Religion

tama

(9,137 posts)

36. Cartoonish exaggeration

Tue Jan 22, 2013, 07:23 AM

Jan 2013

of something that is common to all missionary religions, from Christian "original sin" to First Nobel Truth of Buddhism - idea and message that there is something missing, life is incomplete, not fully happy; there is a need and the message of the missionary religion is answer to that need.

Oldest marketing trick is creation of need, and the missionary strategy both speaks to our genuine needs and creates them so that the whole bundle becomes inseparable. "Bipolar" mood swings seems to universal phenomenon, we all have crappier and happier days when we compare days, and many of us feel genuine need or curiosity for deeper meanings and experiences and/of peace of mind. So when a missionary asks, are you 100% happy and content, very few of us can honestly answer yes. And no doubt the various missionary traditions in many cases deliver what they promise and benefit our lives. And in other cases prove to be various disappointments.

But what ever psychological and spiritual need missionary religions may create, and what ethical answers they offer, this pales in comparison to purely commercial advertising to create consumer needs. If we want to develop sustainable ways of life and cut down consumption to be able to live within means, we simply can't afford artificial creation of consumerist materialistic needs. How does that weigh against abuse of freedom of expression by commercial advertising?

PS: see also http://www.democraticunderground.com/12525089

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Highlight:

I Really Hope You Accept The Beauty Of The Christian Message Someday. [View all] cleanhippie Jan 2013 OP

Where did you get that cartoon rug Jan 2013 #1

If you don't believe that cartoon you are so going to Hell! longship Jan 2013 #2

If the pastor believes that he probably believes Hell is in Bakersfield. rug Jan 2013 #5

Let me tell you, Hell IS in Bakerfield. longship Jan 2013 #8

Tulsa OK? Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #27

I've been to Tulsa....gak. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #32

Obviously you have not been to Hoboken, New Jersey Fortinbras Armstrong Jan 2013 #74

ROFL! Touch�. longship Jan 2013 #75

Do you know about the three layers of a black hole? Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #116

From the Christians that knock on my door, for starters. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #4

I am proud to say that the last time the Jehovah's Witnesses came to my door, rug Jan 2013 #6

. patrice Jan 2013 #10

Oh, I have no problem with the JW's, it's the other christians giving your religion the bad name. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #11

Frankly, I have yet to be cowed by pushy Christians. rug Jan 2013 #13

that would be rude. Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #28

Well, simply expressing that rudeness online to perfect strangers hardly seems an improvement rug Jan 2013 #39

i concur. but it is *easier* so more likely to happen anyway Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #96

Sure, right now. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #41

Where do you live? MrModerate Jan 2013 #105

i told them my ideas of christ`s message is different than thiers madrchsod Jan 2013 #17

That's good -- and pretty much how I feel. gateley Jan 2013 #51

We Episcopalians do not go door to door. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #21

might explain something about your dwindling numbers. Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #29

is it true larwdem Jan 2013 #101

It might. But I can tell you both from experience and data that Jehovah's Witness door-to-door Schema Thing Jan 2013 #102

'Original sin.' earthside Jan 2013 #7

I'm familiar with it and it doesn't say a thing about filthy disgusting worms. rug Jan 2013 #9

It says you are sinful and flawed from birth. God is a crooked prosecutor Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #24

While I don't froth at the mouth over it like you, kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #31

There are several kind ones in Hinduism. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #33

Let's take a look at that. rug Jan 2013 #38

Original Sin claims that even babies are tainted. white_wolf Jan 2013 #100

No, that is not what original sin is Fortinbras Armstrong Jan 2013 #77

I did not see tama Jan 2013 #91

no but it does say we are flawed at birth. Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #30

And so we are. rug Jan 2013 #37

All of us? tama Jan 2013 #53

Some are better than others but none are perfect. rug Jan 2013 #54

IF tama Jan 2013 #55

That's interesting, sort of like the question that was put to Eve. rug Jan 2013 #58

In other words tama Jan 2013 #61

Exactly. rug Jan 2013 #64

Planck scale tama Jan 2013 #67

The concept of "original sin" is flawed and not consistent with Genesis. SarahM32 Jan 2013 #89

Very good point tama Jan 2013 #90

Then God should have made Adam and Eve incurious. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #118

I have a different concept of "Creation." SarahM32 Jan 2013 #119

First you say original sin is "not consistent Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #120

We are flawed at birth? By what measure? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #57

By the capacity to hurt one another. rug Jan 2013 #60

That's a flaw? Again, by what measure? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #63

Tell me under what circumstance it is desirable to hurt one another. rug Jan 2013 #65

