OT: religion

[svelte]

[quote=scaredyclassic]I never masturbate to images of biblical patriarchs wives though.[/quote]

And your wife is wrong – you are funny! This is one of the many examples of posts you’ve done that made me snicker. I just can’t always respond.

[NotCranky]

Going with what you said about religions, svelte,All systems of social convention are bizarre , religion is just one of them, Perhaps a bit more anachronistic than say the system and trappings of a powerful modern secular nation state but at most a tiny bit more bizarre. Religious societies are not more ego based than the “separation of church and state” USA, for instance. We just aren’t all that no matter how we try to frame things.

And yet these nation states, and institutions within, lead most of us by the nose….to terrible waste and tragedy often.

[FlyerInHi]

Don’t question how things are. God has a hand in in it so it must be OK.

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=Blogstar]Going with what you said about religions, svelte,All systems of social convention are bizarre , religion is just one of them, Perhaps a bit more anachronistic than say the system and trappings of a powerful modern secular nation state but at most a tiny bit more bizarre. Religious societies are not more ego based than the “separation of church and state” USA, for instance. We just aren’t all that no matter how we try to frame things.

And yet these nation states, and institutions within, lead most of us by the nose….to terrible waste and tragedy often.[/quote]

lifting weights of various sizes in an air conditioned room during lunch is really really weird when I think too hard about it.

[flyer]

It’s interesting to note that many people are “led by the nose” through life in many ways other than religion.

Millions “buy into” having to work for 30+ years, rather than realzing there are more efficient ways to make money over a shorter period of time, so they can truly enjoy life.

Some take jobs they can’t stand for decades, and try to make themselves believe it’s OK. Millions overextend themselves financially to the point of destruction. Millions spend everything they have and wonder why they can’t afford to retire, and on and on.

It’s certainly true that humans are capable of many forms of delusion.

[zk]

[quote=flyer]It’s interesting to note that many people are “led by the nose” through life in many ways other than religion.

Millions “buy into” having to work for 30+ years, rather than realzing there are more efficient ways to make money over a shorter period of time, so they can truly enjoy life.

Some take jobs they can’t stand for decades, and try to make themselves believe it’s OK. Millions overextend themselves financially to the point of destruction. Millions spend everything they have and wonder why they can’t afford to retire, and on and on.

It’s certainly true that humans are capable of many forms of delusion.[/quote]

Oh, I see. So the key to making the millions you’re always bragging about is just to “realize” that there are more efficient ways to make money? And anybody can do this? And the ones who don’t do this don’t do it because they’re suffering from a delusion? Do I have that right?

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=flyer]It’s interesting to note that many people are “led by the nose” through life in many ways other than religion.

Millions “buy into” having to work for 30+ years, rather than realzing there are more efficient ways to make money over a shorter period of time, so they can truly enjoy life.

Some take jobs they can’t stand for decades, and try to make themselves believe it’s OK. Millions overextend themselves financially to the point of destruction. Millions spend everything they have and wonder why they can’t afford to retire, and on and on.

It’s certainly true that humans are capable of many forms of delusion.[/quote]

Kind of a secular prosperity gospel.

Definitely better to hang out at the rich church than the poor church. Better connections, less handout seeking deadbeat congregants ….

[scaredyclassic]

Maybe I just get too literal. I read Christianity as a radical calling to eschew worldly success, even family and work to help the poor and downtrodden.

Frankly to me that sounds nuts.

[svelte]

[quote=Blogstar] All systems of social convention are bizarre , religion is just one of them…Religious societies are not more ego based than the “separation of church and state” USA, for instance. We just aren’t all that no matter how we try to frame things.
[/quote]

Would have to agree with you there.

When I see these huge expensive stadiums that are built, torn down and rebuilt every few decades to draw tens of thousands of people to watch a group of men chase little white or brown balls around using a set of obscure and nonsensical rules, I think of how bizarre modern social rituals have become.

And the US certainly is as self righteous as any other nation, that is true.

[flyer]

My comments were not intended as a judgment call or as a gospel.

Simply citing some documentable “real world” examples of the financial “belief system” by which millions of people live their lives. These beliefs and practices could be construed as equally as fantastical, ridiculous and delusional as some consider religious “belief systems” to be.

[zk]

[quote=flyer]My comments were not intended as a judgment call or as a gospel.

