So, after reading this nonsense, I had to respond.

1) If you "know JC" and "believe in Him", going out and murdering a
few dozen people should not allow access to Heaven. So, by not
murdering said people, you are in fact "earning" your way in by acting
within the guidelines of said religion which also include "knowing JC"
and "believing in Him". The notion that someone who is of sound mind
and practices a religion that can then go out and break all the
guidelines set by it and still get in via grace is no place I would
want to exist for eternity.

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Hebrews 10:26-27

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Being a Christian isn't a free pass to sin. Anyone who is doing something like you described will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

2) If following God prevents mental illness (depression is a mental
illness), why does reading all of your commentary depress me so?
Shouldn't I feel better simply by reading all this nonsense? Plus I
think you should poll your fellow church goers to see how many are on
mood stabilizers or hit the bottle hard in the evenings. I don't
think strength = heavy drinking or pills.....or counseling or
therapy...or any other coping mechanism for that matter. I think
you'll find your list of people walking with the Lord is very small,
and that seems like they are forsaking him by their actions and
therefore would be denied entry into Heaven. It just doesn't make
sense for people to have to rely on external factors to stave off
depression if walking with Him prevents mental illness, so the only
other explanation is they are faking it.

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

No one is perfect and everyone has their speciai challenges but if someone is abusing medication and alcohol, they are definitely not following the Lord. Often times people have many areas in their life that they will not turn over to the Lord and they end up in situations like you're describing because of it. When you step out from under Gods protection you invite spiritual oppression into your life.

Atheists have a higher suicide rate. I argue this is because they
don't have the guidelines of a religion stating that suicide is a
unforgivable sin and that they are not fearful of missing out on
heaven/virgins/whatever. It's far too simple an answer to explain
away suicide as the forsaking of faith. But it's rather depressing to
know that your life has to remain shit because religious people hold
sway in many decisions that are contrary to scientific
evidence....preventing others from alleviating suffering. Stem cells,
certain drugs, scientific research, etc.

The problem is the evil that dwells in the hearts of men, which is universal and trancends all borders, boundaries, religions, creeds, races, and other human demarcations. To blame religion for all the evil in the world is to be looking at the symptom and not the cause.

It strikes me as supremely arrogant to assume that your will and wish
is the will of your deity, and that free will of others should be
suppressed because they aren't in lockstep with your beliefs.

It's not for my benefit that I tell you any of this, it is because I care about you and because the Lord commanded me to do so. I am telling you what Gods word says, not what I say.

I am not quoting you because you asked me to, although I think its pretty ridiculous to talk to someone you're ignoring and then tell them not to talk to you.

>> ^shinyblurry:

You can't earn your way into Heaven. We are saved by grace, which is unmerited favor. So, even if you did better works than 10 Mother Teresas, if you don't know Jesus Christ, you are still dead in your sins. It's only through Him that we are redeemed, and not by our works, but only our faith in Him is what justifies us.
If you're walking with the Lord then you are not going to commit suicide. The salvation of anyone doing so is in doubt. God gives us the strength to overcome, but when you walk away from Him you open yourself to spiritual oppression, which is where feelings of depression and suicide come from. So, anyone getting to that point had probably been walking away for awhile.

>> ^Porksandwich:
I wouldn't say Im an atheist, but I certainly don't follow any organized religions. I generally like logical answers, atheism usually has those when it comes to religion vs science discussions......but I also don't like people who say that all religions are 100% wrong. I like to think that all of them have a bit of truth to them, and people are too focused on the rest of the crap associated with it that the overall message is lost. Think of them as exaggerated stories, fairy tales, mythology.....just general stories that pass on a code of conduct and some lessons.
Now with that said. I have always wondered if the idea of suicide being a mortal sin is what keeps many religious followers from killing themselves as soon as they find the religion that gives them the best "deal". It's how terrorists operate, it's what nut jobs on the news use as an excuse to kill their kids and themselves.....to "save" them. I mean you are basically living your life by a set of commandments/codes/whatever and doing things to "earn" your way in. You live this life, for an eternal one.....but it seems like too many just look at the destination and ignore the journey. Kind of a, it sucks now and we can't do anything about it (we're being tested, it's a trial, it's our punishment, it's whatever), but eventually we'll get to <insert "heaven" equivalent here>.