I'm not sure it is ever, but you claimed it was a flaw. So I ask, by what measure? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #70

That is a principal measure. You don't consider causing conscious harm to be a flaw? rug Jan 2013 #80

Kindly refrain from answering the question with a question, and just answer plainly. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #81

I did answer it. You simply don't like the answer. rug Jan 2013 #83

Bullshit needs no refutation. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #85

Oh, that's persuasive! rug Jan 2013 #87

More persuasive than the bullshit you provided. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #92

I can't possibly refute that. rug Jan 2013 #95

Those babies are going to hell ... earthside Jan 2013 #76

No but they're sure to live in a world where worse things happen than fighting over toys. rug Jan 2013 #79

You claimed we are flawed at birth. That we are inherently flawed from the start. By what measure? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #82

Kindly refrain from asking the same question in two different places. rug Jan 2013 #84

Kindly refrain from giving bullshit questions as answers. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #86

Kindly refrain from asking bullshit questions. rug Jan 2013 #88

Is it bullshit to ask by what measure you use to say we are flawed from birth? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #93

Yes, when you ask it twice. rug Jan 2013 #94

Were done. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #98

There is a beauty to the Christian message. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #3

Indeed there is Freddie Jan 2013 #12

How do you know they're wrong? EvolveOrConvolve Jan 2013 #14

Who else? tama Jan 2013 #46

+++1 It's a little limited, but this is an analogy I used a bit ago: Just because a whole bunch of patrice Jan 2013 #15

What about the many hateful things Jesus allegedly said? Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #25

thank you. esp. that last bit about 'synthesis' Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #97

I saw this today...it reinforces what you say here deutsey Jan 2013 #18

I would disagree with you on this... rexcat Jan 2013 #22

Well some people just find it odd or just not believable. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #23

So you believe in something... rexcat Jan 2013 #121

Christianity has never been logical, but as i said i still believe in it. hrmjustin Jan 2013 #122

Starting premise of ALL xtianity is original sin; therefore harmful. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #34

Where did you learn abcout Christianity? Thats my opinion Jan 2013 #73

"doctrine of original sin is not Around"? What does that mean? Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #99

true the xtian concept of salvation rests of original sin Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #103

Would somebody answer my question? Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #107

Nirvana tama Jan 2013 #108

ok but i could do without the appeal to authority Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #109

The person asked where I learned about Christianity, Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #115

The substitutionary theory of the atonement was introduced by a guy named Anselm in the 11th century Thats my opinion Jan 2013 #110

"Unadorned prejudice" Goblinmonger Jan 2013 #114

The Christians here keep denying the cruel & punitive doctrines of their religion. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #117

Without certain magical rites, baptism etc. you are eternally irrevocably scroomed. dimbear Jan 2013 #16

Try having an honest look at what modern Christians are saying. Thats my opinion Jan 2013 #111

I try to keep up. dimbear Jan 2013 #112

I never believed in that part. kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #19

Pretty accurate actually Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #20

That is why it is good to be a Dragon Angry Dragon Jan 2013 #71

Put a twenty . . . another_liberal Jan 2013 #26

"God ALWAYS needs money!" -- George Carlin Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #35

True that! another_liberal Jan 2013 #40

Cartoonish exaggeration tama Jan 2013 #36

No, it's not cartoonish. cleanhippie Jan 2013 #42

On the contrary tama Jan 2013 #44

Have you ever been told you can be difficult to talk to? cleanhippie Jan 2013 #47

Don't worry tama Jan 2013 #48

By think, do you mean the rational attempt to quantify cleanhippie Jan 2013 #49

Just this babble in the head tama Jan 2013 #50

* cleanhippie Jan 2013 #56

What I see tama Jan 2013 #59

* cleanhippie Jan 2013 #62

* tama Jan 2013 #106

Do you get this drivel from a book or do you just make it up? mr blur Jan 2013 #66

Do you really want to know? nt tama Jan 2013 #68

Not even Sarah Palin's books have this much DryRain Jan 2013 #69

Tibetan Buddhists like big hats tama Jan 2013 #72

I've NEVER seen a Buddhist, a Hindu, or a Jew proselytizing. Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2013 #43

I meant no negative connotation with "missionary" tama Jan 2013 #45

Haha! It's really sad how most organized religions (greedy men) have distorted the messages of gateley Jan 2013 #52

And you wonder why their are Agnostics....... wandy Jan 2013 #78

OK. That was funny. And not what I was expecting when I read the headline. n/t MrModerate Jan 2013 #104

This Atheist likes Jesus, it's his followers who drive me crazy. Odin2005 Jan 2013 #113