Guys, i’ve been reading LP for a while, and never really posted. One thing i respect is your secularism. Personally, i think it would be better to wish readers happy holidays, rather than happy easter.
- anyway, just nit-picking i-suppose - Happy holidays!
Adama, you are being rigidly politically correct. I’m atheist but I have no problem with being wished Happy Easter, Happy Ramadan or even Happy Satanic Ritual Sacrifice.
Why not ease up a little and show some good grace?
Guys, i’ve been reading LP for a while, and never really posted. One thing i respect is your secularism. Personally, i think it would be better to wish readers happy holidays, rather than happy easter.
Since the word Easter comes from the name of a pagan goddess of Spring whose festival was held on the vernal equinox I can’t think of any more appropriate word to be used for the holiday on this site. Easter eggs are a residue of that festival.
I celebrate the fact that I work to an award and thus have the right to turn down work on public holidays, and in my non-religious way I’ll be hoping that a fair IR system is resurrected soon.
i left an angry message on my business answering machine for Easter informing everyone that jesus died for them and how dare they call at a time like this.
oh well guys, off to the Australian Gospel Music Festival to enjoy some of that white-bread muzakal goodness, or should I say ‘godness’. Oh god, somebody shoot me.
If Easter is the reason for the season then Happy Easter it is. Though considering Easter is based someone being tortured to death it is a strange sentiment.
Has anyone noticed how the supermarket chains have discovered Lent and its capacity for selling fish. I’d never noticed before but it surely must add to any sales slippage in easter eggs or buns.
You can bet someone in Woolies/Coles planning depts is working on Ramadan sales -
something quick and filling for the microwave after dark.
Happy Easter adama, you twerp. This blog isn’t secular at all, you parrot.
Jews, Christians, Muslims, and even Brunswick Street Buddhists read this blog.
So do atheists. And most have the heart to respect religion. But you don’t even have the brain.
Catholics can indulge their blood lusts tomorrow night. Channel 7 is showing Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ.
If Jesus was the fruit of the vine, shouldn’t that be Passiona of the Christ?
Jesus went into a hotel at Easter and asked the manager, “Can you put me up for the night?”
Sign on St Jerome Catholic School in The Simpsons: He suffered for our sins. Now it’s your turn.
How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb? None. Christians don’t use light bulbs. Jesus is the Light of the World.
Jup,
The seafood section at my local Woolies has stickers on it which say “Especially for Lent”. The price on all seafood items is up by 10%. How’s that for being secular!
One look at your ugly mug silkworm would put out all the lights in Times Square. You could never change a bulb, you stupid bastard - not even in a torch.
Won’t Passion Of The Christ be cut to ribbons (like Jesus in the movie) by the censors when it’s shown on TV? Or is there a different ratings system involved for religious-related violence?
I loved a good gorey movie when I was a teenager, but I was stunned by the blood and brutality of Gibbo’s christgore epic. I saw it in the ciity, two dozen people in the cinema, halfway through a woman stood up and screamed out, “Christ has entered my soul! Christ has entered my soul!”
Some guy down the front turned around and shouted “Shut the hell up and take him outside!”
Classic.
The Last Temptation Of Christ was better. Bronx accents in the first century AD. Excellent!
All religion represents a danger to our society and future. I think moderate religion makes the world safe for extremists, because children are trained from the cradle to think faith in itself is a good thing. So then when someone says it’s part of their faith to kill people, their actions need no further justification, and are almost respected as such. - Richard Dawkins
Where does this whole non-meat eating thing for Good Friday come from?
I gather the Catholic line is that is about abstinence and sacrifice. There are no Biblical injunctions against it. I vaguely remember that the practice arose from giving their fishmongers their due at some time in the past.
We don’t have to protect the environment, the Second Coming is at hand. - James Watt, Secretary of the Interior in the Reagan Administration, responsible for US national policy regarding the environment
Raising your children under Americanism or any other principles other than true Christianity is child abuse. - Robert T. Lee, Society for the Practical Establishment of the Ten Commandments
Religious education is a form of child abuse. - Richard Dawkins
As Christians, you know what it’s like to feel victimized. As God’s chosen people, there are always others in more populated but less beloved religions than yours taking potshots at you.
Just remember what Jesus told you. When attacked, turn the other cheek. When you do that, you can see who’s coming from the other direction and get ready to shoot them. Jesus was full of very practical military advice.
The very earliest Christian writings come from Paul and others. The writings of these earliest Christians, however, paint a dramatically different picture of Jesus from that of the later gospels.
The early Christians corroborate virtually nothing that we have previously taken for granted from the gospels!
None of the very first Christians know anything about an annunciation to Mary by the angel Gabriel, a virgin birth, star of Bethlehem, wise men, Herod, slaughter of the innocents or the flight into Egypt. In fact they know nothing at all of a Mary, Joseph, Bethlehem or Nazareth. They know of no disciples, friends or earthly enemies nor of any baptism by John in the Jordan. They don’t mention or quote any teachings, parables or sermons or morals; in fact they attribute no ethical instruction to the earthly Jesus at all.
Nor do they seem to know of any healings of the blind or lame or lepers; neither do they mention any of Jesus’ especially spectacular miracles like bringing the dead to life, changing water to wine, feeding five thousand, stilling the storm or walking on water.
They know of no temptation in the wilderness or dialogue with the Devil, no exorcisms nor evil spirits falling down in fear before Jesus.
The early Christians again know nothing of the times, places or circumstances of the crucifixion. They mention nothing of Gethsemane, no betrayal by Judas (they merely say Jesus ‘was delivered up’ for crucifixion), no denial by Peter or the disciples, no trials, no scourging, no judgement by Pilate, no Roman soldiers, no Golgotha or vigil at the cross, no last words – nothing!
Paul appears to have believed that after three days Jesus ascended directly to heaven without any intervening time on earth, and he certainly doesn’t cite any empty tomb.
If the very first Christians knew so little about Jesus, what possible grounds do we have for believing he ever existed?
