"Faith" in the 21st Century?

[occasional thoughts]

I'm working on an embryonic thought here . . . yep, I do think occasionally, and this one is embryonic . . . so please hold your AK47s for the time being.

Q-anon. Weird and wild, almost a joke or at least a caricature. But it has grabbed hundreds of thousands if not millions in the U.S. and who knows if it has made it across our border. I believe it is no accident that it appeals to the fringe right-wing, that it is apparently appealing to the Evangelical populace of the U.S. Adherents of Baptist, CMA, Pentecostal and so many other denominations share a massively important association with adherents of Q-anon, they are all PEOPLE OF FAITH which is taking on the trappings of religion with its own "Saviour".

Just like there is a certain percentage of our population that turns to criminality, there is a certain proportion of our population that needs to believe in something or someone. When such people leave established entities, they call it Spiritualism and believe that everything comes from "God". It all generalized to the notion of Religiosity.

It's late, that's the best I can put my embryonic thought for now. Have at it. But to me, Q-anon and similar are all neo-religions making no more or less sense than Aimee Semple McPherson, Mr. Smith and the Book of Mormon, and so on back into history.

[1nick]

A breeding ground for radicalization.
It’s a problem Christians don’t like to discuss and will often deflect with “oh yeah, what about Pol Pot or Stalin? and the atrocities these individuals committed”
Perhaps they could start a thread...”Non-believers and their atrocities” rather than highjack this one.

https://religiondispatches.org/where-we ... schooling/

To add, You don’t need faith to be a non-believer and no it’s not a religion.

[occasional thoughts]

Faith has been grappling with science for a long time. It possibly comes into sharpest focus for us with Darwin and the theory of evolution in the 1830s, et al. Another landmark is the famous U.S. court case the Scopes Monkey Trial of the1920s in Tennessee. Science has been chipping away at faith for a long time and, in my view, science is slowly winning, as it ought and indeed must. But faith is very resilient; lots of people want to believe, notwithstanding facts and the evidence. Fast forward to 2020 and the pandemic, and what do we hear over and over from the ascendant side of the campaign: we must follow the science. Let the scientists lead. Nothing about faith in that narrative. And who are we most likely to see on the other side? Churches; pastors and ministers, and the "new" or neo-religionists whose currency is "conspiracy", often wild if not ludicrous (witness Q-Anon and their belief in the world-wide cabal of pedophiles and cannibals, conveniently U.S. Democrats, with some Jews thrown in for good measure). Faith is metamorphosizing into a new updated form, but not much sillier today than new religions must have been when first birthed decades, centuries or millenia ago. It is not an accident that DJT has developed a "cult" of personality and an army of true believing adherents. When all he is is a would-be strongman with significant elements of carney.

Kelowna has a pretty strong faith culture and history, but I hear it is in serious decline. There are many protestant churches in town that are starving for members; some are closing down, turning into daycare centres and what-nots. A few (Trinity Baptist, e.g.) are thriving, but most are going in the opposite direction.It will be interesting to see whether the neo-religions rising in the U.S. such as Q-Anon make their way into Canada. I cannot help but think that we will soon be seeing conspiracy religion making its way into Canada and taking a hard look at the Conservative Party and its social-conservative cadre.

[Hmmm]

Its interesting that what some are posting regarding religion is exactly inline with Bible prophesy. Read Rev chap 17-18 Also, proven science is exactly inline with what I read in the Bible. The crazy stuff some religions teach is not in the Bible or in harmony with proven science. But I wont debate these with you here as most are only interested in arguing and have no genuine interest in learning. You could say that about me, but I actually discuss this with people all the time who may have a lot of your same thoughts, but are more sincere in wanting to understand my viewpoint. I also look at their views and research them. I stand by my first comments here.

[occasional thoughts]

A rather temperate rebuttal, Hmmm. Thank you. I guess people like us could have a conversation about existential matters, but it would not be enjoyable (for me). You want to take me back to a point in my life 40 to 50 years ago. I know that many people revert to their religiosity roots later in life; it is more comforting as the end looms. But I'm not that person. Yet I do wonder if a life without religion does nevertheless engender people of moral character, positive values, and so on.

One of the strongest powers in the world, everywhere: "I need something to believe in". One of my heroes, Tommy Douglas, was a Baptist minister. Prez. J Biden Jr. is a devout R.C. The latter is still with us, and notwithstanding his faith, he is a very strong advocate for "science" in the pandemic battle. I suspect for Joe it is too late in life to resolve his conflict between science and faith.

[capleton]

Its interesting that what some are posting regarding religion is exactly inline with Bible prophesy. Read Rev chap 17-18 Also, proven science is exactly inline with what I read in the Bible. The crazy stuff some religions teach is not in the Bible or in harmony with proven science. But I wont debate these with you here as most are only interested in arguing and have no genuine interest in learning. You could say that about me, but I actually discuss this with people all the time who may have a lot of your same thoughts, but are more sincere in wanting to understand my viewpoint. I also look at their views and research them. I stand by my first comments here.

You Christians keep saying that prophecies from the Bible are coming true but of of coarse every single one of you have been wrong and this has been going on for hundreds of years. Nothing in the Bible agrees with science, from the Firmament mentioned to Genesis to the Global Flood and Exodus and all nonsensical stories about talking donkeys and magic men rising from the dead, in fact most of the stories in the Bible are complete fairy tales that no reasonable person should take seriously.

[Thinktank]

Nothing in the Bible agrees with science,

Faith has been grappling with science for a long time.

