Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

[isuzurover]

Firstly, I think Religion has nothing to do with Landrover ownership, apart from those moments offroad (or driving a series landrover ;)) when you say "Oh (insert deity of choice here) - we're all going to die!!!

However, since a few members of this forum have felt the need to force their personal religious beliefs on us, I feel the need to present an opposing viewpoint.

I encourage everyone to read about the Flying Spaghetti Monster and how he/she/it is relevant to your life :D

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (http://www.venganza.org/)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Touched_by_His_Noodly_Appendage.jpg/800px-Touched_by_His_Noodly_Appendage.jpg


And feel free to purchase an FSM badge/bumper sticker for your Land Rover!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/769.jpg

[Offender90]

Much thought has been put into the teachings of the flying spaghetti monster. There is now even a book on the subject. It's resulting in a growing number of followers, I'm told!

Next group buy (http://www.rof.com/product_p/2290-pq.htm)... anyone? ;)

[willem]

I think this is a rather offensive posting and is quite uncalled for. :(:(:no2::no2:

To say that 'a few members of this forum have felt the need to force their personal religious beliefs on us' is really stretching the truth. Where a religious viewpoint has been expressed at all it has been done in a low key and non offensive way. Religion is as much a part of life as anything else, and should be a part of discussions on a forum where appropriate.

You are just as entitled to your point of view Ben, but in my opinion you are not entitled to deliberately offend others. Perhaps, lie others who have made comments on religious issues, you could also do so in the same way.

Willem

[Bigbjorn]

Bless you, my children. Send donations direct to my Suncorp account to ensure your salvation and to continue the good works of the FSM Church. Donations in five figures (US dollars only) will ensure you a place in my Heaven.

[martinozcmax]

I think this is a rather offensive posting and is quite uncalled for. :(:(:no2::no2:

To say that 'a few members of this forum have felt the need to force their personal religious beliefs on us' is really stretching the truth. Where a religious viewpoint has been expressed at all it has been done in a low key and non offensive way. Religion is as much a part of life as anything else, and should be a part of discussions on a forum where appropriate.

You are just as entitled to your point of view Ben, but in my opinion you are not entitled to deliberately offend others. Perhaps, lie others who have made comments on religious issues, you could also do so in the same way.

Willem

Couldn't agree less Willem. LR has zippo to do with religion. Go and godbother somewhere else.

Goes for anyone who wants to argue who's imaginary friend is best ! :twisted:

I come here for LR news and views and to chat with people who share a common interest in the marque !

[rijidij]

I wonder what Professor Jeffery Dawkins would have to say about all this. :)

[willem]

Couldn't agree less Willem. LR has zippo to do with religion. Go and godbother somewhere else.

Goes for anyone who wants to argue who's imaginary friend is best ! :twisted:

I come here for LR news and views and to chat with people who share a common interest in the marque !

G'day Martin,

Fair go! This section on the forum is entitled 'General chat' and is described as 'Almost anything goes, have a look and drop in a few lines. Think of it as a campfire chat with the kids around.' As long as we are courteous and considerate of others, why should religion not be a part of the discussion? In this section we discuss just about anything else. Religion is just as much part of life as anything else and should be just as much part of the discussion.

We can have different points of view - but let us be considerate of other people's point of view!

Willem

[martinozcmax]

G'day Martin,

Fair go! This section on the forum is entitled 'General chat' and is described as 'Almost anything goes, have a look and drop in a few lines. Think of it as a campfire chat with the kids around.' As long as we are courteous and considerate of others, why should religion not be a part of the discussion? In this section we discuss just about anything else. Religion is just as much part of life as anything else and should be just as much part of the discussion.

We can have different points of view - but let us be considerate of other people's point of view!

Willem

Don't agree, if you want to talk religion do it in your preferred church. 6.5 years in the Royal Navy taught me you don't discuss religion or politics. Too many people have too strong an opinion on them either way.

Join another forum for religion is my suggestion.

[isuzurover]

I think this is a rather offensive posting and is quite uncalled for. :(:(:no2::no2:

To say that 'a few members of this forum have felt the need to force their personal religious beliefs on us' is really stretching the truth. Where a religious viewpoint has been expressed at all it has been done in a low key and non offensive way. Religion is as much a part of life as anything else, and should be a part of discussions on a forum where appropriate.

You are just as entitled to your point of view Ben, but in my opinion you are not entitled to deliberately offend others. Perhaps, lie others who have made comments on religious issues, you could also do so in the same way.