We holy men have a duty to conceal the facts and lie to our congregations, under oath if necessary, perjuring ourselves to help disseminate the True Faith. - “Saint” Clement in a letter preserved and discovered in a remote monastery by professor Morton Smith
Mr Worm, one last thing; don’t believe what you read. Not even in the scriptures, because it isn’t very practical.
If anyone ever slaps you, slap back, or run, but don’t turn the other way; don’t take your eye off them, because it’s 99% you’ll cop a haymaker.
I’ve never read the bible, I rarely go into a church, and I don’t preach, but I do get into a shit when people like you go out of their way to upset other people for no other reason than bravado.
Okay. you’re a bigshot. We’re all impressed.
But the truth is, if the latte set peddled Christianity, so would you.
But why would anybody trouble themselves to ‘corroborate’ common knowledge, within their personal correspondence? Do you bother to ‘corroborate’ all of digital information theory, each time you post on the internet? The very earliest Christians mostly knew each other personally. Why ‘corroborate’ the family photo album?
R.H., God love ya! “If salt should lose its savor, wherewith shall it be salted?” Thankfully we’re not in any such danger, with your estimable self on the prowl!
Happy (actual, historical, non-pagan-derived, hallelujah-He-is-risen-style) Easter to one and all. Even you doubters.
Easter was originally a northern hemisphere spring equinox celebration, just as Christmas was a northern hemisphere winter solstice celebration. In Australia, we should be celebrating Christmas in our winter and Easter in our spring. Celebrating Easter now goes against our native instincts.
silkworm: “…Easter was originally a… spring equinox celebration…”
No. Easter is the feast of the Resurrection — the actual, historical celebration of the risen Christ, and of His message of salvation to all mankind. The fact that people also used to celebrate ’spring equinox’ just goes to show that people have been around for a good, long while… If the two holidays co-incide in human calendrical time, well… since the earth goes round the sun on a regular basis, that’s a good argument that folks mark ‘time’ on a regular basis, right? So you’ve proven that calendars exist, and that people use ‘em as they see fit. Anything more than that?
Next you’ll be telling me I celebrate Independence Day ‘cos it’s something to do with Midsummer…
Jayzus on a dayglo pogo stick, I just realised the Stranglers’ reference would mean nothing to those that haven’t heard the song in question. I just assumed everyone has the same cultural xyz axis as I.
Anyway here are the words to ‘Hanging Around’.
Big girl in the red dress
She’s just trying to impress us
And she’s got the barley fever
But she doesn’t make a sound
She’s just hanging around
Down the Court Road early
With the hustlers big ‘n burly
There’s a million of ‘em selling
And the buyers can be found
They’re just hanging around
(chorus)
Christ has told his mother
Christ he told her not to bother
‘Cos he’s alright in the city
‘Cos he’s high above the ground
He’s just hanging around
One of ‘em comes closer
Got a monkey on his shoulder
And the monkey’s getting grinner
But his eyes are on the ground
He’s just hanging around
I’m moving in the Coleherne
With the leather all around me
And the sweat is getting steamy
But their eyes are on the ground
They’re just hanging around
Yeah well yes, it’s not exactly Blake or Larkin - but when you combine the words with the crisp Brit army officer vocals, gothic seaside resort organ and sleazy froggy bass of the quoted song (elements which also permanate much of their other ditties), I think it becomes clear Hugh and co were mining in their own initimable way that same strange seamy, seedy, steamy seam of English transcendental disgust that lit up Bill and Phil too.
As Kayjay put it, “[A]pparently the conservatives even need instructions on how to be rude visitors.â€? She was referring to the quite stunningly something-or-other How to Handle an Open Thread on Liberal Blogs*, by one Butler Thomas…
The comments are interesting - unfortunately, just as RWDBs can come into “liberal” blogs, those damn libruls can infest his comment thread, too, dang it.
Evil Pundit, G***** B*** (Don’t want to invoke the spirit), Joe Cambria and others should take note…
Classic Air Piano tracks by degree of difficulty: Beginner:Let it Be - The Beatles. Intermediate:Celluloid Heroes - The Kinks. Advanced:Hymn to Freedom - Oscap Peterson. Don’t Try This at Home:The Koln Concert - Keith Jarrett.
Another vomit inducing Hugh Mackay article. What a nosey parker- moralistic little prick the guy is. Perhaps some of us are making the choices we are because
1) we know we’re going to live longer
2) we know we’re going to have longer working lives and there’s no hurry
3) we can afford to?
what’s wrong with lifelong learning? what’s wrong with quitting a job because you’re bored? (I did it once)
EVER wondered why so many young adults are still living at home with their parents? Puzzled by the plummeting birthrate among the under-30s? Impatient for your 29-year-old offspring to get around to marriage?
And why are they so willing to switch jobs, or courses of study, even when everything seems to be going well for them? Have they no interest in settling down?
The answer is in their mantra: “Thirty is the new 20.” Straight out of the mouths of today’s twentysomethings comes a truth that not only helps to explain their behaviour, but also sheds some light on yet another trend reshaping our society: we seem intent on slowing down our rate of passage through the life cycle.
The rising generation of young adults is a particularly instructive example of the trend, stretching adolescence well into their 20s. Adulthood, with all its tedious connotations of responsibility and a clear sense of direction, is being kept at bay for as long as possible …
The emotional growth rate of this generation is being retarded partly by their own parents’ determination to be the youngest generation ever to hit middle age …
Well, here’s the upshot of Howard’s disgusting capitulation on West Papua:
* the entire Australian mainland will be excised from the migration zone
* Any and all arrivals will be transported to Manus Island or Nauru for processing
* They’ll be denied settlement in Australia, even where found to be refugees
* Australia will collobarate with Indonesian navy, potentially in returning boats. This is a clear breach of our non-refoulement obligations, and the lowest we have ever sunk. Worse than 2001-2.
