The Religion Thread

[Cannonpointer]

Leaky plumbing behind the wall? If that is an actual photo, that explanation is as daft as the original claim. The cross isn't even touching the vertical wall; besides that, how did the water, that runs downward, reach out to the cross?

At any rate, I'm sure the story made your day.

You're right, son. He screwed up trying to slide that pat explanation past a skeptic like you!

Contrary to what these pretzels are claiming, the simple explanation, as usual, is the correct one. The statue is really crying.

[Mr.B]

"Some architect with a sense of humor is laughing his ass off. Hope the check cleared already."

"Or some junior architect at the firm is being fired for dicking around with the design."

[Ombudsman]

"What makes you think you offended me? You make too many assumptions. Just found it odd that a guy who was so rude to JTA just because he swore once would engage in such blasphemous language. But then again hypocrisy and xtianity go hand in hand."

It appears you were the one who got all tore up over my response to JTA; JTA brushed it off with dignity. So I must have offended you.
Again, sorry I offended you NCR.

You'll have to try harder PB&J. Just because I comment on your hypocrisy doesn't mean I'm personally offended by it. It's par for the course with religious nuts.

[bannination]

You can nail me any time, sweetie.

I'll bet you "checked it out". Maybe it was designed to make other Christians feel inadequate.

You know he only gets it up for the blow ups. Don't tease him.

[Mr.B]

"You'll have to try harder PB&J. Just because I comment on your hypocrisy doesn't mean I'm personally offended by it. It's par for the course with religious nuts."

PB&J?.....

Well, if you weren't offended, you surely missed your chance....and thanks.....I'd much rather be a religious nut than just a plain 'ol nut!

[Mr.B]

Kentucky Cross-Country Runner Refuses to Run With Number 666 on Her Jersey

In one of the strangest cases of purported religious beliefs ( :?: ) intersecting with athletic performance, a Kentucky junior cross country runner voluntarily walked away from a chance to qualify for the state meet to avoid running with the bib number "666", which she said conflicted with her Christian beliefs.
I wonder what they felt was "so strange" about it? "Purported" religious beliefs?

As reported in depth by Lexington NBC affiliate LEX18, Whitley County High (Whitley County, Kent.) cross country runner Codie Thacker voluntarily forfeited her spot in a regional championship race after her coach drew bib number 666 for the runner. Thacker and her coach argued that she should be allowed to switch her number, but race officials refused the request.
I wonder why they did that....a show of arrogance? I wonder what the issue would have been had a Muslim, Hindu, or even an atheist had refused the number?

Those officials would later deny that Thacker claimed she needed to change bib numbers for religious reasons, though the junior insists she was explicit about her motivation. To her, running with the number 666 on her chest would have signified a serious breach in her faith.
I wonder what, according to the officials, she originally gave as a reason to change the number? Methinks the officials smelled a possible legal action, if that were possible. I wonder if this would be an issue that the almighty ACLU would jump on, since they are the "champions of human rights?"

Hooray for the young lady. There's nothing in this life worth compromising your scruples.

[rstrong]

which she said conflicted with her Christian beliefs.
I wonder what they felt was "so strange" about it? "Purported" religious beliefs?

Well gosh; that would depend on *which* Christian beliefs.

For some Christians it's the "mark of the beast." For others the number is 616.

Seventh-day Adventists believe that the mark of the beast (but not the number 666) refers to a future, universal, legally enforced Sunday-worship. "Those who reject God's memorial of creatorship—the Bible Sabbath—choosing to worship and honor Sunday in the full knowledge that it is not God's appointed day of worship, will receive the 'mark of the beast.'" "The Sunday Sabbath is purely a child of the Papacy. It is the mark of the beast."

For Catholics it's a reference to Nero Caesar, not any future Antichrist.

In Kabbalistic Judaism the number 666 represents the creation and perfection of the world. The world was created in six days, and there are six cardinal directions (north, south, east, west, up and down).

For Jehovah's Witnesses it refers to imperfection.

But to answer your question, "I wonder what they felt was "so strange" about it?", it was probably the same thing they'd think if someone rejected the number 13 because of Norse mythology: "It's just a random number. It's strange to reject it because of ancient mythology."

