It's a TV series that started last night made by the same people that produced the Bible series. It started last night with the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. It showed the Sanhedrin and the Jewish elders as being concerned with Jesus's political impact on the population. The Jewish authorities were concerned that Jesus wanted to insight revolt which would lead Rome to crack down on the Jews. They framed killing Jesus as politically smart to keep Rome relaxed and allow Jews to be free in their religion. They also touched on the mechanism for becoming high priest which was apparently an elected position that lasted for a limited time. Better acting and production values than that Dovekeeper religious show IMO.
Thanks.
I've always liked ancient history, mythology and philosophy. I like period dramas. These religious shows combine all that. And while I'm not religious, part of me wishes I was. I think the religious have it easier. Finally I figure if I'm going to be critical of a thing so many hold sacred, I ought to know it reasonably well.
Fair enough.
I agree.
Ummm, this goes on year-round. America is awash with religion every second of every day. Religion is not God, in my opinion. I think Religion is human's way of trying to get in touch with God, in a group sense. For some reason people have this compulsion to humanize God. They like to think on behalf of God. Thereby, if it is illogical to us, the human being, then it certainly is illogical to God. "If there were a God, why is there_______?" is a very humanistic approach. Which, being human, it's difficult to approach any other way. But, that doesn't stop some of us from succeeding in other ways. I've never come across a true atheist in my life... ever. The atheists I encounter are just complex-thinking people who's logic and literal perception of consciousness has blocked their ability to experience what is beyond matter and flesh and bone.
Much of this I agree with, but atheism isn't a certainty in no god. Its a lack of belief in any god concept yet encountered. Where you see a chink in their armor, I see a strength of character to explore a topic most think settled. Additionally, this Easter/Passover time of year is second only to Christmas for producing religiosity in the general zeitgeist of our community. Overt religious shows were on all three major networks this week, which is not the norm.
I don't watch any network TV unless it's a sports broadcast. I'm sure there are more religious shows and specials on that medium now and at Christmas. But, religion is on here every day, in abundance. That's what I was referring to. The "god concept" that there is an invisible man in the clouds who listens to us murmur to ourselves or is keeping score is basically what I feel like that most of the simpler religious-minded people react toward. Whether consciously or subconsciously, the language and the stories almost force an image a super-human male that is in charge. I am certain that some religious people don't acknowledge God in that way, but many of them, who participate on a token level (until they're challenged by a rival religion), are thinking of God in that way without even realizing it.
I agree with your first part. I've never noticed atheism being condescending to agnosticism. In fact for all practical purposes they are usually the same thing. They both reject the common answers most people offer. Which label people apply to themselves often has more to do with their general disposition than any concrete difference in philosophy, at least in my experience.
Really? I always thought that atheism was the belief there is no God, while agnosticism is the lack of belief on the subject, one way or the other. I could look it up, but it isn't that big a deal to me. I think that's the way the two terms are used in real life by most people.
People of different religions sometimes feel justified in killing each other over those differences. Atheists and agnostics rarely carry it that far.