Essentially, we have changed our law because the Indonesian government didnt like it. When the going got tough, Howard bent over and coughed. Its a policy of pure complicity with the gross, ongoing, systematic abuse of West Papuans by the Indonesian state.
Lets call it what it is: appeasement.
This is even worse than the ALP complicity with the New Order regime over Timor - at least Hawke/ Keating let the Timorese stay; albeit on dodgy extended bridging visas.
I want to know what RWDBs think about this. As these are now Christians fleeing oppression, not *scary Muslims* fleeing the Taliban and Saddam, maybe you’ll be some use to us when we hit the streets, like we did over Timor in 1999.
Has it ever been clearer than today? International pressure and domestic uproar, here on the streets - led to INTERFET. Face the facts: DFAT and Cabinet never wanted to go in, we forced it.
And this is it, all over again: business as usual - an ALP/LPA appeasement consensus and only the Left protesting.
Here’s what Howard should have done, if he had any balls: no change - Australian law operates, we dont bow to pressure, cease all military cooperation with Kopassus until the TNI is under civilian control, and the human rights situation in Papua is demonstrably improved, with adequate local autonomy, a la Aceh model of last year. This fits in neat as a glove with Indonesia’s own struggle to reform, is practical, even helpful - and it would work.
This is, broadly speaking, the Left posiiton. And frankly, unlike the ALP and Coalition, we were on the money last time with Timor. Why not pick a winner for a change?
Both your air piano suggestions, I think, would be classed “Don’t try this at home”.
As for Hugh Mackay, as far as I’m concerned, he’s usually fair game but a bit of a sitting duck. I was going to provide a link, but it appears to be broken, so there goes my moment of shameless self promotion for the day.
A make-believe holiday invented in 1966 to promote black pride, a bit like modern Christmas or Easter, which were invented to promote comercialist pride. However Easter and Christmas have done far more for the Comercialist religion than Kwanzaa ever did for building pride in African American heritige.
Kwanzaa (or Kwaanza) is a week-long secular holiday honoring African-American heritage, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year, almost exclusively by African-Americans in the United States of America.
And this is it, all over again: business as usual - an ALP/LPA appeasement consensus and only the Left protesting.
Not true in the case of East Timor, Lefty. One of the significant sources of support for East Timor’s independence came from members of the RSL who had memories of the sacrifices made by the East Timorese in protecting and supporting Australian soldiers on Timor in WW2. The old soldiers got pretty worked up about the debt they felt we owed to the East Timorese for that and about the way the East Timorese were being treated by the Indonesians.
Also the Catholic Church, not an organisation that could be readily characterised as being of the Left, provided significant support for East Timorese aspirations.
True Greg - ‘the Left and significant elements of civil society’ would be more accurate. The Sparrow force diggers were of course excellent advocates all through late 99.
Im really making a point about the “common sense” ALP/ Coalition consensus on Indonesia being anything but - in view of its apparent resurgence.
Our major parties, and the entire “centre” of mainstream policy work (eg DFAT, ANU) got it all horribly wrong from day one. Any notions of a post-99 rethink seem to sadly misbegotten.
What about Mandy’s assertion (4 times) that Australia won’t let refugees “dictate the terms” of Australia’s processing policy? Geez, and I thought they were desperate and powerless… (didn’t notice Kerry O’Brien laughing).
Naomi, is it cold in the Mountains? Suze and I and Oscar were thinking of swinging past next month…
“This is, broadly speaking, the Left posiiton. And frankly, unlike the ALP and Coalition, we were on the money last time with Timor. Why not pick a winner for a change? ”
What???? the hell is in your chocolates!! The left was in a winner last time with East Timor”!!!!!!!!!!!
..It was the Lefts own god that sold out East Timor..remember him (GW)..the Lefts own “Keating the twat” who was first up with puckered lips in the labour party “conga line of suck holes” to Suharto. It was the the influence of the left that so severely reduced the capability of the defence force that it very nearly failed in carry out the most basic of missions in country less than one hour of the Australian main land..and you claim you were on the money .. the only thing you are on is low qaulity drugs
It’s an enormous laugh when the latte set try acting dumber than they actually are. I see them tittering at little tables along Fitzroy Street and Bridge Road, all having had their showers that morning and tizzed themselves up to go on show. And I see them in tarted up public servant pubs, raising glasses of wine to their gobs as though there’s thousands watching. So stiff, they are. So elegant. And so predictable. They oppose John Howard, George Bush, and Jesus Christ.
They support Aborigines, Refugees, Immigration. Which doesn’t affect them because they’ve never had to compete with migrants for low-paid jobs and cheap housing.
They hate smoking. No one should smoke. They believe that colonic irrigation promotes high thought, and accordingly that every male over the age of twelve should be colonically irrigated every Saturday. They believe they’re something new, but they’re nothing new at all. They believe they’re different to their parents, but they’re just like them. Because nothing has changed. Nothing ever changes at all. The focaccia has replaced the cucumber sandwich, that’s all. They’re the same old crowd, back again. Different hairdos, different clothes, sunglasses in place of parasols, but it’s the same old crowd; the same bourgeois economic class. You never get rid of them. The well off spivs occupying St Kilda now are the same class of moneybags that lived there one hundred years ago. With poverty in between. Meanwhile they gasbag on about dispossession. What a joke. Well when it comes to that they do a bloody fine job of it themselves.
Nice to recieve happy greetings on this holiday weekend from the sympathisors, believers or no, and greetings returned, but sadly amazing to read so much venomous or, at least, sarcastic unbelief being espoused on this thread on this most important remembrance day for Christians, particularly from the unstoppable and mysteriously unstopped silkworm (who’s monitoring this thread anyway? on hoilday I suppose, oh well!).
I can just see the worm’s face, like some warped, contorted, deaf-era Goya-esque character, in the front row of despisers crying “Crucify him, crucify him’ as Jesus is charged with no crime anyone can legally nail him for, but every crime they can manufacture out of nothing, and ol’ silkworm, he’s there accusing with the best of ‘em, still - after 2,000 years of it, and, yet, he just doesn’t grasp it. I almost fell sorry for the foolishness of his rebellious heart. And so brave to dare to so openly and publicly oppose the beliefs of Christians. Still, unlike Mohammed’s Allah, God and Son can handle themselves, so we’ll let silkworm have his day.