I normally have you ignored, but apparently the site still sends emails when an ignored person quotes or mentions you (consider this a bug report to whomever I am supposed to report these to) and it also includes their text.

So, after reading this nonsense, I had to respond.

1) If you "know JC" and "believe in Him", going out and murdering a few dozen people should not allow access to Heaven. So, by not murdering said people, you are in fact "earning" your way in by acting within the guidelines of said religion which also include "knowing JC" and "believing in Him". The notion that someone who is of sound mind and practices a religion that can then go out and break all the guidelines set by it and still get in via grace is no place I would want to exist for eternity.

2) If following God prevents mental illness (depression is a mental illness), why does reading all of your commentary depress me so? Shouldn't I feel better simply by reading all this nonsense? Plus I think you should poll your fellow church goers to see how many are on mood stabilizers or hit the bottle hard in the evenings. I don't think strength = heavy drinking or pills.....or counseling or therapy...or any other coping mechanism for that matter. I think you'll find your list of people walking with the Lord is very small, and that seems like they are forsaking him by their actions and therefore would be denied entry into Heaven. It just doesn't make sense for people to have to rely on external factors to stave off depression if walking with Him prevents mental illness, so the only other explanation is they are faking it.

Atheists have a higher suicide rate. I argue this is because they don't have the guidelines of a religion stating that suicide is a unforgivable sin and that they are not fearful of missing out on heaven/virgins/whatever. It's far too simple an answer to explain away suicide as the forsaking of faith. But it's rather depressing to know that your life has to remain shit because religious people hold sway in many decisions that are contrary to scientific evidence....preventing others from alleviating suffering. Stem cells, certain drugs, scientific research, etc.

It strikes me as supremely arrogant to assume that your will and wish is the will of your deity, and that free will of others should be suppressed because they aren't in lockstep with your beliefs.

Please don't quote me or tag me if you respond to this, hopefully they'll fix the ignore function a little better in the future.

>> ^Deano:

I've just started Richard Morgan's The Cold Commands (which I think is sci-fi/fantasy with gay characters but I'm not entirely sure) and then I'm going to reread American Tabloid by James Ellroy as I stopped and forgot all about it and I want to read the entire trilogy eventually.


You, sir, have excellent taste in books. Ellroy and Morgan are both awesome, especially the Dudley Smith and Takeshi Kovacs books respectively.

As for me, my last few were Iain Banks Transition, the Atheists Guide to Christmas and Paul Kimmage's Engage (true account of a tetraplegic rugby player, fascinating story and insight into coping with such a horrific accident).

I'm currently reading Milligan's Meaning of Life: An autobiography of sorts by Spike Milligan. It's really just a collection of Milligans other writings but it's great fun.

Thank you! I suppose that makes sense. And yes, I do hope that a pilots license is in his future, one way or another.

>> ^nanrod:

I think that most jurisdictions have no specific exclusion related to AS, but if your symptoms are extreme ie anxiety or depression you can be failed on the medical. The UK on the other hand I believe has a policy of rejecting AS sufferers unless they get a medical exemption where their symptoms are well controlled or mild. Kind of the difference between being presumed innocent or presumed guilty.
In this kids case he was taken out of school and has trouble leaving his home so his symptoms are relatively severe but as he gets older he is and hopefully will continue to develop coping strategies. Maybe a pilot's license down the road is not out of the quetion for him.>> ^braindonut:
This may be a stupid question, but why can't he be a pilot?

I think that most jurisdictions have no specific exclusion related to AS, but if your symptoms are extreme ie anxiety or depression you can be failed on the medical. The UK on the other hand I believe has a policy of rejecting AS sufferers unless they get a medical exemption where their symptoms are well controlled or mild. Kind of the difference between being presumed innocent or presumed guilty.

In this kids case he was taken out of school and has trouble leaving his home so his symptoms are relatively severe but as he gets older he is and hopefully will continue to develop coping strategies. Maybe a pilot's license down the road is not out of the quetion for him.>> ^braindonut:

This may be a stupid question, but why can't he be a pilot?

Am I alone in not liking this song/movie???

