tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post5062173027864605896..comments2023-09-15T08:07:28.542-06:00Comments on Western Hero: Constantine + 1700 and the Advent of Neo-PaganismSilverfiddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-79266533448470263132012-11-05T21:13:57.226-07:002012-11-05T21:13:57.226-07:00For anyone even mildly interested in Reverend Beam...For anyone even mildly interested in Reverend Beamish, Church of Fred Phelps, I refer you to <a href="http://westernhero.blogspot.com/2012/03/congress-shall-make-no-law.html" rel="nofollow">the thread I linked to earlier</a>, where facts and reason are presented that rebut his every cockamamie theory.<br /><br />Please feel free to continue expounding upon your crackpot theories, Reverend Beamish, <b>at your blog</b>. Grownups are having serious discussion here.<br /><br />Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-21665853927063836532012-11-05T20:45:01.785-07:002012-11-05T20:45:01.785-07:00Nowhere did I say it was all goodness and light, m...<i>Nowhere did I say it was all goodness and light, merely that Christianity was better than the paganism it supplanted.</i><br /><br />None of which the pagan / Catholic (forgive the redundancy) Constantine had anything to do with. Sure, he ended the legal ban on Christianity, but he did not make it the state religion. If the legends are true, he himself didn't become a "Christian" until he was on his death bed, and even then you have to contend with "heretical" Arianists like Eusebius dominating his court.<br /><br />But, again,this is that eternal conflict between verifiable history and Catholic bullshittery.<br /><br />(((Thought Criminal)))https://www.blogger.com/profile/17311656184275255223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-67581515065481928942012-11-05T18:03:26.702-07:002012-11-05T18:03:26.702-07:00Great post, Silverfiddle. Imagine if the Western C...Great post, Silverfiddle. Imagine if the Western Church were to really stand against the neo-pagans and their anti-virtues. I'd wager persecution wouldn't be so very far behind.LSPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08120630078039958644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-22202144696765935432012-11-05T05:20:44.245-07:002012-11-05T05:20:44.245-07:00Ducky: Nowhere did I say it was all goodness and ...Ducky: Nowhere did I say it was all goodness and light, merely that Christianity was better than the paganism it supplanted.<br /><br />Keep knocking down those strawmen!Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-50954432491286328582012-11-04T22:06:37.593-07:002012-11-04T22:06:37.593-07:00At the rate we're going, if we keep working at...At the rate we're going, if we keep working at it, pretty soon we'll all be able to despise each other.<br /><br />Thrust. Parry. Parry Thrust.<br />Thrust. Parry. Parry Thrust.<br />Thrust. Parry. Parry Thrust.<br />Thrust. Parry. Parry Thrust.<br />Thrust. Parry. Parry Thrust.<br />Thrust. Parry. Parry Thrust.<br />Thrust. Parry. Parry Thrust.<br />Thrust. Parry. Parry Thrust. <i>ad infinitum</i><br /><br />Or at least till death from sheer exhaustion overtakes us.<br /><br />In wars of attrition do people ATTRIT one another?FreeThinkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682678301019952436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-36417015882023002752012-11-04T21:42:55.890-07:002012-11-04T21:42:55.890-07:00And of course, Silverfiddle, we have to remember t...And of course, Silverfiddle, we have to remember the church's role in scientific advances. Remember Copernicus and Galileo?<br />How about Giordano Bruno?<br /><br />But of course the Middle Ages were chaste. Just read Chaucer or Rabelais or Boccaccio. Ducky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-17459888772840431252012-11-04T20:24:28.200-07:002012-11-04T20:24:28.200-07:00Yeah, it haunts me so bad I posted the link so eve...<i>Yeah, it haunts me so bad I posted the link so everybody could go read it for themselves.</i><br /><br />Good. Saves me the trouble of reiterating some of the many differences between self-serving Catholic history and verifiable reality.<br /><br />(((Thought Criminal)))https://www.blogger.com/profile/17311656184275255223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-64189630605838458782012-11-04T17:51:40.108-07:002012-11-04T17:51:40.108-07:00@Ducky << How can people who believe in exce...@Ducky << How can people who believe in exceptionalism bring themselves to learn anything from the vulgarians? >><br /><br />With greatness comes the responsibility to be humble. <br /><br />Humility to such a degree that a man/woman or country understands there is often something to learn in the least likely places. <br /><br />Without humility there is no exceptionalism. KPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13788103894599339102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-39729447524229707192012-11-04T17:32:22.477-07:002012-11-04T17:32:22.477-07:00Shaw: I think we have to examine it on balance, a...Shaw: I think we have to examine it on balance, and also as compared to other civilizations.<br /><br />China obviously has a much older culture, much great literature and wisdom has come from it, but they've had to steal technology from the west to advance, and then there's the whole communism killing over 80 million people thing...<br /><br />So, on balance, I think Western Christendom had done pretty well.Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-49303212060722994612012-11-04T17:27:43.608-07:002012-11-04T17:27:43.608-07:00@KP --- When the goal is to change somebody'...@KP --- When the goal is to change somebody's mind there is virtually no chance of success. Instead, try to learn something about another person's point of view.<br />-------------------------<br />Pretty solid.<br /><br />How can people who believe in exceptionalism bring themselves to learn anything from the vulgarians?<br /><br />Ducky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-58758183441839666432012-11-04T17:21:14.675-07:002012-11-04T17:21:14.675-07:00Sf: "I find it amusing the lengths progressi...Sf: "I find it amusing the lengths progressives go to in order to denigrate Western Civilization."<br /><br /><br />Dear SF, I find it silly to say something like that in the face of historical fact. What is it about some folks who, when presented with historical events, decide that those who mention them are anti-western, or any, civilization.<br /><br />Almost every great culture that has arisen on this insignificant little rock has brought about exceptional achievements in the advancement of civilization. But it has also participated in horrific degradations of human beings. <br /><br />Exceptionalism cuts both ways. Shaw Kenawehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08637273000409613497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-17692345678233616062012-11-04T17:04:08.870-07:002012-11-04T17:04:08.870-07:00Moral opacity abounds and astounds.
Apparently, i...<i><b>Moral opacity abounds and astounds. <br />Apparently, it knows no bounds.</b></i>FreeThinkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682678301019952436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-90566099737079313262012-11-04T17:02:21.486-07:002012-11-04T17:02:21.486-07:00<< has yet to persuade a single soul to chan...<< has yet to persuade a single soul to change his or her mind >><br /><br />When the goal is to change somebody's mind there is virtually no chance of success. Instead, try to learn something about another person's point of view. Once you have learned something you didn't know about the other person's position or belief system you have the opportunity to share your view. "Share" is the operative word; not "change" or "convince" or "force". <br /><br />I have two adult daughters. When they were teenagers I focused on listening to them when we disagreed. I could have dictated the outcome of a confrontation by saying "it's my house and if you want to live here we are going to do it my way". But that makes the next confrontation or disagreement less likely to be settled with both of us as winners. <br /><br />It's not all that different in politics. Our elected representatives don't seem to understand this most basic nuance of interpersonal relationships. <br /><br />You cannot control someone else's mind so that they see things your way. Leaders don't make other people do things or see it their way. Leaders encourage people to follow them. People don't want to let a leader down. <br /><br />Sculptures in a park have an important place; but who is going to teach others how to sculpt? <br /><br />On the other hand, a little bird poo and/or urine never hurt anybody :-)<br /><br />KPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13788103894599339102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-78369960171086583502012-11-04T16:50:30.293-07:002012-11-04T16:50:30.293-07:00@Stogie -- Killing infidels is a requirement for ...@Stogie -- Killing infidels is a requirement for salvation in Islam. <br /><br />------<br />Look, are you aware that you are one of those ignorant bigots whose knowledge of Islam and the Qur'an is taken from a few blogs and a Glenn Beck broadcast.<br /><br />There are many good texts out there to study before you make yourself look like a jerkoff mouthing this simpleton to people who have gone to the trouble.<br /><br />The thing is that you are so stupid you actually believe you are presenting something new to people. Dumbass. <br />Ducky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-78777153097266979032012-11-04T16:43:25.131-07:002012-11-04T16:43:25.131-07:00Actually, Shaw, yes, yes it is great that they ter...Actually, Shaw, yes, yes it is great that they terminated that practice.<br /><br />I find it amusing the lengths progressives go to in order to denigrate Western Civilization.Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-47490376220947326432012-11-04T16:41:53.538-07:002012-11-04T16:41:53.538-07:00Godwin's Law proves out again
And using it to...Godwin's Law proves out again<br /><br />And using it to defend The World's Greatest Joo Haters is especially rich.Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-73615401203108509852012-11-04T16:41:14.107-07:002012-11-04T16:41:14.107-07:00"Yeah, too bad we dropped the pagan ritual of..."Yeah, too bad we dropped the pagan ritual of sacrificing virgins..."<br /><br /><br />But isn't it great that Christians dropped having a hot poker shoved up non-Christians, erm, posteriors, because they refuse to convert?Shaw Kenawehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08637273000409613497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-19189337001284681292012-11-04T16:35:09.899-07:002012-11-04T16:35:09.899-07:00"Shaw, your defense of objections to Islam an..."Shaw, your defense of objections to Islam and mosques is puzzling." --Stogie<br /><br />Then you apparently don't believe in the 1st Amendment? Just because some Muslims around the world are criminal, you would deny the American Muslims their first amendment rights?