Simply citing some documentable “real world” examples of the financial “belief system” by which millions of people live their lives. These beliefs and practices could be construed as equally as fantastical, ridiculous and delusional as some consider religious “belief systems” to be.[/quote]

Jimbob Smith grows up in a trailer in Kentucky with poor parents and an 95 IQ. He doesn’t have a sparkling personality or any real entrepreneurial skills. A pretty typical guy, really. Maybe not in your neighborhood, flyer, but there are millions like him. He finishes high school, gets a job at a machine shop, works there 45 years, has 3 kids, and has to scrape by in retirement. And he doesn’t have as much money as you because he’s delusional, right? And his delusion that years of hard work is his best chance at raising a family is comparable to believing that an omnipotent, anthropomorphic father figure created and rules the universe and will, while sometimes killing your children, give you eternal life if you worship him but won’t give hindus or muslims or atheists the same thing because they don’t worship him (to pick nowhere near the most bizarre religious belief)? Is that what you’re saying?

[flyer]

No. Not at all. Not even close. I’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars helping people like “Jimbob” and his family build a better life, but I’m not willing to go any further with this discussion. These topics have been discussed for centuries, without arriving at a definitive answer.

I’m secure in what I “believe” to be true, and no one will ever change that, and I’m sure you feel the same.
Enjoy your life, and I’ll enjoy mine.

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=flyer]No. Not at all. Not even close. I’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars helping people like “Jimbob” and his family build a better life, but I’m not willing to go any further with this discussion. These topics have been discussed for centuries, without arriving at a definitive answer.

I’m secure in what I “believe” to be true, and no one will ever change that, and I’m sure you feel the same.
Enjoy your life, and I’ll enjoy mine.[/quote]

jimbob doesn’t need any help from donations; he’s doing ok! he’s working like a dog, raising kids and squeaking by. it’s all the poor indebted jobless law stduents who need charity!

[zk]

[quote=flyer]No. Not at all. Not even close. I’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars helping people like “Jimbob” and his family build a better life, but I’m not willing to go any further with this discussion. These topics have been discussed for centuries, without arriving at a definitive answer.

I’m secure in what I “believe” to be true, and no one will ever change that, and I’m sure you feel the same.
Enjoy your life, and I’ll enjoy mine.[/quote]

Well, that’s kinda funny. You say “not even close,” but you can’t really explain how that wasn’t what you were saying. You just stick yet another brag in there and call it a day. Well played.

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=zk][quote=flyer]My comments were not intended as a judgment call or as a gospel.

Simply citing some documentable “real world” examples of the financial “belief system” by which millions of people live their lives. These beliefs and practices could be construed as equally as fantastical, ridiculous and delusional as some consider religious “belief systems” to be.[/quote]

Jimbob Smith grows up in a trailer in Kentucky with poor parents and an 95 IQ. He doesn’t have a sparkling personality or any real entrepreneurial skills. A pretty typical guy, really. Maybe not in your neighborhood, flyer, but there are millions like him. He finishes high school, gets a job at a machine shop, works there 45 years, has 3 kids, and has to scrape by in retirement. And he doesn’t have as much money as you because he’s delusional, right? And his delusion that years of hard work is his best chance at raising a family is comparable to believing that an omnipotent, anthropomorphic father figure created and rules the universe and will, while sometimes killing your children, give you eternal life if you worship him but won’t give hindus or muslims or atheists the same thing because they don’t worship him (to pick nowhere near the most bizarre religious belief)? Is that what you’re saying?[/quote]

it’s actually delusional to think that everyone can benefit from making money by more efficient means. the contrarian way to make money v. the way of the masses only works if not everyone does it. In terms of the easy money, it’s not available to everyone by its very nature. Only the smarter people can benefit by going against the hordes. Once everyone tries to get in on the good deal, it becomes the sucker deal.

if there are 10 potential films to invest in, each requiring a 30 million dollars total investment, and only one is going to be a winner, and the hordes allot the 300 million dollars they have to those films, they can’t all go with the winner. most lose. not delusionally. just , well, they’re losers…

that same logic applies all over the economic world. there are winners and losers. It’s not delusional; they’re just not as smart or lucky …

that said, the hordes have poor people problems. high interest rates, fines and fees on traffic tickets, barely scraping by. indeed, the system is deigned to keep poor people barely scraping by…

hell, not even the law school grads are getting jobs. their stduent loans are piling interest. the fed gov is burying the problem with “income based repayment” plans that hide the problem, as recently reported in the wall st. journal.

WHO REALLY PAYS FOR LAW STUDENT DEBT?

law schools an example of what was once a smart playlaw school being a good meal ticket has become a ticket to a lifetime of debt that is nondischargeable and for many, statistically unpayable. ditto the college degree, which was once rarer and had a higher career earnings premium, now being way less valuable as the hordes come to all get in on it.

the nimble and smart stop applying …applications to law school are way down)…the standards for admission get lower, the hordes apply, and are stuck with permanent nondischargeable debt and a lifetime of certain poverty or close to it.

suckers. pershaps delusional…but more likely, just bad risk analysts…

People don’t work long and hard because they’re delusional. they’ work 30 years because it’s the only way they have to make it through this world. If they’d figured out a better way, theyd take it.

[Author]

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