Willem

My post was intended to be lighthearted, and not having a go at anyone in particular.

However - since you have decided it is directed at you...

I know several people on here who have deep religious belief and or work for religious groups. However you would not know it from their posts on here. I am deeply respectful of their right to believe whatever they choose.

However I have no respect for people who feel the need to preach their particular monotheistic beliefs on others.

[willem]

Don't agree, if you want to talk religion do it in your preferred church. 6.5 years in the Royal Navy taught me you don't discuss religion or politics. Too many people have too strong an opinion on them either way.

Join another forum for religion is my suggestion.

G'day Martin,

I said 'Fair go! earlier, and I repeat that. From what you say, your religious viewpoint, that there should be no discussion of religion in the general chat part of this forum, then becomes the dominant one, and everyone else is left out in the cold. That's hardly fair!

I mean, there's been discussions on all sorts of issues of life here, from animals to births and deaths and aging parents and politics and daylight saving and just about anything else that I can think of. Even Land Rovers, from time to time! :D So why should religion be left out?

After all, everyone is religious and has a religious point of view - even not believing in God is a religious point of view - so why should one religious point of view be accepted and others not?

Its simply an issue of 'Fair Go!' and letting everybody have their say. Being courteous and considerate in so doing is the way to go. There is no need to be offensive to others when we express our opinions on this or any other topic.

Willem

[BigJon]

. Religion is just as much part of life as anything else and should be just as much part of the discussion.



I think to be accurate you would have to say that religion is just as much a part of YOUR life, rather than everyones.

Not everyone subscribes to the view of a higher being, God, Allah, or whatever else may or may not be out there.

[stevo68]

I think to be accurate you would have to say that religion is just as much a part of YOUR life, rather than everyones.

Not everyone subscribes to the view of a higher being, God, Allah, or whatever else may or may not be out there. So who came first...the chicken or the egg :p,

Regards

Stevo

[Lotz-A-Landies]

... I am deeply respectful of their right to believe whatever they choose.

However I have no respect for people who feel the need to preach their particular monotheistic beliefs on others.Would you mind keeping your deep respect off my numerous monotheistic beliefs, so that I can pacify the variety of dieties to whom I pay homage and continue in my personal enthusiasm (http://www.english.upenn.edu/~mgamer/Etexts/hume.superstition.html)! :mad:


:D ;) :p :wasntme:

[isuzurover]

Would you mind keeping your deep respect off my numerous monotheistic beliefs, so that I can pacify the variety of dieties to whom I pay homage and contunue in my personal enthusiasm! :mad:


:D ;) :p :wasntme:

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

Sure, no problem - as long as you keep your eyes out for a IIB for me to restore.

[malleefowl]

I get on quite well with God
It's just his bloody fan clubs I can't stand!

[Bigbjorn]

Praise the Lord, keep those donations coming. Brother Oral raised $8,000,000 over a weekend. Let us show you can do better.

[pommy66]

There is only one thing that you can be sure of in our lifetime and the next..............no matter how much time and money these bloddy thing will ALAWYS leak oil......!

[carjunkieanon]

ah, you're all going to hell anyway :D



(joke)

(not)

(yes)


(No)

(?)

(how do we know?)

[carjunkieanon]

There is only one thing that you can be sure of in our lifetime and the next..............no matter how much time and money these bloddy thing will ALAWYS leak oil......!


Yep, death, taxes and a marked driveway that the most powerful degreaser can't get clean.

3 certainties

[Lotz-A-Landies]

ah, you're all going to hell anyway :D

...Are you disparaging my deism? :D

[Tank]

I think this is a rather offensive posting and is quite uncalled for. :(:(:no2::no2:

To say that 'a few members of this forum have felt the need to force their personal religious beliefs on us' is really stretching the truth. Where a religious viewpoint has been expressed at all it has been done in a low key and non offensive way. Religion is as much a part of life as anything else, and should be a part of discussions on a forum where appropriate.

You are just as entitled to your point of view Ben, but in my opinion you are not entitled to deliberately offend others. Perhaps, lie others who have made comments on religious issues, you could also do so in the same way.

Willem
Willem, we come here to share our experiences and problems concerning Land Rovers and other related stories, I certainly don't give a **** about religion, anyone's religion, if you want to spruik religious views, talk to someone who cares, I don't and I'm sure most here feel the same, stick to Land Rovers and similar subjects and leave religion out, Regards Frank.

[Blknight.aus]

theres no god, theres only murphy.