The Christian name for the festival weekend is ‘pasche’, which means ‘the passion’, and refers to the death and resurrection of Jesus, whihc is the single most significant event on the Christian calender. Easter is indeed a pagan festiival which falls on the same weekend. Chocolate eggs are part of the pagan thing, but hey, we’re not too dogmatically, rigidly religious, are we, to enjoy a few slabs of chocolate? Enjoy!
Was there something wrong with my comments Moderator? I can’t remember being under moderaton before, and my comments have not appeared. Please explain!
Does he really think that all religious people go around looking for ways to wipe other people out for having a different belief. Wouldn’t be many people around if that was true. Funny how people with so much apparent brain power and knowledge can be so short on common sense and wisdom.
RH, I know you were upset with silkworm, and quite rightly, but, about your reference to Hillsong, I’d just like to assure you that Hillsong folk are really top people, and do an amazing amount of good in their community, despite what the media says.
To answer Shaun’s question about fasting and Friday, here’s some background:
On November 18, 1966, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in keeping with the letter and spirit of Pope Paul VI’s constitution Pænitemini, published some norms on penitential observance. In one part of the document, they specifically wrote about what is expected and recommended for all Catholics during the entire season of Lent. They stated: “We ask, urgently and prayerfully, that we, as people of God, make of the entire Lenten season a period of special penitential observance.â€?
In addition to making it clear that we are bound by obligation to fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and to abstain from meat on every Friday of Lent, they also added the following: “For all other weekdays of Lent, we strongly recommend participation in daily Mass and a self-imposed observance of fasting.�
Remembering that fasting is a form of penance and self-denial, we must keep in mind that we are urged to do this during the entire season of Lent, but it does not have to be a fast from food on all those forty days. For example, those Catholics whose health would be compromised, such as the sick, are not bound to observe the Church’s laws of fast and abstinence. But there are many other ways in which we can show God how sorry we are for our sins. Among them are the following: being generous with others, visiting the sick and lonely, feeding the poor, studying Scripture, making the Stations of the Cross, praying the rosary, practicing self-control, and many others.
Even when the US Bishops made it no longer required to abstain from meat on all the other Fridays of the year, they never intended that the Catholic faithful should discontinue this practice. What they hoped was that people would continue to do it out of their love for God and not because they had to, and also to give us an opportunity to deny ourselves in other ways. Friday has never ceased to be a day of penance and self-denial, and abstaining from meat on that day is given first place, because it was on a Friday that our Lord died for our sins. Every Friday is a day to prepare for Sunday – the day that, for us who believe, is Easter every week of the year. And Sunday is never a day of fasting (not even during Lent). It is the glorious Day of the Lord!
Lefty Elitist sheds a tear or two for the West Papuans then says:
“Here’s what Howard should have done, if he had any balls: no change - Australian law operates, we dont bow to pressure, cease all military cooperation with Kopassus until the TNI is under civilian control, and the human rights situation in Papua is demonstrably improved, with adequate local autonomy, a la Aceh model of last year. This fits in neat as a glove with Indonesia’s own struggle to reform, is practical, even helpful - and it would work.”
Guys, i’ve been reading LP for a while, and never really posted. One thing i respect is your secularism. Personally, i think it would be better to wish readers happy holidays, rather than happy easter.
- anyway, just nit-picking i-suppose - Happy holidays!
Happy chocolate day!
Happy flying spaghetti monster day!
Adama, you are being rigidly politically correct. I’m atheist but I have no problem with being wished Happy Easter, Happy Ramadan or even Happy Satanic Ritual Sacrifice.
Why not ease up a little and show some good grace?
Spiced currant bun season greetings.
In the US it’s “Happy holidays” at christmas/new years time, or “Merry Christmas/Hannukah/KWANZAA”
There was too much of it! And people at the bottom of every escalator saying “happy holidays!”
(you’ll have to guess what KWANZAA is)
Dear Steve
Happy Bossy Pants Day
xx
On the 25th of December I celebrate the birth of the Messiah. He who described the tides, and elucidated the motion earthly and celestial.
Isaac Newton.
Since the word Easter comes from the name of a pagan goddess of Spring whose festival was held on the vernal equinox I can’t think of any more appropriate word to be used for the holiday on this site. Easter eggs are a residue of that festival.
[link]
We could rightly have a go at the Christians for pinching a perfectly good pagan festival.
I celebrate the fact that I work to an award and thus have the right to turn down work on public holidays, and in my non-religious way I’ll be hoping that a fair IR system is resurrected soon.
Happy “Easter?” from Japan
Ditto to Steve Munn
Tonight is also the second night of pesach (passover) with the observation of Seder and an eight course meal.
Happy easter/holidays/whatever to all.
Happy p*ss off early for a four day weekend, everyone. Aussie aussie aussie, etc etc etc.
i left an angry message on my business answering machine for Easter informing everyone that jesus died for them and how dare they call at a time like this.
nah, not really.
oh well guys, off to the Australian Gospel Music Festival to enjoy some of that white-bread muzakal goodness, or should I say ‘godness’. Oh god, somebody shoot me.
Adama has brought the War on Easter to LP!
If Easter is the reason for the season then Happy Easter it is. Though considering Easter is based someone being tortured to death it is a strange sentiment.
“Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine.” - Patti Smith
Has anyone noticed how the supermarket chains have discovered Lent and its capacity for selling fish. I’d never noticed before but it surely must add to any sales slippage in easter eggs or buns.
You can bet someone in Woolies/Coles planning depts is working on Ramadan sales -
something quick and filling for the microwave after dark.
Happy Easter all!
Happy Easter adama, you twerp. This blog isn’t secular at all, you parrot.
