1681

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Daily Contact Prayers in the 3 Major Faiths

« on: December 25, 2013, 06:33:10 PM »

Yas, God is vein.

Ok. I could accept that as an axiom for the Abrahamic traditions, but what about the East? I don't even know if they have the practice.

Eastern religions are usually more about the individual than the gods themselves. For example, in Hinduism devotion to the gods is just another way of achieving true happiness, and there are other paths to Nirvana that have little if anything to do with the gods. You don't have to jump through hoops to prove your devotion to your gods of choice, because they don't give a shit and you're mostly doing it for your own sake.

Everyday I'm believing less and less that Yaakov is a historian. To get a BA in history you have to take world, ancient, European, and American history courses so he should have basic knowledge of most cultures/histories.

Like Tausami said Eastern religions are more about the individual than paying homage to a god. Buddhism, for example, is about achieving Nirvana through meditation and releasing yourself from all physical and earthly desires. Buddha himself is not even a god as we know them. If you consider meditation prayer than they tend to do that in the morning and at night and for as long as they wish.

Other Eastern religions allow for small shrines for a house/family protector. Since it's not monotheistic they pray to whichever god that's relevant to their situation but there's no strict rule that I'm aware of.
In ancient Chinese religions your ancestors would be your gods/protectors and that is who you would have prayed to with state "religions" being more social/political institutions like Confucianism.

1682

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Erich von Daniken

« on: December 24, 2013, 01:12:00 AM »

Actually, the more I am reading of his work, the more I am inclined to agree with you. He is a VERY sloppy individual. I think Carl Sagan may have been right about him. Although paleo-contact is a possibility, and Sagan acknowledges that it is, he still believes that von Daniken is sloppy at best, and downright dishonest at worst. I am beginning to agree.

Praise god.

1683

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Erich von Daniken

« on: December 24, 2013, 12:06:13 AM »

Whatever one may think of von Daniken's work, I expect most of the research for the 2nd book was done by the time the wheels of the Swiss justice system were able to churn out his arrest & coviction.

Stop. I can't do this. You think way too highly of this terrible fraud who has completely poisoned so many minds about ancient history. He is an utter disgrace.

You claim to be a historian but I can't believe any historian would read that garbage and take any of it seriously.

1684

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Erich von Daniken

« on: December 23, 2013, 05:33:09 PM »

Look at Daniken's past. He has been arrested for fraud before.

But was he ever convicted of fraud?  People get arrested (and later released) for things that they didn't do all the time.

Yes.

In November 1968 von Däniken was arrested for fraud, after falsifying hotel records and credit references in order to take out loans[8] for $130,000 over a period of twelve years. He used the money for foreign travel to research his book.[6] Two years later,[8] von Däniken was convicted for "repeated and sustained" embezzlement, fraud and forgery, with the court ruling that the writer had been living a "playboy" lifestyle.[4] Von Däniken entered a plea for nullity on the grounds that his intentions were not malicious and the credit institutions were at fault for failing to adequately research his references.[4][6][8] Von Däniken was sentenced on 13 February 1970 to three and a half years imprisonment and fined 3,000 francs.[8][10] He served one year of this sentence before being released.[6][11]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_von_D%C3%A4niken

He wrote his second book while in prison. I doubt he could do any real thorough research that way.

1685

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Star Trek

« on: December 23, 2013, 04:10:11 PM »

The Inner Light was definitely an interesting episode. But I think the Q episodes are also my favorite. Particularly the one where they have to fix the future by fixing the past, I don't recall what the episode title was. I also really love Guinan episodes since I thought the El-Aurians were really fascinating.

Any of TNG with Wesley was automatic shit. I hate Wesley.

1686

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Now Playing (the Video Game Version)

« on: December 23, 2013, 03:22:38 AM »

I briefly returned to GTA V, but the multiplayer is just as clunky and slow as it was before.  Sad.  Anyway, now I'm going to complete F3's DLC.  Operation Anchorage is first.

Aww yes, Operation Anchorage. That one wasn't too fun. Out of the DLC I only remember the zombie-esque one and that's cause I really loved it. (I had forgotten all about OA.)

1687

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Proofs from EJ.

« on: December 23, 2013, 01:03:56 AM »

Come on, do you actually believe that he thinks h8 had 8 wives? Do you think he writes that badly because he doesn't know what he's doing? Do you think that he really thinks all black people should be called African Americans?

Probably. There's absolutely no getting through to Yaakov.

1688

Status Notices / Re: Forum and Wiki maintenance, 2013-12-22

« on: December 23, 2013, 12:57:14 AM »

My avatar disappeared.