IF there was a god and you believe the hype then

"god, like the universe does not play dice"

and theres a reason for that and that reason is that if they did play dice then they'd probabley be a loaded set care of murphy and they'd spend eternity being loosers.

and for me, Gods will has a lot lower sense of impending doom than murphys law.

[isuzurover]

Yep, death, taxes and a marked driveway that the most powerful degreaser can't get clean.

3 certainties

Ahh, a stain-free driveway - that would be my idea of heaven!!! :D

[Slunnie]

Blokes, its would be nice to not have either or in fact any view religeous view points shoved down our throats.


It makes the FSM cranky. :D

[Slunnie]

Ahh, a stain-free driveway - that would be my idea of heaven!!! :D
I had a sign from the SFM..


It said......



It said.......



Gravel. :D


Praise the SFM!!!!!! :angel: :D

[ramblingboy42]

it has been said that Scientology started out over a bet between L.Ron Hubbard, then a science fiction writer and another science fiction writer who we all know of. Hubbard already had the basis of a religion in his science fiction series (which arent bad reading if you enjoy sci-fi)and he won the bet. The rest is now history and scientology as a religion flourishes. There is no reason on earth that the Flying Spaghetti Monster cant do the same. all other religions have the same real baseless type of foundation without any one single tangible shred of scientific evidence to support their existence. It all comes down to what you want to believe and how much you allow yourself to be conned.

[rick130]

I'm really surprised someone has taken offence to the FSM, but hey, it's a free country :confused:

[rick130]

I had a sign from the SFM..


It said......



It said.......



Gravel. :D


Praise the SFM!!!!!! :angel: :D

Works for me. :D

[willem]

My post was intended to be lighthearted, and not having a go at anyone in particular.

However - since you have decided it is directed at you...

I know several people on here who have deep religious belief and or work for religious groups. However you would not know it from their posts on here. I am deeply respectful of their right to believe whatever they choose.

However I have no respect for people who feel the need to preach their particular monotheistic beliefs on others.

G'day Ben,

I think I've misunderstood you - my apologies! You actually do believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster! Wow! And fair enough, we all have our different religious beliefs.

But why do you want to preach your belief to everybody here? You have started a thread telling us all about your rather, errr, interesting religion, but you don't want the rest of us talking about our religion! I think that's a first for this forum. I don't think there has been anyone else who has started a thread promoting their religion, but you have! And you want to stop others from making a religious comment occassionally?

A bit of a pot and kettle, perhaps?

Willem

[Bigbjorn]

Are you disparaging my deism? :D

Brother Lotz-A, you a sliding close to heresy and will not be saved. Unless, of course, an adequate donation is received. US$ please, to the Grand Cayman a/c.

[pommy66]

There are alot of big words here for a simple man like myself.

[pommy66]

This is taking too much time.................is this a wind up............

[isuzurover]

G'day Ben,

I think I've misunderstood you - my apologies! You actually do believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster! Wow! And fair enough, we all have our different religious beliefs.

But why do you want to preach your belief to everybody here? You have started a thread telling us all about your rather, errr, interesting religion, but you don't want the rest of us talking about our religion! I think that's a first for this forum. I don't think there has been anyone else who has started a thread promoting their religion, but you have! And you want to stop others from making a religious comment occassionally?

A bit of a pot and kettle, perhaps?

Willem

Ahh, good point brother Willem,

While I would normally not preach to others about my beliefs regarding the great and powerful FSM, I was offended by those importuning their narrow belief system onto us at every opportunity (and when usually irrelevant to the topic).

I therefore was compelled to post this thread, so supporters of the FSM, as well as Buddhists, Muslims, Jainists, Hare Krisnas, Atheists, Agnostics, Polytheists (didn't forget you Diana?) - and all maner of others who were being left out could express their views as well.

[willem]

Given the rather mocking tone this debate is taking, I think I shall quietly bow out.

Willem

[rijidij]

There are alot of big words here for a simple man like myself.

My thoughts harmonize with yours Pommy,
I’ll never experience comprehension why various inhabitants of the populace utilize such considerable terminology when a diminutive utterance will suffice. ;)

[martinozcmax]

Given the rather mocking tone this debate is taking, I think I shall quietly bow out.

Willem

Without a doubt the most intelligent thing I have read from you Willem. :angel:

[isuzurover]

Given the rather mocking tone this debate is taking, I think I shall quietly bow out.

Willem

Mocking tone? Every word I said was sincere. Do you begrudge those with differing theologies equal time to espouse their views?