Its interesting that what some are posting regarding religion is exactly inline with Bible prophesy.

^ The bible "prophecy" he's talking about is Russia.
The bible says a KING FROM THE NORTH will try kill Israel
- we all know who that is. It HAS to be Russia. Russia is north. Did you ever see the funny winter hats they wear. the King from the north is Putin.
The bible says that king will want to kill Israel.
We all know who Israel is. It's Israel - God's chosen people.

or

...the JWs say that Israel is the JWs. And Putin is persecuting JWs.
The bible says God will destroy the king of the north.

Good bye Putin. God is going to destroy you. Bible prophecy is happening right before our eyes.

As for bible and science - 99% of Christians believe in science. They're just like everyone else, except they happen to sit in a church a few times each year. Maybe make some business deals with one another.


He was king of the north, according to JWs and almost all Christians until he drank vodka too much. then he was no longer king of the north of the bible.


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[Hmmm]

You seem to be completely confused as to what I believe.. Maybe just stick to what you believe and I'll explain myself if I feel like it. Thank you for your input though.

[Thinktank]

... we must follow the science. Let the scientists lead.

For all the people who never picked up a bible in their life, and never walked into a church in their life - Christians believe in science just like everyone else. They brag a lot about "Jesus Heals" or "Jesus died for us" but they trust in science.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSIrQBGfUtw
Kenneth Copeland demands a vaccine - from God. - Christians really trust in Pfizer and Merck - just like everyone else. Not God.

Only one Christian pastor in all of Canada - in Penticton - said "do your research" BEFORE getting the covid vaccine - (a very scientific thing to suggest)

Only one.

[Omnitheo]

The Bible and religions can’t even accurately describe the past. Why would anyone expect them to predict the future?

Faith in the 21st century would be more responsively given to science.

[occasional thoughts]

Just listened to the CNN/Anderson Cooper special on Q-Anon. One of the people quoted therein called Q-Anon a "baby religion". And that's the point of this thread; conspiracy theories and their function as articles of faith for the 21st Century believer. And I'm sure that they are attracting people who are into religiosity in their lives but who are tiring of standard religion. Q-Anon and conspiracy theories in general are more fun, more relevant because they're linked to people alive today, all linked to the much more fun and relevant world of politics and political intrigue.

One thing about Q-Anon; it is intrinsically linked to U.S. people and politics; it would not have a natural appeal to peoples of other nations. Nevertheless, I wonder if it is making any inroads in Canada. It would have to start drawing in Canadian jJws and politicians and celebrities to be more than as a minor adjunct to its strong Americanism.

[occasional thoughts]

Off my own topic, somewhat, but following the initiate of some posts, yes . . . prophecy. I come from a strong evangelical background (Plymouth Bretheren so called). My uncle, an American, resident of L.A., wrote books on prophecy. He and he also got some of my relatives to buy stocks in oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean because it was Israeli. They all lost, there was no such resource. But always fixated on Israel. Anyway, he passed about 12 years ago. Putin was hardly ascendant in his time. Now he's the King of the North. People into prophecy like what they're seeing and living. Every year is the "End Days". It is a rolling target that will be going on for millenia. And btw, let me see if I can get them all: Lebanon, Syria, esp. Turkey (old Ottoman Empire) Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan are all "north" of Israel.

Putin is a murderous despot who is into grand theft of his nation's resources. But one day he'll have a successor, and that one will be the new King of the North to the prophecy people.

ETA: and btw, Khruschev's fur hate looks like standard RCMP issue up here in Canada (far north).

[Thinktank]

Q-anon.

Occasional's theory about Q Anon and Christian people wanting to believe in stupid stuff is weak.

Q Anon appealed to me so much, I don't know what it means, even after searching on google.
Q Anon appeals to millions of people, says Anderson Cooper.


They all discuss Q Anon, but what is Q Anon.


That's Amazing Polly. She does appeal to me.
Talks about vaccines.
Talks about the lockdown being "torture."
She doesn't appeal to Google, though.
Google decides what I get to hear. Google decides how I think.

Google kicked Amazing Polly from youtube after - I think - after she mentioned the word - - - PEDOPHILES.
I'm thinking CNN and all the big media never mention that word - pedophiles.


God, that is ugly.
That's Ghislaine Maxwell - the daughter of some famous rich Israeli (fact thrown in for good measure only)
She does not appeal to me.

CNN, NBC, New York Times, Anderson Cooper and all the big liars out there, CBC, Globalnews - all the liars don't use the word pedophile much. That's off topic for some reason.




What do you think? Do you think I am believing in stupid stuff, religiously, after reading my post?


https://www.bitchute.com/hashtag/amazing-polly/

[occasional thoughts]

Rather off topic, but I'll let Ferri take care of that . . .

Anderson mentioned the word pedophile a number of times last night on his Q-Anon special.

And, sure, quarantining is "torture" at a personal level, but it is in aid of a public health emergency, and as unpleasant as the virus and society's reactions to it are, they're all necessary for the "collective" (a radical socialist concept I suppose) and I'm all in. People opposing measures would be the same ilk as those opposing seat belts and/or motorcycle helmets. Society does have another measure that could be used; deny seat belt, helmet and virus response measures opponents access to hospitals and care when they are injured or ill arising from their actions. A bit welfare stat-ish I suppose but most of us don't like that alternative.

[Thinktank]

Rather off topic,

Well can you explain what Q Anon is?

I heard Amazing Polly was taken off youtube because of Q Anon

That's right on topic - I think.


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