Wow, that was silly of me. I forgot to update the attachments after updating the database.

Fixed, let me know if you see any other issues.

Thank you, good sir.

1689

Status Notices / Re: Forum and Wiki maintenance, 2013-12-22

« on: December 22, 2013, 06:26:09 PM »

My avatar disappeared.

1690

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Erich von Daniken

« on: December 22, 2013, 06:25:30 AM »

But the river is how they transported everything. What makes you think it would be a mess? And why is it a countless amount of wood? How do you know how long the rollers lasted?

Daniken makes the mistake of underestimating ancient culture. He asks questions as if these things were impossible and pulls crap out of nowhere like the builders just eating onions.

Everything he brings up has already been asked and answered and he acts like it's all a secret.

1691

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Erich von Daniken

« on: December 22, 2013, 05:15:00 AM »

That's true, but Egyptians still had wood in a lot of their buildings it's just believed to come from somewhere else.

1692

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Duck Dynasty Controversy

« on: December 21, 2013, 05:09:46 PM »

Looks like I'm going to be the one going against the bandwagon here. I don't think he should have been kicked from the show. I'm probably one among few who thinks the First Amendment should be as close to an absolute right as possible. (Obviously it can't be a full absolute right, as then it would be legal to shout "Fire!" in a crowded public area) You should be able to express any opinion you want, whenever you want, without needing to worry about PC or offending someone. Losing your job because of an opinion is just as bad as losing a job for being gay.

That is absolutely ridiculous. Say whatever you want without offending someone? And how do you imagine that could work in reality?

I guess that's what makes me different from other people, it is literally impossible to offend me, and I'm confused when others are offended by trivial things.

I'm sure that's not true.

1693

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Duck Dynasty Controversy

« on: December 21, 2013, 02:59:57 PM »

Looks like I'm going to be the one going against the bandwagon here. I don't think he should have been kicked from the show. I'm probably one among few who thinks the First Amendment should be as close to an absolute right as possible. (Obviously it can't be a full absolute right, as then it would be legal to shout "Fire!" in a crowded public area) You should be able to express any opinion you want, whenever you want, without needing to worry about PC or offending someone. Losing your job because of an opinion is just as bad as losing a job for being gay.

That is absolutely ridiculous. Say whatever you want without offending someone? And how do you imagine that could work in reality?

1694

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Duck Dynasty Controversy

« on: December 21, 2013, 03:07:08 AM »

Is Lord Dave trolling? 

That's what it seems like. 

1695

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Nelson Mandella is dead

« on: December 21, 2013, 02:35:30 AM »

What are you trying to get out of this, spank?

1696

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Duck Dynasty Controversy

« on: December 21, 2013, 12:33:32 AM »

I think you're getting literal and legal definitions confused here.

1697

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Erich von Daniken

« on: December 21, 2013, 12:30:34 AM »

Look at Daniken's past. He has been arrested for fraud before.

1698

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Just Watched

« on: December 20, 2013, 10:59:42 PM »

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Miloš Forman)
I wonder why I didn't see this a long time ago, but I'm glad I waited, as I don't think I would have been sensitive or patient enough to really get into this as a teenager. I would have missed the warmth and humour of the characters, the more subtle elements of their interactions and relationships, and the wonderfully balanced ending, which is both sad and joyful, but without falling prey to the bogus sentimentality it so easily could have. Like so many films I love, it walks a tonal tightrope with, perhaps not exactly surety, but determination.

This one I did see as a teenager in a film class. I remember becoming pretty emotional at the end. I've been wanting to go back and watch it but it affected me so much the first time that I'm kinda scared.

1699

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Duck Dynasty Controversy

« on: December 20, 2013, 10:32:14 PM »

LD, I have no idea what you're saying or where you're going with it.

1700

Science & Alternative Science / Re: Erich von Daniken

« on: December 20, 2013, 10:28:55 PM »

Well, as per your point, Rooster, I checked a few of the 6 books of von Daniken that I have (mind you, I've only read 2, & those quickly). They all have bibliographies, & some of the later ones do have chapter notes. I'm rereading Chariots right now, his 1st book, which has no notes, just a bibliography. Apparently, he eventually learned how to do more honest research. I'll keep everyone advised. I shall continue to read von Daniken, but I shall also read more orthodox answers to questions as well. Its very sloppy to write a book presenting a controversial thesis w/o notes!

Still depends on his sources and what in context he is using the information. Anyone can take one sentence out of a book and turn it to their advantage.