[Ferret]

After all, everyone is religious and has a religious point of view - even not believing in God is a religious point of view

Bollocks!

There are no voices in the sky and none in my head. Don't try to make out I'm religious just because you are.

Having said that, the FSM does have some appeal - from the pictures I've seen it looks yummy.

[Bushie]

http://www.spoiltvictorianchild.co.uk/images/Popcorn.jpg

[isuzutoo-eh]

On a related topic:

YouTube - Sir Mix-A-Lot ~ Baby Got Back - original song ~ i like big butts !!!

[Lotz-A-Landies]

...
There are no voices in the sky ....

Having said that, the FSM does have some appeal - from the pictures I've seen it looks yummy.I can not accept your notion there Ferret:

I was at the beach a while back and I heard voices coming from the sky, I'm not aware of which deity it was but they had a foreboding beckoning the populace therein gathered that they should depart from the waters wherein they engaged in frivolous activities that they should undertake a pilgrimage onto mother earth so they may pay homage to the unknown deity. Failing their heeding of the prophetic words, the deity would send a most hideous beast with the form of a fish with rows of teeth to consume any disbeliever that failed to heed the divine words.

After that I did observe such a hideous beast of aquatic form which did not consume any of the gathered populace, due singularly to the prophesy from the deity or their angel and the earthly works of their chosen teachers praising the deity with whistles and the wearing of red and golden caps.

After that I was a believer.

Either that or it was something I had drunk!

[tempestv8]

Some seeds fall on hard ground and others get choked by weeds. Some get eaten by the birds, yet many more fall on rich fertile ground and produce many heads of grain.

May you be fruitful for all the people you love and those who love you. :)





OK, who's going to snatch me out of the big bog hole if I get stuck? :D

[dullbird]

OMG this thread is bloody hilarious :Rolling:
I haven't read anything so funny for a while....















*trots off to complete the bank transfer*

[B92 8NW]

I once told somewhere that I believed in one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.

They asked how was I supposed to make any money if I didn't divide the substance...










:wasntme:

[DEFENDERZOOK]

tell me more about fsm........



if you catch it.......can you eat it.......???



















pass the sauce please.........

[isuzutoo-eh]

tell me more about fsm........



if you catch it.......can you eat it.......???



















pass the sauce please.........

Yes, but you'll need The Holy Spoon Of Uselessness!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/741.jpg

[Ferret]

I can not accept your notion there Ferret:

I was at the beach a while back and I heard voices coming from the sky, I'm not aware of which deity it was but they had a foreboding beckoning the populace therein gathered that they should depart from the waters wherein they engaged in frivolous activities that they should undertake a pilgrimage onto mother earth so they may pay homage to the unknown deity. Failing their heeding of the prophetic words, the deity would send a most hideous beast with the form of a fish with rows of teeth to consume any disbeliever that failed to heed the divine words.

After that I did observe such a hideous beast of aquatic form which did not consume any of the gathered populace, due singularly to the prophesy from the deity or their angel and the earthly works of their chosen teachers praising the deity with whistles and the wearing of red and golden caps.

After that I was a believer.

Either that or it was something I had drunk!


A truly amazing and inspiring story. Clearly you have heard the voice of the FSM and have been delivered from impending danger.

I was wrong to doubt and resolve to show more reverence to the FSM in the future. May His noodly appendage touch you and bring joy into your life.

I am sorry to hear you have a drinking problem. Seek His divine guidance so that one day you may have the strength to abstain from alcohol.

[wally]

Hilarious. I've known of the FSM for a long time but never gone so far as to look at the website. Anything that mocks organised religion gets my vote and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster does it in great style.

[isuzurover]

I am sorry to hear you have a drinking problem. Seek His divine guidance so that one day you may have the strength to abstain from alcohol.

Don't be silly, red wine goes so well with pasta and meatballs! I'm sure the FSM would be encouraging.

[isuzurover]

After all, everyone is religious and has a religious point of view - even not believing in God is a religious point of view - so why should one religious point of view be accepted and others not?


Missed this earlier...

Most scientists, would disagree with that completely. Some people base their standpoint on FACTS/EVIDENCE rather than belief. Bugger it - this cartoon sums it up much better:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/739.jpg
So rather than people who believe in say, the FSM, or some guy who could turn water into plonk, a scientist would weigh the balance of evidence to form a most likely scenario kind of thingy.

The last bit is just the point - each viewpoint/deity(ies) is just as valid as another. Therefore my belief in the FSM is just as valid as anyone else's belief in their deity(ies) of choice, and I am offended by your multiple posts implying that some bugger silly enough to get nailed to a plank of wood is the one and only acceptable option.

