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Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 2:14 pm
by mark
from
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011 ... sponse.php
Why is a serious newspaper like the Washington Post giving space to a raving loon? I suppose the answer must be that, unlike the average loon, this one has managed to raise enough money to launch a radio station and pay for billboards. I don't know where he gets the money, but it would be no surprise to discover that it is contributed by gullible followers — gullible enough, we may guess, to go along with him when he will inevitably explain, on May 22nd, that there must have been some error in the calculation, the rapture is postponed to . . . and please send more money to pay for updated billboards.
So, the question becomes, why are there so many well-heeled, gullible idiots out there? Why is it that an idea can be as nuts as you like and still con enough backers to finance its advertising to acquire yet more backers . . . until eventually a national newspaper notices and makes it into a silly season filler?
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 2:23 pm
by Caliman73
mark wrote:from
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011 ... sponse.php
Why is a serious newspaper like the Washington Post giving space to a raving loon? I suppose the answer must be that, unlike the average loon, this one has managed to raise enough money to launch a radio station and pay for billboards. I don't know where he gets the money, but it would be no surprise to discover that it is contributed by gullible followers — gullible enough, we may guess, to go along with him when he will inevitably explain, on May 22nd, that there must have been some error in the calculation, the rapture is postponed to . . . and please send more money to pay for updated billboards.
So, the question becomes, why are there so many well-heeled, gullible idiots out there? Why is it that an idea can be as nuts as you like and still con enough backers to finance its advertising to acquire yet more backers . . . until eventually a national newspaper notices and makes it into a silly season filler?
The answer is always MONEY. Why is it the Trump was even for ONE second considered a candidate for president? He generates money for the media corporation. I think that the news should be interesting and informative, but that is not what we get. All we get is a 3 ring circus.
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 2:59 pm
by AmirMortal
Did you know that they took gullible out of the dictionary two years ago?
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 3:19 pm
by ABNinfantryman
And how many preachers drive Porsches and BMWs? I can name quite a few from the Bible Belt.
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 3:30 pm
by Caliman73
ABNinfantryman wrote:And how many preachers drive Porsches and BMWs? I can name quite a few from the Bible Belt.
I can be quite a lucrative field.
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 6:54 pm
by GlockLobster
"If your doing business with a religious fucker-get it in writing, his word's not worth shit with the good Lord trying to fuck you on the deal"
W. Burroughs
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 7:25 pm
by DukeNukemIncarnate
ABNinfantryman wrote:And how many preachers drive Porsches and BMWs? I can name quite a few from the Bible Belt.
Few years ago, I went somewhere pretty early in the morning. I think it was either Sunday or some Holiday because streets were pretty much empty. They in a lane next to me I see this Mercedes SL550 with license plate "10 PCNT" driven by well dressed, covered in jewelry middle-age black woman. Gullible people pay 10% to church for "protection" and pastors or their wives drive $125k Benz. Smart!
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 7:49 pm
by ABNinfantryman
When I lived in Knoxville there was a church on my way to school that sat in the middle of a construction area where they planned to put up new apartment buildings. I'd stop at the church and wash the red clay off my shoes from walking through the site. One morning I saw a porsche 911 in the parking lot and wondered whose it was, until the preacher appeared and asked what I was doing. I got a taste of the corrupted churches at an early age, it's taken a long time to get it out of my mouth enough to accept Christians as individuals and not fault them for their own ignorance.
Speakin' of which, anyone wanna start a new busin.. church? Just need someone willing to speak in gibberish and flail around on the floor like a gold fish while I "perform an exorcism."
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 7:55 pm
by DukeNukemIncarnate
ABNinfantryman wrote:When I lived in Knoxville there was a church on my way to school that sat in the middle of a construction area where they planned to put up new apartment buildings. I'd stop at the church and wash the red clay off my shoes from walking through the site. One morning I saw a porsche 911 in the parking lot and wondered whose it was, until the preacher appeared and asked what I was doing. I got a taste of the corrupted churches at an early age, it's taken a long time to get it out of my mouth enough to accept Christians as individuals and not fault them for their own ignorance.
Speakin' of which, anyone wanna start a new busin.. church? Just need someone willing to speak in gibberish and flail around on the floor like a gold fish while I "perform an exorcism."
This reminds me of Al Bundy (Married With Children) when he and his buddies formed non-profit "No Maam Church" so they can buy beer without paying a tax. We should definitely do something like that!!!
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 10:33 pm
by eelj
mvelimir wrote:ABNinfantryman wrote:When I lived in Knoxville there was a church on my way to school that sat in the middle of a construction area where they planned to put up new apartment buildings. I'd stop at the church and wash the red clay off my shoes from walking through the site. One morning I saw a porsche 911 in the parking lot and wondered whose it was, until the preacher appeared and asked what I was doing. I got a taste of the corrupted churches at an early age, it's taken a long time to get it out of my mouth enough to accept Christians as individuals and not fault them for their own ignorance.
Speakin' of which, anyone wanna start a new busin.. church? Just need someone willing to speak in gibberish and flail around on the floor like a gold fish while I "perform an exorcism."
This reminds me of Al Bundy (Married With Children) when he and his buddies formed non-profit "No Maam Church" so they can buy beer without paying a tax. We should definitely do something like that!!!
Foxgirl can be the altar boy.
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 10:35 pm
by ABNinfantryman
eelj wrote:Foxgirl can be the altar boy.
I can't afford the lawsuit for bad touch. All of my assets will be wrapped up in off-shore accou... poor children in Africa.
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 10:43 pm
by eelj
poor children in Africa.
Thats what pat robertson calls blood diamonds.
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 12:11 am
by Elmo
Have y'all seen a picture of this guy Harold Camping who started the May 21 rapture prediction?
I mean, I'm not saying we all have to be beautiful, but this is one scary-looking, dissapated old codger. Reminds me of this guy:
Separated at birth?
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 12:31 am
by Zapp Brannigan
I don't scare easily. But my god that picture.
Re: Dawkins on Judgement Day
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 2:37 pm
by rolandson
mark wrote:from
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011 ... sponse.php
Why is a serious newspaper like the Washington Post giving space to a raving loon? I suppose the answer must be that, unlike the average loon, this one has managed to raise enough money to launch a radio station and pay for billboards. I don't know where he gets the money, but it would be no surprise to discover that it is contributed by gullible followers — gullible enough, we may guess, to go along with him when he will inevitably explain, on May 22nd, that there must have been some error in the calculation, the rapture is postponed to . . . and please send more money to pay for updated billboards.
So, the question becomes, why are there so many well-heeled, gullible idiots out there? Why is it that an idea can be as nuts as you like and still con enough backers to finance its advertising to acquire yet more backers . . . until eventually a national newspaper notices and makes it into a silly season filler?
While religion seems to have been created to keep the poor from murdering the rich, there are "churches" whose mission is to make the poor feel good about handing over their money. It follows that the Post, with it's distinctly right of center cant, would advocate for any enterprise intent upon making money, especially from those least able to afford.
Remember the pyramid scams of the 80's? The ones where somebody threw a 'party' where invitee's would "gift" money to persons relative to that persons place on a pyramid? The only ones coming out ahead are the one's at the top, who are in on the scam.
The "well-healed" gullible? I doubt it.
