bobov (imported) wrote: Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:42 pm Your statement that Jews have sex through "a hole in a bedsheet" is simply absurd. That you believe such a thing implies that you're more eager to think yourself superior to others than to defend the integrity of your own mind.

If you read the post again you'll note that Zoroaster was refering to the Amish not the Jews

bobov (imported) wrote: Sat Sep 30, 2006 10:42 pm P.S. I hope you know your pen name - Zoroaster - is the name of the prophet who founded the chief historical religion of Persia. Zoroaster is also a form of Zarathustra, though I doubt that you and Nietsche are on speaking terms. Was it a deliberate irony to take the name of a prophet?

It is also known by some that, that Zoroaster was a previous incarnation of the entity that became better known as Jesus the Christ. Nobody overly bothers about (some of the posts of) 'our' Jesus conflicting with the perceived deity of 'that' Jesus, so I don't see why 'our' Zoroaster needs to be compared with 'that' Zoroaster. The expectation being that in expressing himself, he would be sharing the 'divine'.

Maybe the two Zoroasters are one and the same and he has simply returned to us at this time to point out the pathological pathway of destruction ('insanity') that religions today are leading their adherents.

"Whatever", 'this' Zoroaster has cut to the chase and highlighted how far from the original teachings of 'that' Zoroaster the world has become.

Just to add another pearl of trivia, the mother of 'that' Zoroaster was a niece of King Croesus III, of Persia of whom the saying was coined “rich as Croesus”, while I can confess to be absolutely ignorant of the station in life of the mother of ‘this’ Zoroaster, if she was indeed a Vanderbilt, or the niece of a ruling house it would add further weight to my suspicions.

But adding a great deal of weight is the undeniable fact that ‘this’ Zoroaster writes a dam fine story, just like ‘that’ one did !!!

Blaise (imported) wrote: Sun Oct 01, 2006 1:16 am As someone who took his major in religion, I am well aware of defects in religions. However, I feel uneasy about some of the negative comments about religious groups in this thread.

For the record, I deeply admire the Mennonites. I attended school with Mennonites. I know the depth of faith of those with whom I attended school. Further, I think we need to take great care in demonizing Islam. I realize that I know too little about it to criticize the religion. I more easily embrace the insights of Buddhism than those of Islam, but that does not mean I know enough to judge with tradition.

Very well said !!!

It might be worth pointing out, as I guess most people know, that there are numerous links between the various religions. Mohammed thought that he was reforming Judaism when he wrote the Koran, Jesus is considered by Moslems to be the second most important religious figure, and, according to what I have read, Mohammed originally had his followers pray toward Jerusalem instead of toward Mecca. I have read that both Buddhists and Hindus recognize Jesus of Nazareth as a holy man, and there is a religion in Vietnam which combines beliefs from Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam.

SunLord, admit it - you're really a god and you write these posts just to mess with our heads.

Yes, respect for religion and religious people makes sense, even for atheists like me. As someone who's ethnically Jewish, I bristle at anti-semitism, because the logical next step is to do violence, and the world is now rife with anti-semitic violence. I'd like to see the same protection extended on these boards to Jews as to Mennanites, Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians. Even those raised to adore their lord, Jesus of Nazareth, might be expected to extend that courtesy.

I cannot be anti-semenatic... :-\

...can't believe that I posted that...

A-1