[Slunnie]

I think that cartoon makes the assumption that man knows and understands everything... something which is not necessarily the case - hence the Kadron Kaleiderscope thing that the CERN are working on. I don't believe that science and religion are diametrically opposed.

[isuzurover]

I think that cartoon makes the assumption that man knows and understands everything... something which is not necessarily the case - hence the Kadron Kaleiderscope thing that the CERN are working on. I don't believe that science and religion are diametrically opposed.

You mean the Large Hadron Collider?

I am not sure if I agree with your first point. To me the cartoon just demonstrates the difference between the scientific method and the method used by creation "science".

A scientist looks for the most likely possibility based on available data. A creation "scientist" will not suddenly turn around and say "on the balance of all evidence it appears our hypothesis was wrong and Charles Darwin was correct"

I am not saying that theistic beliefs and science are diametrically opposed, just that the former is usually based on belief rather than evidence, and the latter the best available data.

Scientists would be unhappy if we knew and understood everything. I waqs taught long ago that the first conclusion of any research should be: more research is required ;)

This is all getting a bit boring...

Albert Einstein: "If we knew what it is that we were doing, it would not be called research"

Ben Franklin: "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" (I am assuming he meant the all great and powerful FSM here ;) )

[Lotz-A-Landies]

...

I am sorry to hear you have a drinking problem. Seek His divine guidance so that one day you may have the strength to abstain from alcohol.After such a vivid revelation one can hardly not abstain.

"I came to believe that my life had become unmanageable and that only a Divine FSM could ......"

[Bigbjorn]

Brother Lotz-A, your donation has not yet been received. My acolytes are getting in the firewood. The stake will be erected opposite the Prince of Wales Hospital, outside the Royal Hotel, so the multitudes can readily quench their thirst.

[isuzurover]

Brother Lotz-A...

Shouldn't that be Sister Lotz-A???

Or are there some peculiarities of Hj€£m Mini$trie$ that we should know about?

Do I need to eat rotten fish and hang about in seedy bulimba pubs singing viking songs if I join???

[Slunnie]

Shouldn't that be Sister Lotz-A???

Or are there some peculiarities of Hj€£m Mini$trie$ that we should know about?

Do I need to eat rotten fish and hang about in seedy bulimba pubs singing viking songs if I join???
Yes,
Yes,
Yes. :D

[Bigbjorn]

Shouldn't that be Sister Lotz-A???

Or are there some peculiarities of Hj€£m Mini$trie$ that we should know about?

Do I need to eat rotten fish and hang about in seedy bulimba pubs singing viking songs if I join???

There is no gender discrimination in the Church of the FSM. We are all members of the Brotherhood of the FSM. A generous donation will ensure membership. See earlier posts about bank transfers.

I don't eat any seafood, can't stand the stuff. The Bal was not seedy, bloody rough & ready clientele but not a seedy establishment, quite modern by most standards. Buggered now though. Been turned into a yuppy restaurant and coffee shop and serves overpriced beer in undersized glasses.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Shouldn't that be Sister Lotz-A???

...As long as you get down on your knees, bow deeply and commence every sentence with "Your supreme majestic wonderfullness" I don't care what you call me! :D :p

[Lotz-A-Landies]

How about your arseholiness;)I think the Vatican has a trademark on the suffix to that word! So unless you want to pay royalties I'd rather not inflate the papal coffers any more than they're crammed ATM.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

:twobeers:Thank you for that consideration your supreme majestic wonderfullness.
My dear brother I bestow upon you all the most luscious sauces of his divine noodleiness, be satiated and go forth and enthuse of your chosen conveyance. Hi! :Rolling:

[isuzurover]

There is no gender discrimination in the Church of the FSM. We are all members of the Brotherhood of the FSM. A generous donation will ensure membership. See earlier posts about bank transfers.

I don't eat any seafood, can't stand the stuff. The Bal was not seedy, bloody rough & ready clientele but not a seedy establishment, quite modern by most standards. Buggered now though. Been turned into a yuppy restaurant and coffee shop and serves overpriced beer in undersized glasses.

Your ancesters would be turning over in their graves at your piscine rejection. :o

To hijack my own thread...

It used to be a run down - but decent - workers pub. Then it was yuppified, but at least it had really good microbrewery beer.

Last time I was there, the microbrewery was gone, and it was just plain awful yuppifiedness, in need of another reno job.