Jews, Christians, Muslims, and even Brunswick Street Buddhists read this blog.
So do atheists. And most have the heart to respect religion. But you don’t even have the brain.
You dork!
Try minding your own business.
Keirnan - and oh jeepers but you’re funny. A real scream.
You twit.
Happy Pile-On @ the New Commenter Day!
no, not really. Happy DeGrassi Junior High Day!
Catholics can indulge their blood lusts tomorrow night. Channel 7 is showing Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ.
If Jesus was the fruit of the vine, shouldn’t that be Passiona of the Christ?
Jesus went into a hotel at Easter and asked the manager, “Can you put me up for the night?”
Sign on St Jerome Catholic School in The Simpsons:
He suffered for our sins. Now it’s your turn.
How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb? None. Christians don’t use light bulbs. Jesus is the Light of the World.
Jup,
The seafood section at my local Woolies has stickers on it which say “Especially for Lent”. The price on all seafood items is up by 10%. How’s that for being secular!
One look at your ugly mug silkworm would put out all the lights in Times Square. You could never change a bulb, you stupid bastard - not even in a torch.
It isn’t just Jews, Christians, Muslims, Brunswick Street Buddhists and atheists who enjoy this blog. Some Jedis like it, too.
Unlike these slackers here (LOL!), I’ll be updating my blogs right through the Easter weekend, if you get bored.
Your New Reality : [link]
Planet Of Strange Things : [link]
The Fourth World War : [link]
Won’t Passion Of The Christ be cut to ribbons (like Jesus in the movie) by the censors when it’s shown on TV? Or is there a different ratings system involved for religious-related violence?
I loved a good gorey movie when I was a teenager, but I was stunned by the blood and brutality of Gibbo’s christgore epic. I saw it in the ciity, two dozen people in the cinema, halfway through a woman stood up and screamed out, “Christ has entered my soul! Christ has entered my soul!”
Some guy down the front turned around and shouted “Shut the hell up and take him outside!”
Classic.
The Last Temptation Of Christ was better. Bronx accents in the first century AD. Excellent!
How many silkWORMS does it take to change a light bulb?
Two. One to screw it in and one to screw it up.
Pimp.
Chairman, put the pin back in; and have a happy easter, one and all, a pagan festival as GregM reminds us.
Christians can go to hell.
Religion is for the afterlife. Libraries are the House of God, here and now. Knowledge is for everyone. - Gene Simmons
Dogma: a hard substance which forms in a soft brain. - Elbert Hubbard
All religion represents a danger to our society and future. I think moderate religion makes the world safe for extremists, because children are trained from the cradle to think faith in itself is a good thing. So then when someone says it’s part of their faith to kill people, their actions need no further justification, and are almost respected as such. - Richard Dawkins
No one is more dogmatic than you.
Worm.
All you know is to make the right noises; words put in your mouth.
You’re a cliche.
Coughed up phlegm.
Where does this whole non-meat eating thing for Good Friday come from?
I gather the Catholic line is that is about abstinence and sacrifice. There are no Biblical injunctions against it. I vaguely remember that the practice arose from giving their fishmongers their due at some time in the past.
I don’t believe in God because I don’t believe in Mother Goose. - Clarence Darrow
Ask the Markus.
Slaves be obedient to your masters. - Ephesians 6:5
So what do you believe in worm, your stupendous talent?
What a joke.
We don’t have to protect the environment, the Second Coming is at hand. - James Watt, Secretary of the Interior in the Reagan Administration, responsible for US national policy regarding the environment
Worm joined the Pimp’s and Estate Agents Association but thought a head job was a Handyman’s Special.
So, anyone else want to hear Crusader Lad’s views on Howard doing a Hawke/ Keating on the West Papuans?
Worm tried to auction off a dump in Dalgetty Street.
“Spacious interior!” he hollered, head up his arse.
“Room to move!”
Reason is the devil’s harlot. - Martin Luther
Errr…no.
Raising your children under Americanism or any other principles other than true Christianity is child abuse. - Robert T. Lee, Society for the Practical Establishment of the Ten Commandments
Religious education is a form of child abuse. - Richard Dawkins
God wants you to have nice things. - Pastor Brian Houston, Hillsong Church
Worm, leave google (and your doodle) alone.
You’re a puppet.
A nothing.
A terrified little worm.
I wouldn’t even laugh at you, poor bastard.
Because you’ve nothing to say, poor bastard.
Cringing dog.
Just remember, there’s nothing wrong with small minds as long as those minds are thinking the right things.
Fuck Hillsong church. And the Salvation Army.
And you too, you blathering little meatball.
People’s faith is none of your business, you cracked up little c–t. I don’t preach to you, don’t preach to me, you vomit.
And that’s it. That’s all.
As Christians, you know what it’s like to feel victimized. As God’s chosen people, there are always others in more populated but less beloved religions than yours taking potshots at you.
Just remember what Jesus told you. When attacked, turn the other cheek. When you do that, you can see who’s coming from the other direction and get ready to shoot them. Jesus was full of very practical military advice.
The Passion of the Christ is one of the biggest grossing films ever - in more senses than one.
The very earliest Christian writings come from Paul and others. The writings of these earliest Christians, however, paint a dramatically different picture of Jesus from that of the later gospels.
The early Christians corroborate virtually nothing that we have previously taken for granted from the gospels!
None of the very first Christians know anything about an annunciation to Mary by the angel Gabriel, a virgin birth, star of Bethlehem, wise men, Herod, slaughter of the innocents or the flight into Egypt. In fact they know nothing at all of a Mary, Joseph, Bethlehem or Nazareth. They know of no disciples, friends or earthly enemies nor of any baptism by John in the Jordan. They don’t mention or quote any teachings, parables or sermons or morals; in fact they attribute no ethical instruction to the earthly Jesus at all.
Nor do they seem to know of any healings of the blind or lame or lepers; neither do they mention any of Jesus’ especially spectacular miracles like bringing the dead to life, changing water to wine, feeding five thousand, stilling the storm or walking on water.
