Dechristo

jah, mon. That's how I run.

The experience of those, such as I, that "are free indeed" is due precisely to "allegories, parables, poems and myths", not bullshit worldly legalism that Paul addressed in Romans and subsequently described as "milk" for babes of worldly understanding; what he described as "meat" is chastised here by Ingersoll. No doubt, Ingersoll is one that finds comfort in chanting trance-like, "Jesus...Jesus...Jesus..." unendingly, while seeming oblivious to the fact that Jesus is recorded as having taught almost exclusively in allegory and parable and is recorded as stating his mission was (through his allegorical teachings) "to set the captives free".

Though they may both be "good guys", it remains that, mentally, Bill is an adult of consideration and TTK a deluded, troubled adolescent.

Yea - pretty much runs the gamut of the factors that coalesced into modernity. Renaissance, Enlightenment, constitutional government, separation of powers, scientific method and all of the fruits thereof, art, literature, philosophy, etc, etc, etc. The extent to which economic processes which established powerful interests that were independent of the church and the crown shouldn't be underestimated either. Ingersoll hinted at the idea that most of what moderated the stridency of religious certitude originated from sources outside the established religion back in the nineteenth century. I can't recall a passage where he states this explicitly, but there's a passage that gets close that I can recall. From, "The Devil,": "Many of the clergy are now ashamed to say that they believe in devils. The belief has become ignorant and vulgar. They are ashamed of the lake of fire and brimstone. It is too savage. At the same time they do not wish to give up the inspiration of the Bible. They give new meanings to the inspired words. Now they say that devils were only personifications of evil. If the devils were only personifications of evil what were the angels? Was the angel who told Joseph who the father of Christ was, a personification? Was the Holy Ghost only the personification of a father? Was the angel who told Joseph that Herod was dead a personification of news? Were the angels who rolled away the stone and sat clothed in shining garments in the empty sepulcher of Christ a couple of personifications? Were all the angels described in the Old Testament imaginary shadows -- bodiless personifications? If the angels of the Bible are real angels, the devils are real devils. Let us be honest with ourselves and each other and give to the Bible its natural, obvious meaning. Let us admit that the writers believed what they wrote. If we believe that they were mistaken, let us have the honesty and courage to say so. Certainly we have no right to change or avoid their meaning, or to dishonestly correct their mistakes. Timid preachers sully their own souls when they change what the writers of the Bible believed to be facts to allegories, parables, poems and myths. It is impossible for any man who believes in the inspiration of the Bible to explain away the Devil. If the Bible is true the Devil exists. There is no escape from this. If the Devil does not exist the Bible is not true. There is no escape from this." http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/devil.html Worth reading all of it, and following the link to the many other essays. Worth noting that he was a prominent figure in the Republican party at the time... The guy's an unfortunate ignoramus on the topic.

Except that no such offensive remark about Judaism was ever uttered. Small detail. I made fun of Leavenworth, and Charleton Heston. I assumed that was really obvious, but I guess not. As for making fun of dead celebrities, fuck em. None of us knew them personally, they were willing public figures, and they're as fair game dead as alive. I'm not mourning the motherfucker, that's for sure. Now, really. Is it any surprise TTK would vie for top status on this board at giving offense by taking the greatest liberties in incivility? He has honked loudly and repeatedly of his representation of the American unCivil Liberties Union.

Actually, it's tomorrow. April 11, 1945 at 3:15 PM (where the clock tower is still set to that time.) Is it a coincidence that 38-years-ago today Paul announced the Beatles were breaking up?

This is not correct. Steel parts can be designed for infinite life under fatique loading, as long as the fatigue limit is not exceeded. Aluminum parts, however, cannot. So, somehow (in your mind) "bend it enough and it will break" does not correlate to exceeding a fatigue limit. Go away kid, ya bother us.

He bowed in a contrite crouch while typing it

Though, not in the uvula like Rob, I bet.

Maybe his motivations are not guilt-based, but simply, he's acting on what makes him feel good. A nice, warm & fuzzy mix of extravagance and conservation.

Anker claimed Charlet picks don't break.

I'd like any eulogies to be interrupted by the sound of a fart coming from my casket followed shortly by a recording of my voice asking, in an accusing tone, "WHO CUT DA CHEESE!?"

The Big Country. Heston and Gregory Peck duke it out.

Dealing with the students wasn't too difficult. The politics with the staff and administration was untenable.

A farrier would know what to do.

What's this about poor teaching salaries? By proving I was earning nearly double outside, I negotiated $58k to start at the local college.

Freakin' great lookin' ice.

...and this photo enlarged facing me atop my casket.

Clair De Lune Moonlight Sonata The music for my wake should be raucous. On the tombstone: "He lived life for better or worse. Now, he's dead for good."

No, it's because we use them for vivisection in seventh grade biology classes.

Engineer and build a bridge to where you want to go.

Do what you gotta do.

can we take a break from fucking, now?