Do they think we're morons?

Does the phrase "reducio in absurdiam" mean anything. The chances of
everyone taking my view are slightly less and AndrewR becoming the next
Pope. Hence your argument is meaningless.

"We preach Christ crucified - foolishness to the Gentiles"..

Colour me not surprised. The fact that you don't think it a convincing
argument is as a result of your upbringing and beliefs. The fact that I
do see it as a convincing arguement is as a result of mine.

And I suspect that ne'er the twain shall meet.

Phil

 

not a patch on "Catch-22".

 

if by "Goil", you mean regular female poster to ukrm, are there any
you'd actually want to suck you off?

 

If taken to absurdity - yes. As is the Islamic concept of Kismet.

"Be prepared to preach the word whether convenient or not" would seem
to cover that one..

Phil.

 

The first bit - certainly. The second - absolutely not.

Indeed. On an indiviual level this is indeed the case. We are free to
direct our lives in whichever way we choose. And also free to expect
the consequences of our decisions.

Two things - the Biblical principle of "being in the world but not of
it" and logic.

Indeed - except in the case where he has made it entirely plain what he
wants.

Phil

 

He'd let you stay if you were as good as gold.

 

Picture this : you're having a drink - good as gold - and suddenly the
barman calls "closing time" - it's no laughing matter.

 

Actually there would. The early church was an example - everyone put
their money and posessions in common and the principle of "from each
according to his means, to each according to his needs" was actively
persued. And they had people charged with the distribution of money to
the poorer member (but no taxmen - people gave as a willing duty and
not because there were rules to make them).

Of course - the system breaks down on a national level because you
don't get the homogenous belief structure that underpinned the early
church.

No - because I pay my taxes, obey the laws and fulfill what society
requires of me where it does not contradict my beliefs. I am a net
contributor to both the economy and the local area so I don't see how I
could somehow be a free-loader.

Phil

 

You are assuming that people can derail Gods plan.

Phil

 

Indeed. In fact they have this odd idea that all computers are the work
of the devil.

Which is odd unless you assume that Bill Gates is satans love-child..

Phil

 

jsp wrote

Walk out the door. What are they going to do, arrest me for making off
with a half digested ballot paper?

 

Very odd, given the number of microprocessors in the nice expensive cars the
Elders all seem to drive...

Hmm.. perhaps not *complete* bollocks then...

 

<snip

If they can't, why not vote?

 

In that case why does it matter if you vote? If you can't frustrate God's
plan then you might as well vote - it might even be part of the plan that
you do so. If you can thwart God by voting then you can equally well thwart
him by doing anything else.

But how do you know that you voting or not voting is in the plan?

--
AndrewR, D.Bot (Celeritas)
Kawasaki ZX-6R J1, Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo
BOTAFOT#2,ITJWTFO#6,UKRMRM#1/13a,MCT#1,DFV#2,SKoGA#0 (and KotL)
BotToS#5,SBS#25,IbW#34, DS#5, COSOC# Suspended, KotTFSTR#
The speccy Geordie twat.

 

I think it would break down as soon as you got enough people to
generate some dissent/discussion as to who/how much/under what
circumstances. As it probably in fact did. How you organise society
*is* politics.

I don't mean a freeloader in monetary terms - I mean in terms of your
civic responsibilities. You rely on others to vote and make democracy
happen. I repeat - if everyone took your view, where would we be?

 

So are you - up there where you say you can't vote in case it changes
God's plan.

 

Sod it. I think I'll leave it where it is and just move in.

 

Or, putting my athiest hat on.

"I'm not voting because this bloke that doesn't actually exist had a
book written about him, in it there was a line about how he was always
right... Obviously we can't make any decisions until he comes back and
tells us what to do, so now I'm going to stand here and look busy."

;-)

 

It's not reducto ad absurdiam - your rationale for your behaviour
explicitly depends on others behaving differently. Which is why I
called you a free-loader, and accused you of abdicating
repsonsibility.