Has Ank gone off the deep end?

[Martinus]

It is - the only thing more amusing than overly sensitive guys like Ben is actual, real examples of people who actually get offended that other people don't call some decoration the name THEY want it to be called. The narcissism of the idea that only YOUR name is the acceptable name is amusing, to say the least.

That comes with the territory of being religious. I mean, is there really anything more narcissistic than insisting that there is this infinite, eternal, unknowable, omnipotent entity out there - and at the same time claiming that you know exactly what It wants not just you, but the rest of the humanity to do?

[Berkut]

It is - the only thing more amusing than overly sensitive guys like Ben is actual, real examples of people who actually get offended that other people don't call some decoration the name THEY want it to be called. The narcissism of the idea that only YOUR name is the acceptable name is amusing, to say the least.

That comes with the territory of being religious. I mean, is there really anything more narcissistic than insisting that there is this infinite, eternal, unknowable, omnipotent entity out there - and at the same time claiming that you know exactly what It wants not just you, but the rest of the humanity to do?

I think that is the least of it - the narcissim implicit in religion goes beyond that. The idea that there is an omnipotent being who created a universe the size of which renders humans a tiny spec, and it was all created JUST FOR YOU, and said omnipotent being cares about nothing really much more than your own adulation of it.

I mean, that is almost breathtaking in its arrogance. The creator of the universe made the entire thing just so YOU could worship HIM.

[Eddie Teach]

I know. I was really mad when they dumped celebrating the birth of Mithra for this new fangled "Christ-mass" shit.

Didn't realize you were grumbler's age.

[Martinus]

It is - the only thing more amusing than overly sensitive guys like Ben is actual, real examples of people who actually get offended that other people don't call some decoration the name THEY want it to be called. The narcissism of the idea that only YOUR name is the acceptable name is amusing, to say the least.

That comes with the territory of being religious. I mean, is there really anything more narcissistic than insisting that there is this infinite, eternal, unknowable, omnipotent entity out there - and at the same time claiming that you know exactly what It wants not just you, but the rest of the humanity to do?

I think that is the least of it - the narcissim implicit in religion goes beyond that. The idea that there is an omnipotent being who created a universe the size of which renders humans a tiny spec, and it was all created JUST FOR YOU, and said omnipotent being cares about nothing really much more than your own adulation of it.

I mean, that is almost breathtaking in its arrogance. The creator of the universe made the entire thing just so YOU could worship HIM.

Yeah. Characters in "Fifty Shades of Grey" are more psychologically believable than that.

[11B4V]

It is - the only thing more amusing than overly sensitive guys like Ben is actual, real examples of people who actually get offended that other people don't call some decoration the name THEY want it to be called. The narcissism of the idea that only YOUR name is the acceptable name is amusing, to say the least.

That comes with the territory of being religious. I mean, is there really anything more narcissistic than insisting that there is this infinite, eternal, unknowable, omnipotent entity out there - and at the same time claiming that you know exactly what It wants not just you, but the rest of the humanity to do?

I think that is the least of it - the narcissim implicit in religion goes beyond that. The idea that there is an omnipotent being who created a universe the size of which renders humans a tiny spec, and it was all created JUST FOR YOU, and said omnipotent being cares about nothing really much more than your own adulation of it.

I mean, that is almost breathtaking in its arrogance. The creator of the universe made the entire thing just so YOU could worship HIM.

I like that.

[Eddie Teach]

I think that is the least of it - the narcissim implicit in religion goes beyond that. The idea that there is an omnipotent being who created a universe the size of which renders humans a tiny spec, and it was all created JUST FOR YOU, and said omnipotent being cares about nothing really much more than your own adulation of it.

I mean, that is almost breathtaking in its arrogance. The creator of the universe made the entire thing just so YOU could worship HIM.

I think most religious people figure the seven billion other schlubs in the world are also supposed to be worshipping HIM.

[11B4V]

I think that is the least of it - the narcissim implicit in religion goes beyond that. The idea that there is an omnipotent being who created a universe the size of which renders humans a tiny spec, and it was all created JUST FOR YOU, and said omnipotent being cares about nothing really much more than your own adulation of it.

I mean, that is almost breathtaking in its arrogance. The creator of the universe made the entire thing just so YOU could worship HIM.

I think most religious people figure the seven billion other schlubs in the world are also supposed to be worshipping HIM.

Hence the problem.

[Eddie Teach]

It may be a problem, but it's not arrogance on the part of the believer.

[Berkut]

It may be a problem, but it's not arrogance on the part of the believer.

Oh, it is most definitely arrogance.

There is zero humility in religious belief*, no matter what they might say - there is nothing "humble" about the insistence that the entire universe was created for human benefit.


*Of course I am speaking about typical, monotheistic religious belief as it is practiced. It is certainly possible to have a religious belief that is not narcissistic. You could posit a religion where humans are not the point of creation, for example, or where the god(s) could not care less about the humans.

[Admiral Yi]

It is - the only thing more amusing than overly sensitive guys like Ben is actual, real examples of people who actually get offended that other people don't call some decoration the name THEY want it to be called. The narcissism of the idea that only YOUR name is the acceptable name is amusing, to say the least.

I just said that people are totally free, this being a free country, to go chop down a Norwegian fir, stand it up in their living room, put a Star of Inoffensiveness at the top, hang a couple of winged statues of Lowest Common Denominator from the branches, and call it a Tree of Interfaith Dialogue if they want.  But as is your wont when that vein in your forehead starts a-twitchin', you ignored that.

The tree in question is not your private Tree of Interfaith Dialogue, it is partly my tree, and therefore I have a say in what it is called.

[The Brain]

*Of course I am speaking about typical, monotheistic religious belief as it is practiced. It is certainly possible to have a religious belief that is not narcissistic. You could posit a religion where humans are not the point of creation, for example, or where the god(s) could not care less about the humans.

The best one.

[Jaron]

This is why the Mormon interpretation is best. It is openly acknowledged that humanity is not the only flock in God's care.

[11B4V]

This is why the Mormon interpretation is best. It is openly acknowledged that humanity is not the only flock in God's care.

Mormon's are worse.

[Admiral Yi]

What logic is being followed by a White House that hosts Eid el-Fitr but calls it a holiday tree?

[11B4V]

Mitt Romney's family baptized Ann Romney's atheist father into Mormon church a year AFTER his death

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093241/Mitt-Romneys-family-baptized-Ann-Romneys-atheist-father-Mormon-church-year-AFTER-death.html

Mormon Underwear, Revealed

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/10/mormon-underwear-revealed/381792/