They know of no temptation in the wilderness or dialogue with the Devil, no exorcisms nor evil spirits falling down in fear before Jesus.
The early Christians again know nothing of the times, places or circumstances of the crucifixion. They mention nothing of Gethsemane, no betrayal by Judas (they merely say Jesus ‘was delivered up’ for crucifixion), no denial by Peter or the disciples, no trials, no scourging, no judgement by Pilate, no Roman soldiers, no Golgotha or vigil at the cross, no last words – nothing!
Paul appears to have believed that after three days Jesus ascended directly to heaven without any intervening time on earth, and he certainly doesn’t cite any empty tomb.
If the very first Christians knew so little about Jesus, what possible grounds do we have for believing he ever existed?
We holy men have a duty to conceal the facts and lie to our congregations, under oath if necessary, perjuring ourselves to help disseminate the True Faith. - “Saint” Clement in a letter preserved and discovered in a remote monastery by professor Morton Smith
Mr Worm, one last thing; don’t believe what you read. Not even in the scriptures, because it isn’t very practical.
If anyone ever slaps you, slap back, or run, but don’t turn the other way; don’t take your eye off them, because it’s 99% you’ll cop a haymaker.
I’ve never read the bible, I rarely go into a church, and I don’t preach, but I do get into a shit when people like you go out of their way to upset other people for no other reason than bravado.
Okay. you’re a bigshot. We’re all impressed.
But the truth is, if the latte set peddled Christianity, so would you.
silkworm: “…the earliest Christians… corroborate virtually nothing…”
But why would anybody trouble themselves to ‘corroborate’ common knowledge, within their personal correspondence? Do you bother to ‘corroborate’ all of digital information theory, each time you post on the internet? The very earliest Christians mostly knew each other personally. Why ‘corroborate’ the family photo album?
R.H., God love ya! “If salt should lose its savor, wherewith shall it be salted?” Thankfully we’re not in any such danger, with your estimable self on the prowl!
Happy (actual, historical, non-pagan-derived, hallelujah-He-is-risen-style) Easter to one and all. Even you doubters.
Easter was originally a northern hemisphere spring equinox celebration, just as Christmas was a northern hemisphere winter solstice celebration. In Australia, we should be celebrating Christmas in our winter and Easter in our spring. Celebrating Easter now goes against our native instincts.
silkworm: “…Easter was originally a… spring equinox celebration…”
No. Easter is the feast of the Resurrection — the actual, historical celebration of the risen Christ, and of His message of salvation to all mankind. The fact that people also used to celebrate ’spring equinox’ just goes to show that people have been around for a good, long while… If the two holidays co-incide in human calendrical time, well… since the earth goes round the sun on a regular basis, that’s a good argument that folks mark ‘time’ on a regular basis, right? So you’ve proven that calendars exist, and that people use ‘em as they see fit. Anything more than that?
Next you’ll be telling me I celebrate Independence Day ‘cos it’s something to do with Midsummer…
Once more: Happy Easter, everybody!
JPZ, I’ll just state this fact, as something I’ve noticed; your scholarship is astounding. The most astounding I’ve ever encountered. Anywhere.
R.H.
I’m not religious so to me it’s the festival of chocolate.
Hi rh lovely to see you in fine form.
Yes, Happy Death To Jesus Week!
‘cos if we didn’t knock him off, it’d leave most Christian sects looking pretty pointless symbol and ritualwise.
(By the by, now listening right now to “Hanging Around” by The Stranglers)
Jayzus on a dayglo pogo stick, I just realised the Stranglers’ reference would mean nothing to those that haven’t heard the song in question. I just assumed everyone has the same cultural xyz axis as I.
Anyway here are the words to ‘Hanging Around’.
Big girl in the red dress
She’s just trying to impress us
And she’s got the barley fever
But she doesn’t make a sound
She’s just hanging around
Down the Court Road early
With the hustlers big ‘n burly
There’s a million of ‘em selling
And the buyers can be found
They’re just hanging around
(chorus)
Christ has told his mother
Christ he told her not to bother
‘Cos he’s alright in the city
‘Cos he’s high above the ground
He’s just hanging around
One of ‘em comes closer
Got a monkey on his shoulder
And the monkey’s getting grinner
But his eyes are on the ground
He’s just hanging around
I’m moving in the Coleherne
With the leather all around me
And the sweat is getting steamy
But their eyes are on the ground
They’re just hanging around
Yeah well yes, it’s not exactly Blake or Larkin - but when you combine the words with the crisp Brit army officer vocals, gothic seaside resort organ and sleazy froggy bass of the quoted song (elements which also permanate much of their other ditties), I think it becomes clear Hugh and co were mining in their own initimable way that same strange seamy, seedy, steamy seam of English transcendental disgust that lit up Bill and Phil too.
Time now for The Seeds I feel.
Regarding the supermarket specials, sharp-eyed customers might have noted Mylanta on special, for all those who go overboard on the, er, chocolate.
Happy Bunnies!
Happy New Year to LPers. It’s new year time celebration time. Do anybody know whos new year time it is ?
Happy festival of chocolate, and, what GregM said. Now for something completely different:
From Making Light:
As Kayjay put it, “[A]pparently the conservatives even need instructions on how to be rude visitors.â€? She was referring to the quite stunningly something-or-other How to Handle an Open Thread on Liberal Blogs*, by one Butler Thomas…
Here’s the post on Open Threads for RWDBs (or wingnuts, as the Americans call them.)
The comments are interesting - unfortunately, just as RWDBs can come into “liberal” blogs, those damn libruls can infest his comment thread, too, dang it.
Evil Pundit, G***** B*** (Don’t want to invoke the spirit), Joe Cambria and others should take note…
Strangely enough, “AnnieAngel”, who shares the same blog, has posted a genuinely hilarious, although not original, list of ways to be a Good Christian Wife. If you read the comments on that one, you’ll see half of the commenters take it literally! Oh, those loveable murrikins!
