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malthaussen

(18,560 posts)

59. Therefore, those who believe in the Christian god as a metaphor...

Fri Apr 15, 2016, 12:28 PM

Apr 2016

... and who devoutly practice Christian principles are not Christian? Whereas one who truly believes the dogma, but follows none of the practices is a true Christian? And you're "not convinced" that the latter should have influence in law, but are convinced that they do, whereas, presumably, the former neither deserve influence, nor have any. Do I understand you correctly?

-- Mal

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Apologies if this has been posted already: Judge Rules that Pastafarianism is not a Religion [View all] Xyzse Apr 2016 OP

It opens up an interesting can of worms. trotsky Apr 2016 #1

I agree. I am mostly curious as to who gets to decide what a religion is and is not. Xyzse Apr 2016 #4

I hope this will finally kick off a real and honest debate on religion. DetlefK Apr 2016 #24

Good point - those are questions that have long needed answers. trotsky Apr 2016 #39

Agree 10000% northernsouthern Apr 2016 #52

Pastafarianism is a joke meant to make fun of religious exemptions from regulations and laws. Odin2005 Apr 2016 #69

Does it really matter if it was started as a joke? trotsky Apr 2016 #74

Scientology was started as a barroom bet. hobbit709 Apr 2016 #79

No it doesn't. The Callahan test is 35 years old. rug Apr 2016 #73

You mean vermicelli? GaYellowDawg Apr 2016 #81

"the trappings of the satire" jberryhill Apr 2016 #2

I agree, though the idea of who gets to decide what a religion is an interesting premise. Xyzse Apr 2016 #5

I would let the person with the most ostentatious headgear decide jberryhill Apr 2016 #8

WOW!!!!! Xyzse Apr 2016 #11

or: annabanana Apr 2016 #76

Touche' - the perfect... 3catwoman3 Apr 2016 #83

You forgot to link to a pic of a mitre. n/t malthaussen Apr 2016 #7

Apparently parody isn't religion, but wildly absurd beliefs are. cleanhippie Apr 2016 #25

Right. True religions have headgear like giant penis hats. Arugula Latte Apr 2016 #38

Strange atreides1 Apr 2016 #3

That, I do not know. Xyzse Apr 2016 #6

How one is supposed to determine "sincerity" of belief is beyond me... malthaussen Apr 2016 #10

Agreed. Which is why I am quite gleefully curious about this whole thing. Xyzse Apr 2016 #13

"I think intent should not be accounted for in law" jberryhill Apr 2016 #18

Did you rob the bank? That's all I care about. malthaussen Apr 2016 #20

Hence, you believe assigning qualifiers such as "willful" or "malicious" LanternWaste Apr 2016 #22

Legally, yeah. malthaussen Apr 2016 #49

"How does a district court judge get to define what is and isn't a religion?" jberryhill Apr 2016 #9

Disingenuous answer. malthaussen Apr 2016 #12

Oh my, someone had their Wheaties pissed in this morning jberryhill Apr 2016 #14

Nah, I don't eat Wheaties these days. malthaussen Apr 2016 #15

Well, golly, give it one jberryhill Apr 2016 #16

Sure, but you're a civil practicioner, nyet? malthaussen Apr 2016 #19

I find that rock-paper-scissors is a better alternative to litigation in most instances jberryhill Apr 2016 #21

I'm witchew! trof Apr 2016 #17

Soooooo, what do you guys do for communion? cloudbase Apr 2016 #68

Brother! trof Apr 2016 #71

A religion has to be something that people believe, surely? Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #23

How can one prove anyone actually believes a person literally came back from the dead cleanhippie Apr 2016 #26

Because one has a book and lots and lots of money? truebrit71 Apr 2016 #27

Exactly. And they don't like it when the competition opens up shop next door. cleanhippie Apr 2016 #30

Indeed. truebrit71 Apr 2016 #36

Because people genuinely believe one and not the other. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #45

Doesn't fly. malthaussen Apr 2016 #51

To go through those, not in order: Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #55

Therefore, those who believe in the Christian god as a metaphor... malthaussen Apr 2016 #59

Yes, pretty much. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #65

If people can honestly believe the absurdities of mainstream religion cleanhippie Apr 2016 #56

I'm saying that they *don't*. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #63

How do I know xtians genuinely believe what they say? awoke_in_2003 Apr 2016 #72

Yes, it's got to be something plausible RufusTFirefly Apr 2016 #28

Who created everything on the planet and in the universe, but needed a rib from Adam to make Eve... truebrit71 Apr 2016 #33

The Bible's "authors" may not even have believed Mary was a virgin RufusTFirefly Apr 2016 #57

No. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #40

There's an excellent chance that people who popularized a certain world religion... RufusTFirefly Apr 2016 #47

Christianity needs the Facebook relationship descriptor for the trinity: "It's Complicated." Arugula Latte Apr 2016 #43

I can turn water into tasty Ale. Does that count? FSogol Apr 2016 #50

Hire a good publicist and recruit some adherents, and it might! n/t RufusTFirefly Apr 2016 #53

How do you know Pastafarians don't believe it? jberryhill Apr 2016 #31

Because 7. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #41

Okay, so.... jberryhill Apr 2016 #42

You apply Bayes' theorem, same as the way you should decide anything else. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2016 #46

My particular experience has been... jberryhill Apr 2016 #48

Thus all the "shushing" of atheists on social media. Arugula Latte Apr 2016 #54

And when they are asked why this should be so... malthaussen Apr 2016 #61

Good questions. Arugula Latte Apr 2016 #62

It's as much a religion as any other religion....damn! haikugal Apr 2016 #29

Yep... Which is why I feel like this will open up a whole can of worms. Xyzse Apr 2016 #35

I'll make the popcorn... haikugal Apr 2016 #37

Nah... ASSOL will... Xyzse Apr 2016 #44

Pastafarianism makes as much sense as Christianity, Islam, Scientology or any other cult. Arugula Latte Apr 2016 #32

I hope there is an appeal. Solly Mack Apr 2016 #34

I asked a serious religious question of the Pastafarians here on DU once. stone space Apr 2016 #58

Love it. sofa king Apr 2016 #60

This is just hilarious stuff robertgodardfromnj Apr 2016 #64

Sorry, this is Amurrika SwankyXomb Apr 2016 #66

I Know Myths Become Real Over Time, On the Road Apr 2016 #67

No shit, it's quite clearly a joke and not an actual religion. Odin2005 Apr 2016 #70

A nice complement to many actual religions that are also clearly a joke. Orrex Apr 2016 #78

If this discussion ultimately leads to the taxation of "Houses of Worship" as private clubs.. annabanana Apr 2016 #75

Why must religious liberty be allowed in prisons? Orrex Apr 2016 #77

now if he had rules against scientology........ dembotoz Apr 2016 #80

All religions are equally false and ridiculous. Therefore, anything can be a religion. Oneironaut Apr 2016 #82