[bruce goose]

Originally Posted by Achernar

I can't see where I would have suggested otherwise?

I am well aware that atheism has its own fanatics. Some of them would gladly eradicate all forms of religions. This doesn't change the clear distinctions between atheism and religions. But we have already discussed this issue and our positions seem irreconcilable. So, I'll leave it at that.



Those are very interesting thoughts...even if you have no chance to convince me that a political movement can be assimilated to a religion But the comparison is relevant

Just a brief return in Russia.

Although communist leaders have committed crimes in the name of a political doctrine which was qualified as atheist, the population of Russia has never ceased to believe. Its churches were closed, they were forbidden to practice any form of religion, but the citizens remained believers. Even the people who proclaimed themselves atheists often continued to believe in God. Therefore, they were not atheists.

In 1990, the freedom of religion was promulgated in the Russian Federation and most citizens embraced again a religion. Claiming that Russians are atheists is either a sign of ignorance or intellectual dishonesty.

Nowadays, most of them are believers. Here's the result of a survey:

"Russia is a multi-ethnic and multi-faith nation. Orthodox Christianity is Russia's largest religion with 75% of the population belonging to the Orthodox Christian denomination. Islam is professed by 5% of the population. Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism and Buddhism are professed by 1% of the population each. Other religious denominations represent 1% of the population, while 8% consider themselves atheists".

http://masterrussian.com/russia/facts.htm

And among the 8% of atheists, how many are "real atheists"?

A thoughtful post,but you are overlooking the obvious difference between the believing populace and the atheist LEADERS in the USSR.Indeed,many of the common folk never stopped believing even when the atheist bosses forced their beliefs down the citizens' throats...but the ones in power DEFINITELY made a point of ideologically,aggressively pushing atheism on the populace

[bruce goose]

Originally Posted by Chrissie-fan

football, American football

You had another mild dyslexia flare-up:
It's FOOTBALL(NFL),European/S.American football,etc.

Just let me know if you need any further assistance

[Achernar]

Originally Posted by bruce goose

A thoughtful post,but you are overlooking the obvious difference between the believing populace and the atheist LEADERS in the USSR.Indeed,many of the common folk never stopped believing even when the atheist bosses forced their beliefs down the citizens' throats...but the ones in power DEFINITELY made a point of ideologically,agressively pushing atheism on the populace

I fully agree with you here.

[Protoss]

Originally Posted by bruce goose

And you're going to explain to all of us why that's a bad thing,right?

Because they're one of my least favorite Nba teams along with the Los Angles Lakers. I rather dislike the superteam concept.

[bruce goose]

Originally Posted by Protoss

Because they're one of my least favorite Nba teams along with the Los Angles Lakers. I rather dislike the superteam concept.

I was almost certain that THAT was your reason,but I just wanted to see you post it for my confirmation.....My favorite team is Washington: I'm a masochist sometimes

[Protoss]

Originally Posted by bruce goose

I was almost certain that THAT was your reason,but I just wanted to see you post it for my confirmation.....My favorite team is Washington: I'm a masochist sometimes

Did you live in Washington DC growing up?

[bruce goose]

Originally Posted by Protoss

Did you live in Washington DC growing up?

Not within the city proper(though I often worked there),but close enough to justify cheering for that clown college operation.Actually,when I was just a toddler,they had a couple HOFers on their roster,even won a championship,and made the Finals on a couple other occasions.

[Burisleif]

If think it vital to separate religion from the organisation or "church" to understand how the latter can be an ideology using faith as the commodity for control.

Kafka makes some very interesting observations in his diaries regarding the conflict between churches.

[bruce goose]

Originally Posted by Burisleif

If think it vital to separate religion from the organisation or "church" to understand how the latter can be an ideology using faith as the commodity for control.

Kafka makes some very interesting observations in his diaries regarding the conflict between churches.

You're right that Kafka is a worthwhile reading endeavor; the only problem is that he can sometimes encourage the emotionally/mentally frail to give in to their paranoia too easily.....Not his fault,of course,but a rather inevitable side effect

[Burisleif]

Originally Posted by bruce goose

You're right that Kafka is a worthwhile reading endeavor; the only problem is that he can sometimes encourage the emotionally/mentally frail to give in to their paranoia too easily.....Not his fault,of course,but a rather inevitable side effect

Yeah, that's not how I read him though, more along the lines of illustrating the human condition and how despite knowing the glass patio door is there, we still walk into it, and in a sense, wilfully so...

[bruce goose]

Despite a slightly-crowded house,am having a fun time with family and hope that the rest of you are as well.Feliz Navidad!

[Protoss]

Merry Christmas everybody!

It's been a pretty good one for me so far.

[bruce goose]

This is how the final weekend of the regular season should be: Big rivalries such as Cowboys-Redskins,Packers-Vikings and Lions-Bears determining playoff spots

[Protoss]

Originally Posted by bruce goose

This is how the final weekend of the regular season should be: Big rivalries such as Cowboys-Redskins,Packers-Vikings and Lions-Bears determining playoff spots

A lot more interesting when your team hasn't been knocked out of playoff contention a lot earlier in the season.

[Burisleif]

Real Vikings don't need shoulder pads, just a swig of mead and a mushroom or two...