Brilliant links, Helen, thankee kindly. The “infiltrate open threads” one in particular is classic.
Happy Buddhist New Year!
‘Big girl in the red dress’, Nabakov you’re playing my song.
Classic Air Piano tracks by degree of difficulty:
Beginner: Let it Be - The Beatles.
Intermediate: Celluloid Heroes - The Kinks.
Advanced: Hymn to Freedom - Oscap Peterson.
Don’t Try This at Home: The Koln Concert - Keith Jarrett.
Another vomit inducing Hugh Mackay article. What a nosey parker- moralistic little prick the guy is. Perhaps some of us are making the choices we are because
1) we know we’re going to live longer
2) we know we’re going to have longer working lives and there’s no hurry
3) we can afford to?
what’s wrong with lifelong learning? what’s wrong with quitting a job because you’re bored? (I did it once)
[link]
EVER wondered why so many young adults are still living at home with their parents? Puzzled by the plummeting birthrate among the under-30s? Impatient for your 29-year-old offspring to get around to marriage?
And why are they so willing to switch jobs, or courses of study, even when everything seems to be going well for them? Have they no interest in settling down?
The answer is in their mantra: “Thirty is the new 20.” Straight out of the mouths of today’s twentysomethings comes a truth that not only helps to explain their behaviour, but also sheds some light on yet another trend reshaping our society: we seem intent on slowing down our rate of passage through the life cycle.
The rising generation of young adults is a particularly instructive example of the trend, stretching adolescence well into their 20s. Adulthood, with all its tedious connotations of responsibility and a clear sense of direction, is being kept at bay for as long as possible …
The emotional growth rate of this generation is being retarded partly by their own parents’ determination to be the youngest generation ever to hit middle age …
Well, here’s the upshot of Howard’s disgusting capitulation on West Papua:
* the entire Australian mainland will be excised from the migration zone
* Any and all arrivals will be transported to Manus Island or Nauru for processing
* They’ll be denied settlement in Australia, even where found to be refugees
* Australia will collobarate with Indonesian navy, potentially in returning boats. This is a clear breach of our non-refoulement obligations, and the lowest we have ever sunk. Worse than 2001-2.
Essentially, we have changed our law because the Indonesian government didnt like it. When the going got tough, Howard bent over and coughed. Its a policy of pure complicity with the gross, ongoing, systematic abuse of West Papuans by the Indonesian state.
Lets call it what it is: appeasement.
This is even worse than the ALP complicity with the New Order regime over Timor - at least Hawke/ Keating let the Timorese stay; albeit on dodgy extended bridging visas.
I want to know what RWDBs think about this. As these are now Christians fleeing oppression, not *scary Muslims* fleeing the Taliban and Saddam, maybe you’ll be some use to us when we hit the streets, like we did over Timor in 1999.
Has it ever been clearer than today? International pressure and domestic uproar, here on the streets - led to INTERFET. Face the facts: DFAT and Cabinet never wanted to go in, we forced it.
And this is it, all over again: business as usual - an ALP/LPA appeasement consensus and only the Left protesting.
Here’s what Howard should have done, if he had any balls: no change - Australian law operates, we dont bow to pressure, cease all military cooperation with Kopassus until the TNI is under civilian control, and the human rights situation in Papua is demonstrably improved, with adequate local autonomy, a la Aceh model of last year. This fits in neat as a glove with Indonesia’s own struggle to reform, is practical, even helpful - and it would work.
This is, broadly speaking, the Left posiiton. And frankly, unlike the ALP and Coalition, we were on the money last time with Timor. Why not pick a winner for a change?
JahTeh: “Happy Buddhist New Year!”
Ah, but is not this ‘year’ business merely an illusion? Or ‘happy,’ for that matter? The veil of Samsara quite engulfs you…
Gummo: “classic air piano tracks…”
What, no Elton John?
The hardest track of all, of course, would be John Cage’s “3 mins. 33 secs.”
Air piano?
Glenn Gould plays Bach (with obligatory humming)…
Actually Keith Jarrett does that too
Jason,
Both your air piano suggestions, I think, would be classed “Don’t try this at home”.
As for Hugh Mackay, as far as I’m concerned, he’s usually fair game but a bit of a sitting duck. I was going to provide a link, but it appears to be broken, so there goes my moment of shameless self promotion for the day.
A make-believe holiday invented in 1966 to promote black pride, a bit like modern Christmas or Easter, which were invented to promote comercialist pride. However Easter and Christmas have done far more for the Comercialist religion than Kwanzaa ever did for building pride in African American heritige.
[link]
Jesus died so I can eat choclate eggs!
Zen Master Rama, I am happy, tis the weekend of chocolate and time stretches to accomodate the amount of chocolate available.
Well, here’s some good news anyway: New domestic light technology, which doesnt heat up like bulbs do; more energy efficient
[link]
Not true in the case of East Timor, Lefty. One of the significant sources of support for East Timor’s independence came from members of the RSL who had memories of the sacrifices made by the East Timorese in protecting and supporting Australian soldiers on Timor in WW2. The old soldiers got pretty worked up about the debt they felt we owed to the East Timorese for that and about the way the East Timorese were being treated by the Indonesians.
Also the Catholic Church, not an organisation that could be readily characterised as being of the Left, provided significant support for East Timorese aspirations.
True Greg - ‘the Left and significant elements of civil society’ would be more accurate. The Sparrow force diggers were of course excellent advocates all through late 99.
Im really making a point about the “common sense” ALP/ Coalition consensus on Indonesia being anything but - in view of its apparent resurgence.
Our major parties, and the entire “centre” of mainstream policy work (eg DFAT, ANU) got it all horribly wrong from day one. Any notions of a post-99 rethink seem to sadly misbegotten.
4′33″ would be the easiest!
What about Mandy’s assertion (4 times) that Australia won’t let refugees “dictate the terms” of Australia’s processing policy? Geez, and I thought they were desperate and powerless… (didn’t notice Kerry O’Brien laughing).