[Boatrocker]

If you have to ask what is so strange about such irrational beliefs, then any rational explanation will probably annoy you. People with such rigid superstitious strictures should move in with Warren Jeffs.

[neoplacebo]

Tomorrow is Billy Graham's birthday bash at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Word is that Sarah Palin, Donald Trump, and other "notables" have been invited.....I'm seriously considering heading over there tomorrow night and at the appropriate moment launch into an impromptu but righteous sermon right there in the great hall. Probably something from Revelation...some of that certain death and utter doom stuff. And then I expect to be wrongly accused and then arrested. To think a commoner would come and preach the gospel to the chosen. A crime of high magnitude worthy of note. Sort of like ancient Rome modernized.

[O Really]

Athletes as well as other people are notoriously superstistious. If she doesnt want to wear 666 or 13 or whatever, thats fine. But rejecting numbers is a very short jump from choosing numbers and next people will refuse to race unless they get their own lucky number, or the number they wore in junior hig or the number of their favorite quarterback. Pick a number. Or dont. Whatever.

[Bungalow Bill]

I guess Bernie Madoff couldn't get a pass for tomorrow.
Trump can substitute, but it just won't be the same.

[Mr.B]

"For some Christians it's the "mark of the beast." For others the number is 616."

Seventh-day Adventists believe that the mark of the beast (but not the number 666) refers to a future, universal, legally enforced Sunday-worship. "Those who reject God's memorial of creatorship—the Bible Sabbath—choosing to worship and honor Sunday in the full knowledge that it is not God's appointed day of worship, will receive the 'mark of the beast.'" "The Sunday Sabbath is purely a child of the Papacy. It is the mark of the beast."

I know what 666 stands for according to the Bible, and it's not superstition....like the number 13 or walking under a ladder. Christians who believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God will go out of their way to avoid anything with the number on it. I myself once refused a license plate with the number on it.

I'm not going to argue church doctrine with respect to the SDA Church, but as far as the SDA's claim that Sunday worship is "not God's appointed day of worship"...well they have their opinion and other religions have theirs. I've not read any where in God's Word that the Lord said we were to rest on Saturday specifically, but on the seventh day of the week. As far as I know, weekdays weren't named back then, but were named much later. It is assumed that Christ was crucified and buried on a Thursday and arose on a Sunday, which is now the Lord's Day that the majority of Christians worship on.

The Apostle Paul wrote that one is not to argue with another regarding which day of the week is the Sabbath; the worship itself is what is important.

Personally I think the whole argument is silly. The Lord said to rest on the seventh day; I believe that day should be any day of the week if one who believes in God would endeavor to set aside one day to worship. In this day and time with many having to work Sundays, one who would like to worship should discipline him/herself to set aside one day.

Back to the post....the young lady was doing what her heart told her....no superstition, no making a big scene, just obeying her conviction. Kudos

[Mr.B]

"Athletes as well as other people are notoriously superstistious. If she doesnt want to wear 666 or 13 or whatever, thats fine. But rejecting numbers is a very short jump from choosing numbers and next people will refuse to race unless they get their own lucky number, or the number they wore in junior hig or the number of their favorite quarterback. Pick a number. Or dont. Whatever."

Spellcheck much?

[Ombudsman]

"For some Christians it's the "mark of the beast." For others the number is 616."

Seventh-day Adventists believe that the mark of the beast (but not the number 666) refers to a future, universal, legally enforced Sunday-worship. "Those who reject God's memorial of creatorship—the Bible Sabbath—choosing to worship and honor Sunday in the full knowledge that it is not God's appointed day of worship, will receive the 'mark of the beast.'" "The Sunday Sabbath is purely a child of the Papacy. It is the mark of the beast."

I know what 666 stands for according to the Bible, and it's not superstition....like the number 13 or walking under a ladder. Christians who believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God will go out of their way to avoid anything with the number on it. I myself once refused a license plate with the number on it.

