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Christopher Hitchens critiques the 10 commandments (Original Post) duckworth969 Nov 2023 OP
Oh My BOSSHOG Nov 2023 #1
A powerrful imaginary friend Warpy Nov 2023 #2
Spot on Warpy BOSSHOG Nov 2023 #3
It's all about control Farmer-Rick Nov 2023 #10
That happened when Constantine turned Jesus into Christ, Warpy Nov 2023 #11
Yeah, at first Christianity was kind of a socialist group Farmer-Rick Nov 2023 #12
To explain the unexplainable maxsolomon Nov 2023 #9
I've always been a fan of Carlin's revised list of 3* commandments JoseBalow Nov 2023 #4
"religious hustlers"! duckworth969 Nov 2023 #13
I guess he knows now for sure, mahina Nov 2023 #5
Chiseling tablets of Hitchen's ten asap (or maybe embroidering them on a jacket--yeah!). Timeflyer Nov 2023 #6
Bearing false witness against Dems is the cornerstone of R's political platform (for decades). Demnation Nov 2023 #7
George Carlin FTW flashman13 Nov 2023 #8

BOSSHOG

(39,716 posts)
1. Oh My
Thu Nov 2, 2023, 08:49 PM
Nov 2023

Did God make man or did Man make God? Thank You Christopher and Duckworth

Gosh, I wonder why man would make (a) god? For what purpose? To what end?

Farmer-Rick

(11,308 posts)
10. It's all about control
Fri Nov 3, 2023, 02:45 PM
Nov 2023

If you're king, if you're the top capitalist oligarch, if your Putin or a dictator, forcing people to do what you want is an all day chore. People are always trying to get freedoms, be happy, have fun, eat, sleep and have sex in nice comfortable ways that they prefer.

They don't want to pay for the kings castles, the taxman's Porsche or the filthy-rich's tax give aways. They especially don't want to die to protect all the filthy-rich crap

But the kings and the filthy-rich want other people to do all the work and provide them with protection. So, a god is a very handy thing to have in order to bludgeon all those people who would rather be doing something fun or good for themselves.

Make those people feel bad and sinful for only doing what comes naturally. Then they will shut up and do as they are told. Threaten them with eternal punishment for a momentary sin. Make up all sorts of crap and feed it to them from birth. Then they will be easily manipulated and controlled ...all in the name of your favorite super daddy in the sky.

It's a very well developed con and manipulative tool. Without it, many people would be taking back all the wealth stolen from them. Without religion people would want justice today instead of waiting for a god to take its slow time in punishing evil only after death. If you know this is the only life you get, maybe you wouldn't jump at the chance to work for slave wages all your life.

This god idea is such a handy little tool for keeping the status quo that some people think it's actually real.

Warpy

(113,130 posts)
11. That happened when Constantine turned Jesus into Christ,
Fri Nov 3, 2023, 03:30 PM
Nov 2023

in service of the Empire, of course. Everytthing changed, even the art. Instead of a Jewish sect that spread like wildfire because it gave hope to the poorest that the next life would be better than this one,, the ceremonial sharing of bread and wine done mostly in private homes with big enough public rooms, it became a hierarchical organization and official buildings were built or existing Roman basilicas were converted to the purpose.

Jesus was the boyish Apollo. Christ was Zeus.

And so it goes, the poor automatically condemned to hell because they lack the money to bribe their way out. The rich destined for heaven because they bribe their way out of hell and given caret blanche to abuse the poor. I'm just amazed so many people fall for this crap.

I share Gandhi's view on Jesus and Christians.

That isn't to say there are some Christians out there who got the point. When I meet them, they are my friends.

Farmer-Rick

(11,308 posts)
12. Yeah, at first Christianity was kind of a socialist group
Fri Nov 3, 2023, 06:27 PM
Nov 2023

The Our Father prayer is basically about socialism.

"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." That was literal. They thought God was coming to earth and it was going to be like heaven. Earth would be heaven.

"Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debt as we forgive the debts against us "

What more could a good socialist want but food and no debt.

I bet most people don't even realize the prayer's real meaning.

JoseBalow

(5,007 posts)
4. I've always been a fan of Carlin's revised list of 3* commandments
Thu Nov 2, 2023, 09:28 PM
Nov 2023

(* I think the 3rd should be always included, regardless)

Timeflyer

(2,610 posts)
6. Chiseling tablets of Hitchen's ten asap (or maybe embroidering them on a jacket--yeah!).
Fri Nov 3, 2023, 10:12 AM
Nov 2023

He is sorely missed. Thankful he left us his wonderful writings.

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