[rmp]

Funniest thread for ages!

Might be funnier if we discussed the role of religion in politics though. I read somewhere that most Americans would vote for a black politician (well, they just did), most vote for a woman, and even a gay pollie could get in.

But an atheist pollie in the US of A? Not a hope in hell. Not that the atheist would believe there was a hell ;-)

Could Australia vote in an atheist pollie?

[Bigbjorn]

Last time I was there, the microbrewery was gone, and it was just plain awful yuppifiedness, in need of another reno job.

The owners just need to chuck out the coffee shop, install a public bar once again, and serve full measures at reasonable price. Then if they are suitably humble and apologetic, the big drinking, big spending locals might just return.

Quite a few other inner suburban pubs got delusions of grandeur and either went bankrupt, or find they have to spend a couple of million every few years refreshing the place and changing the image to retain the fickle yuppie trade.

You could fire automatic shotguns in some of them now without doing harm in what used to be their busiest periods.

[Bigbjorn]

Shouldn't that be Sister Lotz-A???



It would appear that some followers of the FSM have difficulty in comprehending the use of Brother in a genderless connotation.

Henceforth the use of "Brother" will cease and "Comrade" will be used instead.

Comrade Isuzurover,As I do not use fish, the FSM performs the ceremony of the loaves and pork chops.

[Gillie]

I want to believe but..........


Address Not Found












www.venganza.org could not be found. Please check the name and try again.








The browser could not find the host server for the provided address.




* Did you make a mistake when typing the domain? (e.g. "ww.mozilla.org" instead of

"www.mozilla.org")


* Are you certain this domain address exists? Its registration may have expired.


* Are you unable to browse other sites? Check your network connection and DNS server settings.


* Is your computer or network protected by a firewall or proxy? Incorrect settings can interfere with Web browsing.

[isuzurover]

I want to believe but..........


Address Not Found

The FSM must have gone away for the weekend. Even deities need a break once in a while...

The FSM has probably gone 4x4ing ;)

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I want to believe but..........

... * Is your computer or network protected by a firewall or proxy? Incorrect settings can interfere with Web browsing.No to be saved and enjoy the eternal noodleness of the FSM you have to interface directly.

No proxies

No priests

[Ace]

So can i declare motorsport a religion and Murray Walker God of said religion? :D Or does having Murray Walker a living person mean he cant be a God? Maybe Barry Sheen could be in charge.

[Slunnie]

So can i declare motorsport a religion and Murray Walker God of said religion? :D Or does having Murray Walker a living person mean he cant be a God? Maybe Barry Sheen could be in charge.
The Church of Brock exists between us. He drove to the top of the mountain on the 7th day and thought it was good.

[vnx205]

So can i declare motorsport a religion and Murray Walker God of said religion? :D Or does having Murray Walker a living person mean he cant be a God? Maybe Barry Sheen could be in charge.

I think that motor sport has all the important prerequisites to qualify as a religion.

There are inexplicable divisions into denominations, each with its own sacred symbols like lions or blue ovals.

The adherents to each of the denominations are absolutely convinced of the superiority of their denomination and that conviction is based purely on faith with absolutely no regard for empirical evidence.

Not only that, but most of the important rituals are practised on the Sabbath.

Given those similarities to other religions, I can only conclude that motor sport must be a religion.

[isuzurover]

I think that motor sport has all the important prerequisites to qualify as a religion.

There are inexplicable divisions into denominations, each with its own sacred symbols like lions or blue ovals.

The adherents to each of the denominations are absolutely convinced of the superiority of their denomination and that conviction is based purely on faith with absolutely no regard for empirical evidence.

Not only that, but most of the important rituals are practised on the Sabbath.

Given those similarities to other religions, I can only conclude that motor sport must be a religion.

I think you may be onto something. Maybe holden and ford could get tax exempt status, as religious idols. Maybe this is the way to save the Australian car industry ;)

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I think that motor sport has all the important prerequisites to qualify as a religion.

Not only that, but most of the important rituals are practised on the Sabbath.

Given those similarities to other religions, I can only conclude that motor sport must be a religion.

I think I sat next to God on the weekend,,,
There was heavenly music--
some unexplainable events--
a quick prayer or two--
and a few Miracles.

I think God giggled into the intercom after that last Miracle:angel:

[samuelclarke]

You know this thread is disturbing. Sure a bit of fun is great and organized religion in general is great to pick on as it's a mess, but the bullying attitude I've seen as I've read through all the pages is sad...I don't care what someone believes, but I strongly believe we should respect them for it and [so long as they don't seek to cause physical harm to others] support their right to believe and tell others about it no matter how "dumb" or "crazy" it may seem to us. Because the bottom line is if the tables were turned we'd want the same.