<br /><br />Are you suggesting we single out American Muslims to be exempt from our First Amendment protections?<br /><br />Sounds like Germany in 1930.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Shaw Kenawehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08637273000409613497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-4659372562324175662012-11-04T16:09:50.683-07:002012-11-04T16:09:50.683-07:00Yeah, too bad we dropped the pagan ritual of sacri...Yeah, too bad we dropped the pagan ritual of sacrificing virgins...<br /><br />Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-6261213825021537052012-11-04T16:09:23.981-07:002012-11-04T16:09:23.981-07:00Shaw, your defense of objections to Islam and mosq...Shaw, your defense of objections to Islam and mosques is puzzling. You are aware, I presume, that Islam incorporates murder, anti-semitism and aggression within its holy texts? Killing infidels is a requirement for salvation in Islam. That's why there was 911, Madrid, Beslan, London, Mumbai and Fort Hood. That is why I oppose Islam in all its forms, because it is a lethal, totalitarian ideology. It isn't remotely comparable to Christianity or anything else. I will oppose all mosques and all Islamic immigration into this country for this reason, and no, I don't feel the least bit guilty or ashamed of it. Islam is evil. Period.Stogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05852841950131130696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-4958002264555727392012-11-04T16:01:36.680-07:002012-11-04T16:01:36.680-07:00"with our contemporary affirmation of contrac..."with our contemporary affirmation of contraception, abortion, homosexuality, pornography, and so on—Christians find themselves in a society not very much different from the one in which, prior to Constantine’s conversion ... "<br /><br />--------<br />To often the decline of religion is presented as a lament that it is no longer able to control human sexuality. <br />Of course the Catholic church has virtually abrogated its claim to being any kind of spiritual authority in the matter.<br /><br />But it presses on with attempts to restrict contraceptive and attempts to dignify the homophobic neurosis. And you wonder why it's in decline and being ridiculed?<br /><br />Historically the christian was both the oppressed and the oppressor. The conversion from paganism was quite brutal.<br />A few good films on the topic:<br />Bergman -- The Virgin Spring<br />Tarkovsky -- Andrei Rublev<br />Vláčil -- Marketa Lazarova <br /><br />Vláčil's film is only available on a foreign DVD unfortunately but his research was extensive and the film is a real revelation. That church was very much part of that barbaric environment. The social gospel was hard won. Too bad we've tossed it.Ducky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-60517971825439132012012-11-04T15:59:33.600-07:002012-11-04T15:59:33.600-07:00Speaking of mealy-mouth... Your comment is irrele...Speaking of mealy-mouth... Your comment is irrelevant.<br /><br />Persecution? give some examples.Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-54502503593475929932012-11-04T15:45:46.580-07:002012-11-04T15:45:46.580-07:00@Silverfiddle --- ... and that includes residents...@Silverfiddle --- ... and that includes residents protesting a mosque or a church or a Walmart going up in their neighborhood.<br />------------<br />Yeah, churches are protested all the time and we know how much public opinion effects the spread of Walmarts.<br /><br />Now in the matter of mosques, well when your a minority facing discrimination it goes a little beyond the mealy mouth high school civics crap.<br /><br />"BTW, I knew this would spur at least one liberal defense of Islam."<br /><br />But like any palooka it's east to get you to drop gloves.Ducky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-63577391106415026452012-11-04T14:28:00.902-07:002012-11-04T14:28:00.902-07:00CI,
This isn't to say that every social shift ...CI,<br /><i>This isn't to say that every social shift is a net good</i><br /><br />The verdict on a lot of relatively recent changes isn't in. We don't have the perspective of enough time.<br /><br />Ah, well. Humanity is the grand experiment, isn't it?Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-13236424238340026912012-11-04T13:53:29.702-07:002012-11-04T13:53:29.702-07:00AOW - 'Harm' may be nebulous, but so is &#...AOW - 'Harm' may be nebulous, but so is 'good'.<br /><br />Your initial question can also be flipped....is it a 'bad' thing for the children of heterosexual couples to have so much exposure to the ideas of two daddies and two mommies?<br /><br />If the parents in question are loving and protective, I say no. But the conundrum arises when we attempt to legislate on the grounds of 'I think' and 'I feel'.<br /><br />History is replete with examples of societal norms that we now look upon with disgust or disdain. This isn't to say that every social shift is a net good...but history should require us to have reasoned and logical discourse over what we decide is to be banned, regulated or taxed.Constitutional Insurgenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03251746798758539951noreply@blogger.com