tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post3997019825837047390..comments2023-10-28T19:42:01.039+01:00Comments on Going fast, getting nowhere: So there was a Plan B after all ...Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-51301893252430021552011-05-23T20:40:28.563+01:002011-05-23T20:40:28.563+01:00As Julia says, maybe third time lucky.As Julia says, maybe third time lucky.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-15188788245865915612011-05-23T19:03:13.135+01:002011-05-23T19:03:13.135+01:00This nutter? That's a bit uncharitable. He jus...This nutter? That's a bit uncharitable. He just takes religion more seriously than average. It's a pity that Mr Camping has chosen to stake his reputation on something for which he has no ability, despite his erudition and longstanding interest. He was just very <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kODliaImTs&NR=1" rel="nofollow">unlucky</a> on this occasion. I hope he tries again with his predictions and puts this one down to experience.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358349301959327747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-60583233892576963362011-05-23T17:31:22.627+01:002011-05-23T17:31:22.627+01:00Socialism is a quasi-religion. It has its credo, ...Socialism is a quasi-religion. It has its credo, its scriptures, its priesthood, its tribalism, its persecution of non-believers ... all it lacks is a supernatural element. The effect it has on its followers is exactly like that of a religion.<br /><br />Aside from the 'God Hates Gays' element, I am happy to accept that Christianity is indeed a peaceful religion. In that it will always have my support, in preference to those who believe that 'peace' is achieved by murdering everyone who disagrees.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-52314803479340781292011-05-23T16:17:30.607+01:002011-05-23T16:17:30.607+01:00You talk about faith, and then use socialism as an...You talk about faith, and then use socialism as an example...<br /><br />There are numbnuts in every walk of life, the "rapturers" at least did not thing that they should also sacrifice a few non believers, unlike some people from another faith who believe that it will give them access to 72 virgins!monoihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00033153810120278513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-87678700064394834672011-05-23T15:42:39.825+01:002011-05-23T15:42:39.825+01:00WW: Thank you for a very thoughtful comment.
&quo...WW: Thank you for a very thoughtful comment.<br /><br />"As for Faith, it is knowledge within the heart, which is unassailable by "proof"."<br /><br />If by 'proof' we mean a process of analysing something using reason and logic, then at this point you step outside of reason and into the realms of metaphysics. That's a very personal area in this context and one in which doesn't allow much argument or debate. If that way of thinking makes sense to you (in your heart, as it were), then I wouldn't wish to disagree. Personally, I am less comfortable with it, but that is my problem, and no-one else's. The only objection I would have is if your thinking led you to assume the right to make other people agree by force, or kill them for non-compliance, which I know is not the case. Yours is, genuinely I believe, a religion of peace.<br /><br />I think the idea of metanoia has validity even outside a theological context. Every thoughtful person should be thinking through their experience and be prepared to re-evaluate and transform their outlook, even without the specifically religious notion of 'sin' and 'repentance'. I would agree that it is not the business of the Christian - or indeed anyone - to tell others what to do. Getting your own life and conscience 'right' (i.e. balanced and integrated) would be a life's work for most people, before we even start to think of criticising others.<br /><br />Your last sentence resonates with me too. Not so far apart, eh? Back to the original point: following the crowd is rarely a great idea, and when it is mixed with the fervour and self-assumed certainties of 'religious' thinking, it can be catastrophic.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-408161345131626552011-05-23T14:54:05.807+01:002011-05-23T14:54:05.807+01:00Dear Richard
Treating things with caution should ...Dear Richard<br /><br />Treating things with caution should be a default for everybody but in this case what was fundamentally wrong was a tendency, in all walks of life, to follow the crowd. People seek to conform to a seemingly concrete idea because the are afraid, because they are ignorant and because they have not been taught to think for themselves. <br /><br />As for Faith, it is knowledge within the heart, which is unassailable by "proof". All faith, however, should be tested by the intellect. (Sometimes it is tested by the very giving of one's life) Even a Christian should know this. Had any of this nutter's followers chosen to read the Bible they would have come to the conclusion that "The End" is not something you can predict.<br /><br />Instead they preferred to be fed an idea and decided along the way to avoid visiting Mr Brain on the way.<br /><br />Yours is very good summing up of the issue.<br /><br />All I can say is that, as a Christian, I have never felt that my belief has been compromised by doubts about God. My belief (in the past) has regularly been compromised by certain adherents to the Christian faith who feel they have a monopoly on truth. <br /><br />It is not the business of a Christian to tell others what to do. It is the business of a Christian to repent, or more precisely, metanoia.<br /><br />We will all see the end of the world one day. I expect all of us can agree that, on the day we die, we can take stock, and be at peace.Wrinkled Weaselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05291551539649118631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-70587442873971601492011-05-23T05:46:00.978+01:002011-05-23T05:46:00.978+01:00"From a man who has already got it wrong and ...<i>"From a man who has already got it wrong and had to apologise for the world not ending in 1994."</i><br /><br />Third time lucky? ;)JuliaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-68342334785542959592011-05-23T01:04:12.839+01:002011-05-23T01:04:12.839+01:00Didn't I read somewhere that it was arrived at...Didn't I read somewhere that it was arrived at by adding 7000 years to the supposed date of the original Flood? It should only have been a week, but one of the apostles mumbled something about a day being like a thousand years once...<br /><br />That's not so much a prediction as, well, arbitrarily making shit up. From a man who has already got it wrong and had to apologise for the world not ending in 1994.<br /><br />There's nothing wrong with religious belief, if that's your thing. It's just important to listen to what God actually said rather than what wealthy but clearly deranged loons tell you he really meant to say. If in any doubt, best check exactly how much of their wealth came from fleecing the gullible.<br /><br />PS: That sun rising stuff. The only person who can really be certain about that is the Pharaoh, as it's his job to make sure it does. Is there something you're not telling us...?!endemoniada_88https://www.blogger.com/profile/13636529919686267714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-73230861771267405552011-05-22T22:59:21.568+01:002011-05-22T22:59:21.568+01:00Because that was in America, surely someone will f...Because that was in America, surely someone will find someone else to sue?<br /><br />I bet the no-win-no-fee lawyers had contingency plans drawn-up about 1 minute after Judgement Day was announced.Joe Publichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07829909061904690380noreply@blogger.com