Naomi, is it cold in the Mountains? Suze and I and Oscar were thinking of swinging past next month…
“This is, broadly speaking, the Left posiiton. And frankly, unlike the ALP and Coalition, we were on the money last time with Timor. Why not pick a winner for a change? ”
What???? the hell is in your chocolates!! The left was in a winner last time with East Timor”!!!!!!!!!!!
..It was the Lefts own god that sold out East Timor..remember him (GW)..the Lefts own “Keating the twat” who was first up with puckered lips in the labour party “conga line of suck holes” to Suharto. It was the the influence of the left that so severely reduced the capability of the defence force that it very nearly failed in carry out the most basic of missions in country less than one hour of the Australian main land..and you claim you were on the money .. the only thing you are on is low qaulity drugs
Naomi, if you ever do see the error of your evil ways steer clear of the Seventh Day Adventists. They don’t allow coffee drinking at all.
It’s an enormous laugh when the latte set try acting dumber than they actually are. I see them tittering at little tables along Fitzroy Street and Bridge Road, all having had their showers that morning and tizzed themselves up to go on show. And I see them in tarted up public servant pubs, raising glasses of wine to their gobs as though there’s thousands watching. So stiff, they are. So elegant. And so predictable. They oppose John Howard, George Bush, and Jesus Christ.
They support Aborigines, Refugees, Immigration. Which doesn’t affect them because they’ve never had to compete with migrants for low-paid jobs and cheap housing.
They hate smoking. No one should smoke. They believe that colonic irrigation promotes high thought, and accordingly that every male over the age of twelve should be colonically irrigated every Saturday. They believe they’re something new, but they’re nothing new at all. They believe they’re different to their parents, but they’re just like them. Because nothing has changed. Nothing ever changes at all. The focaccia has replaced the cucumber sandwich, that’s all. They’re the same old crowd, back again. Different hairdos, different clothes, sunglasses in place of parasols, but it’s the same old crowd; the same bourgeois economic class. You never get rid of them. The well off spivs occupying St Kilda now are the same class of moneybags that lived there one hundred years ago. With poverty in between. Meanwhile they gasbag on about dispossession. What a joke. Well when it comes to that they do a bloody fine job of it themselves.
Yes Russ, the Left supported Timorese independence from day one. The centre and right in Australian politics sold them down the river to Suharto.
(PS Get with the program - the ALP isnt ‘the Left’.)
Thanks Munn.
Nice to recieve happy greetings on this holiday weekend from the sympathisors, believers or no, and greetings returned, but sadly amazing to read so much venomous or, at least, sarcastic unbelief being espoused on this thread on this most important remembrance day for Christians, particularly from the unstoppable and mysteriously unstopped silkworm (who’s monitoring this thread anyway? on hoilday I suppose, oh well!).
I can just see the worm’s face, like some warped, contorted, deaf-era Goya-esque character, in the front row of despisers crying “Crucify him, crucify him’ as Jesus is charged with no crime anyone can legally nail him for, but every crime they can manufacture out of nothing, and ol’ silkworm, he’s there accusing with the best of ‘em, still - after 2,000 years of it, and, yet, he just doesn’t grasp it. I almost fell sorry for the foolishness of his rebellious heart. And so brave to dare to so openly and publicly oppose the beliefs of Christians. Still, unlike Mohammed’s Allah, God and Son can handle themselves, so we’ll let silkworm have his day.
The Christian name for the festival weekend is ‘pasche’, which means ‘the passion’, and refers to the death and resurrection of Jesus, whihc is the single most significant event on the Christian calender. Easter is indeed a pagan festiival which falls on the same weekend. Chocolate eggs are part of the pagan thing, but hey, we’re not too dogmatically, rigidly religious, are we, to enjoy a few slabs of chocolate? Enjoy!
Pasche weekend greetings, all persons!
Was there something wrong with my comments Moderator? I can’t remember being under moderaton before, and my comments have not appeared. Please explain!
Which comments, FaceLift? I just got here but can’t see any in moderation.
Well, I sent some comments a few minutes ago, and the box came up with ‘under moderation’ or something similar, and failed to appear. Lost in transit.
I have a feeling it’s also Iranian new year.
Ok, found it, and it’s liberated!
I must confess I didn’t like the anti-Christian stuff either. But I haven’t been around.
Thanks Kim. Poor ‘ol silkworm needs liberation. Must be terrible having to slide around with all that negativity clogging up the silk channels.
I feel sorry for Richard Dawkins as well [link]
Does he really think that all religious people go around looking for ways to wipe other people out for having a different belief. Wouldn’t be many people around if that was true. Funny how people with so much apparent brain power and knowledge can be so short on common sense and wisdom.
RH, I know you were upset with silkworm, and quite rightly, but, about your reference to Hillsong, I’d just like to assure you that Hillsong folk are really top people, and do an amazing amount of good in their community, despite what the media says.
To answer Shaun’s question about fasting and Friday, here’s some background:
And some more history.
The Orthodox Churches have a much stricture fasting regimen during Lent, and don’t eat meat on any Wednesdays or Fridays.
Fasting is a widespread practice in most religious traditions, as you can see from belief.net and Wikipedia.
You know, it happens that I was cooking up some lamb this evening, when I noted it was smelt a wee bit off.
So I settled on prawns instead. Mmmm. Prawns.
Thus, by chance, I have abstained.
I’m also a seafood fancier!
Well then Kim, when next in Melbourne, do visit Claypots. In St Kilda, or Fitzroy.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, mmm.
[link]
Lefty Elitist sheds a tear or two for the West Papuans then says:
“Here’s what Howard should have done, if he had any balls: no change - Australian law operates, we dont bow to pressure, cease all military cooperation with Kopassus until the TNI is under civilian control, and the human rights situation in Papua is demonstrably improved, with adequate local autonomy, a la Aceh model of last year. This fits in neat as a glove with Indonesia’s own struggle to reform, is practical, even helpful - and it would work.”
Actua