The music is meh but the lyrics are total garbage. Here's one of the worst offenders, an excerpt from "Oogey Boogey's" song:

"He's funny, I'm laughin'.
You really are too much.
And now, with your permission,
I'm going to do my stuff."

Urgh, either rhyme or don't rhyme you son of a bitch. I'm sure it would have been so hard to figure out a lyric that rhymed with much (Boogey's touch?).

But more to the point, if you're gonna skip the rhyme and use a semi free-verse, at least get the syllable count close. From the "Making Christmas" song:

"Making Christmas. Making Christmas.
Snakes and mice get wrapped up so nice with spider legs and pretty bows.
It's ours this time.
All together, that and this with all our tricks we're making Christmastime.
Here comes Jack.
I don't believe what's happening to me,
my hopes, my dreams, my fantasies
eheHEEHEEHEEEEEEeee..!
Won't they be impressed.
I am a genius."

Shudder... Anyway, I think I feel this way much like most people when it comes to modern classical music. The patterns are so awkward or they are simply absent to the point that the brain trying to make sense of them gets frustrated. I don't want to be frustrated trying to make sense of some nonsense patterns when I watch a movie. I just want to relax and enjoy it.

The root of the issue really though, is that most girls like the movie ([almost] every girl I've ever dated). I expect this is because it makes teenage girls think that they are somehow "darker" or deeper than they really are. Consequently, guys end up pretending to like it to get into said girl's pants "Oh god baby you're so twisted! I can't believe YOU like this movie too!"

Not that I would know about that *cough*

Anyway! I married a girl who also hates this movie so I'm happy.

LOL

parts of this are grate , but the performance is like a comedy sketch , the jazzy aspects of it seem really forced and artificial and in my opinion detract from the flow and feel of the tune completely.

I'm not against jazz in general and enjoy lots of off beat and more experimental aspects of the genre just seems in this case when they go off on a more abstract jazz tangent its totally superfluous and feels out of context.

The bassist expressions and movements also look completely forced granted they are really skilled musicians and I'm sure if I played at this level I would make stupid faces but I'm reasonably certain That it would not be to this existent , after all the drummer and the pianist seem to be coping just fine ( pianist has his moments )

- Westy Review 2011

OMG How does Google cope with 10 simultaneous users?!?

>> ^alien_concept:

>> ^Payback:
Upvoted, even though my dad passed away last Monday. He liked Carr.

You just gave me a huge lump in my throat there mate, sad to hear that. Hope you're coping okay <img class="smiley" src="http://cdn.videosift.com/cdm/emoticon/smile.gif">


Yeah. It wasn't quick, but it wasn't heinously agonizing either. He suffered from COPD and other things to do with smoking all his life and being a bit free and easy with the autobody repair masks. His suffering is over at least.

>> ^Payback:

Upvoted, even though my dad passed away last Monday. He liked Carr.


You just gave me a huge lump in my throat there mate, sad to hear that. Hope you're coping okay

Tbh I think its pretty normal or at least not uncommon to be excluded or ostracised at some point. I'd never consider myself bullied, but I definitely wasn't a popular kid and I was often reminded of that fact pretty pointedly. It hurt, but because it was kinda petty I could cope. Not trying to belittle the suffering bullies cause all kinds of people, I just think if your being bullied based on your sexual prefence or really anything thats deeply personal and integral to who you are the potential for real lasting damage is much higher than kids just being cruel to each other.

"God did it" isn't an explanation either, its a diversion. I wish more people could cope with not having an explanation for everything, accept their own ignorance and not be scared by the unknowns.

I'd have asked Piers why he is Catholic. He appears to believe in a spiritual being that created all things, but why subscribe to a mainstream religion? Oh right, argumentum ad populum.

@Boise_Lib, the article is a springboard to other articles.

You claimed that there are no scientific studies suggesting that an NDE can be the result of biological reactions which help the body to cope. This is demonstrably untrue. The section on endorphins—which also mentions serotonin and NMDA—has multiple references alone. Note that I am not saying these studies explain NDEs entirely—just that they exist. The hypothesis is a relatively old one.

The only conclusions I make regarding NDEs are that they are complex, poorly understood, difficult to study, and almost certainly nothing to do with an afterlife. It also makes for a fucking excellent piece of fiction!