This is the Australian way. Sadly it seems to me that we're fast loosing it. :( Or is it because this is an internet forum and you can remain to a degree "anonymous"?

Tolerance is a two-way street - make it one-way and you have a dictatorship.

I'm not out to win friends or make enemies...none of what I've said above is directed at anyone specifically. :)

[HSVRangie]

we are all going to HELL and below is why.

Hell Explained By Chemistry Student

The following is an actual question given on a
University of Washington chemistry mid-term. The
answer by one student was so "profound" that the
professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet,
which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of
enjoying it as well.

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or
endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs
using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats
when it is compressed) or some variant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is
changing in time.
So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving
into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I
think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets
to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are
leaving.

As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at
the different religions that exist in the world today.
Most of these religions state that if you are not a
member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since
there is more than one of these religions and since
people do not belong to more than one religion, we can
project that all souls go to Hell.

With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect
the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially.
Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in
Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the
temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the
volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls
are added.

This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate
at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and
pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks
loose.
2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the
increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and
pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa
during my Freshman year that, "it will be a cold day
in Hell before I sleep with you, and take into account
the fact that I slept with her last night, then number
two must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is
exothermic and has already frozen over.
The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has
frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any
more souls and is therefore, extinct...leaving only
Heaven thereby proving the existence of a divine being
which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting
"Oh my God."

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED THE ONLY "A"

[JohnF]

I am a Christian, and perhaps a little bit radical. However I believe the Bible teaches freedom of conscience, hence if someone wants to mock God, and worship Dawkin's Evolutionary ideas or worship the non-existant flying spaggetti monster it is their right, as the True God does not force religion [any religion that is forced is not the worship of the True God of the Bible.] I actually have written a self published booklet "Freedom of Conscience under threat" that argues that a person has a right to believe how their conscience dictates, even if they are an Athiest or Buddhist, or Hindu or Catholic or Protestant.
So I believe the originator of this thread has the right to think this way even if he is wrong and offends some people. But I know his thinking is wrong, but say he has a right to think this way.

[isuzurover]

...if someone wants to mock God, and worship the non-existant flying spaggetti monster it is their right...


So I believe the originator of this thread has the right to think this way even if he is wrong and offends some people. But I know his thinking is wrong, but say he has a right to think this way.

I find your post deeply offensive. You are calling my deity of choice nonexistent. Yet you try to say you are tolerant of other beliefs to yours???

You also say you "know" I am wrong. Which I also find highly offensive, as it assumes that your beliefs are somehow superior to mine?

Your post also excludes many alternate beliefs, such as - people who believe in multiple gods or deities.
For example, Jainism:

Jainism differs from other religions in its concept of God. Jainism regards every living soul as potentially divine. When the soul sheds its karmic bonds completely, it attains God-consciousness. It prescribes a path of non-violence to progress the soul to this ultimate goal.

samuelclarke - I agree completely with everything you say. I started this thread as I percieved that there was an imbalance in the religious views being expressed (in otherwise irrelevant) topics. (however I must say I do not take kindly to people waking me up early in the morning on the weekend to tell me their religious views)

It is interesting to note though, that those who have openly claimed to be christian seem the least tolerant and least able to handle alternate views being discussed on an equal footing.

As I stated at the start - I would prefer if we left our respective (and equally valid) belief systems out of the forum. However if not, a balanced representation of beliefs should be present.

In case anyone cares, I am a big fan of Father Bob: http://www.fatherbob.com.au/

And I can thoroughly reccommend that you listen to his radio show on JJJ.

John Saffran vs GOD is also a good watch.

NB - these are my own personal opinions/beliefs and people should feel free to ignore them.

EDIT: I am not trying to make friends or annoy anyone as well. Just discuss Land Rover related issues with other enthusiasts. And go camping/4x4ing as much as possible.

[Defender=1st]

Iam also not trying to make friends or annoy anyone, but i find it hard to believe in any sort of God when in our world there are people such as terrorist bombers that think its ok to blow up a subway or plane because their god tells them to, is that in "Gods greater plan" ?
Regards Adrian

[rmp]

I'd just like to say I'm not offended by anything in this thread.

You're welcome to mock whichever of my beliefs you like. You can even mock my avatar too if you like, it's very similar to my god.

