Go to Religion in the Modern World
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strat - that's exactly how I see it
In order for there to be miracles in this day and age the standards of what constitutes a miracle have had to be lowered. Now the word "miracle" is used by those who believe in such things as a means of describing any scenario with a fortuitous outcome. If an individual's house is the only one spared within a cummunity in a tornado for example, it is definitely a miracle. But if their's is the only house destroyed while leaving all others standing in that same tornado, it is just bad luck. Education and our ever broadening knowledge base affords us the determination that supernatural intervention just doesn't happen, yet there are those who to this day insist that miracles do happen.
posted by
gomedome
on September 7, 2006 at 6:53 AM
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Actually, water into wine is a pretty useful trick, I think.
But I know what you're saying. For me, it kinda translates to crop circles and UFO sightings -- just don't get as many ever since things like digital cameras and camcorders madethe scene...
posted by
strat
on September 7, 2006 at 6:21 AM
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SuccessWarrior - the part that drives me nuts comes after they build
their crazy concensus.
Once they reach a point of critical mass, they devise plans to ostracise, discriminate against and generally try to control, those who aren't buying the same whoppers they have bought into.
posted by
gomedome
on September 6, 2006 at 11:47 AM
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I think that's the whole thing
If one person says something bizarre, they're crazy. If they can band together and get enough people believing, then they won't seem crazy anymore. They're normal by the standards of all the other crazy people. That's something to aspire to, isn't it?
posted by
SuccessWarrior
on September 6, 2006 at 9:43 AM
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strat - I like this line >>
"Perhaps sheep-like adherence to obvious absurdities is more palatable when it's shared by, say, 20 million people."
That's it isn't it? ......it really is a sheep like adherance to obvious absurdities. The good old fashioned miracles that don't seem to happen today in the same manner are another example. Water into wine? Like what a waste of a perfectly good miracle. The piss up went dry so it was time to use supernatural powers so that the party could continue? ...give me a break.
posted by
gomedome
on September 6, 2006 at 9:18 AM
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Sunnybeach7 - establishing consensus is a big part of religion
We hear people repeat the same things over and over again as if they are fact but they are only considered as fact because they have been repeated over and over again. It's the ultimate catch 22, say it enough times and get enough people to agree and somehow it becomes true.
posted by
gomedome
on September 6, 2006 at 9:11 AM
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I dunno, either.
Perhaps sheep-like adherence to obvious absurdities is more palatable when it's shared by, say, 20 million people.
Of course, we used to say the same thing about unprotected sex and Herpes: "20 million people can't be wrong, can they?"
posted by
strat
on September 6, 2006 at 8:23 AM
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gome
What is the matter with them? That is a good question.
I don't know what motivates these people to continually try to convince others to believe what they do.
Perhaps if enough people believe, it will make it so? I can't figure anything else.
posted by
Afzal_Sunny7
on September 6, 2006 at 7:45 AM
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