Something some guy has written on some forum is not going to stop me sleeping at night. I'm interested in other opinions but ultimately, don't care. I don't think god exists. If you do, even if you *know*, fine, I don't find your views offensive any more than the fact you've chosen a different meal tonight to eat.

Everything else is fair game for a bit of a poke, why not religion?

That said I'd hate to see people get offended over this thread and leave the forum.

[Sleepy]

JohnF,
I note you live in Nimbin. That really is God's country.:)
I think I saw God their once! :o









But subsequently had an urgent craving for a pizza.:angel:

[Chucaro]

Why this thread is here and not in the SOAPBOX forum :confused: ?

[Slunnie]

Interestingly, the flying spagetti monster has the 10 utensils to life.

If you read the handle on the jaffle iron it say:
"You will have no baked beans before me"

If you read on the tin opener it says
"You shall not make yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above, on the earth or in the waters below".
This only leaves the sky where the FSM exists.

If you read on the butter knife it says:
"You shall not misuse the butter knife for scrapping, for the butter knife spreads the butter".

And then next to the MSDS on the back of the Watties tin. It says:
"Love the spaghetti with all your heart and with all your toast and some salt & pepper to mix things up. This is the first and greatest utensil. And the second is like it: Love your Alphaghetti as spaghetti". All the laws and all the profits hang on these two utensils.

[wally]

Funniest thread for ages!

Might be funnier if we discussed the role of religion in politics though. I read somewhere that most Americans would vote for a black politician (well, they just did), most vote for a woman, and even a gay pollie could get in.

But an atheist pollie in the US of A? Not a hope in hell. Not that the atheist would believe there was a hell ;-)

Could Australia vote in an atheist pollie?

I would certainly hope so. It is an interesting question.

Anyone with an interest in this whole debate (and no-one should be getting offended here - there should be nothing wrong with discussing this stuff openly) owes it to themselves to read:
"God is not Great. How Religion Poisons Everything", by Christopher Hitchens.
"The God Delusion", by Richard Dawkins.
and perhaps "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris.
Interestingly, I had a visit by a Jehova's Witness whilst I was in the middle of reading "The God Delusion". He wanted me to read the latest copy of "The Watchtower" (a publication that seeks to systematically contradict and undermine science), and I said I would if he reads "The God Delusion". I even offered to loan him my copy but he flatly refused. I read his stuff anyway.
Even if you are religious there's no harm in delving into the reasons why other people aren't. It may change your mind or it may not. It may even strengthen your faith. However if maintaining one's faith comes at the expense of reason, logical conjecture, an open mind and a genuine quest for knowledge it can be very dangerous.

[clean32]

I am a Christian, and perhaps a little bit radical. However I believe the Bible teaches freedom of conscience, hence if someone wants to mock God, and worship Dawkin's Evolutionary ideas or worship the non-existant flying spaggetti monster it is their right, as the True God does not force religion [any religion that is forced is not the worship of the True God of the Bible.] I actually have written a self published booklet "Freedom of Conscience under threat" that argues that a person has a right to believe how their conscience dictates, even if they are an Athiest or Buddhist, or Hindu or Catholic or Protestant.
So I believe the originator of this thread has the right to think this way even if he is wrong and offends some people. But I know his thinking is wrong, but say he has a right to think this way.

Mate if you are a true Christian ( in the true sense being a follower of the teaching of Christ and not of some dogma that has its roots in roman law and Greek mythology) then you would know that there is no heaven or hell. Then there would be no offence taken by the above witty (and quite good) joke.

As for "freedom of conscience" you are correct but nothing new, this being the one of the 3 points of the reformation.

[isuzurover]

Anyway - to get this thread back on topic, the FSM has recently revealed him/her-self yet again. All hail the FSM!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/178.jpg

And here is and FSM-ish looking shipwreck - with a Land-Rover! Maybe I was wrong and Land-Rovers are somehow related to god (the FSM)!
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/179.jpg
(note that I am willing to reevaluate my position when new evidence becomes available!)

EDIT!!!
Yet more Landrover content!!!
The eye-stalks are somewhat downward looking, but you can definitely see his noodly (wiry) appendages!!!
Perhaps the dreaded "escaping smoke" actually occurs when you have displieased the FSM!
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/679/img1227kk3.jpg

[Ferret]

... or worship the non-existant flying spaggetti monster

What do you mean non existent Flying Spaghetti Monster??? He has been seen in Germany so therefore must exist.

YouTube - Flying Spaghetti Monster spotted in Germany