I'm not going to argue church doctrine with respect to the SDA Church, but as far as the SDA's claim that Sunday worship is "not God's appointed day of worship"...well they have their opinion and other religions have theirs. I've not read any where in God's Word that the Lord said we were to rest on Saturday specifically, but on the seventh day of the week. As far as I know, weekdays weren't named back then, but were named much later. It is assumed that Christ was crucified and buried on a Thursday and arose on a Sunday, which is now the Lord's Day that the majority of Christians worship on.

The Apostle Paul wrote that one is not to argue with another regarding which day of the week is the Sabbath; the worship itself is what is important.

Personally I think the whole argument is silly. The Lord said to rest on the seventh day; I believe that day should be any day of the week if one who believes in God would endeavor to set aside one day to worship. In this day and time with many having to work Sundays, one who would like to worship should discipline him/herself to set aside one day.

Back to the post....the young lady was doing what her heart told her....no superstition, no making a big scene, just obeying her conviction. Kudos

The Cliff Notes version of B's Post:
Being frightened of the number 13 is superstition but being frightened of the number 666 is not superstition.
Jesus was crucified on Thursday despite Christians not ever celebrating "Good Thursday."
The sabbath is the seventh day yet somehow Sunday, the first day, is still the sabbath.
And "anywhere" is actually two words.

[Mr.B]

"The Cliff Notes version of you B's Post:
Being frightened of the number 13 is superstition but being frightened of the number 666 is not superstition.
Who said anyone was "frightened" of the number 666?

Jesus was crucified on Thursday despite Christians not ever celebrating "Good Thursday."
Opps!

The sabbath is the seventh day yet somehow Sunday, the first day, is still the sabbath.
According to the present calendar, Saturday is the seventh day of the week, therefore it would be the Sabbath (seventh) day. Sunday, the first day of the week is the Lord's Day. And no, God didn't say to "remember the Lord's Day, to keep it holy".

And "anywhere" is actually two words."
Opps, actually.

Happy now?

[Ombudsman]

So you won't use the words "holiday" and "xmas" but you're not offended by them, and you won't use a license plate with the number 666 but you're not frightened of the number. Got it. Makes perfect sense.

The Ten Commandments say to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, not "remember the Lord's day" and keep it holy.

[neoplacebo]

Athletes as well as other people are notoriously superstistious. If she doesnt want to wear 666 or 13 or whatever, thats fine. But rejecting numbers is a very short jump from choosing numbers and next people will refuse to race unless they get their own lucky number, or the number they wore in junior hig or the number of their favorite quarterback. Pick a number. Or dont. Whatever.

Before long, fringe element runners will threaten to shut down the marathon unless they get their demand that they be given Roman numerals instead of Arabic / Muslim numbers. you bet'cha.

[neoplacebo]

Of course it's a silly superstition, even by the Bible's own terms. Nothing there says that wearing 666 will turn someone into the Beast. That said, the race officials are petty bureaucrats for not allowing a switch to some other random number for any reason at all, and even worse if a religious reason was cited (a disputed point).

I had a patient who weighed 66.6 kg yesterday. I teased him about it.

neoplacebo, I'll video you, bail you out, and buy you dinner and a 6-pack if you do it.

Must be undernourished.....66.6 kg is less than 150lbs. Your offer is quite tempting.....I wonder what the charges will be? I'm sure they'd be trumped up; merely "disturbing the peace" is way too lame for fouling such a stellar event. I'm excited.

[Mr.B]

"So you won't use the words "holiday" and "xmas" but you're not offended by them, and you won't use a license plate with the number 666 but you're not frightened of the number. Got it. Makes perfect sense."
Thank you. I'm glad it finally sunk in.....hardhead.
"The Ten Commandments say to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, not "remember the Lord's day" and keep it holy."
What I said. "And no, God didn't say to "remember the Lord's Day, to keep it holy". So...what day do you keep "Holy"?

[rstrong]

I know what 666 stands for according to the Bible, and it's not superstition....like the number 13 or walking under a ladder. Christians who believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God will go out of their way to avoid anything with the number on it. I myself once refused a license plate with the number on it.

You know what for YOU 666 stands for, and a great many Christians - including the largest denomination - disagree with you. And it likely wouldn't have meant that for you without the definition gaining pop-culture popularity thanks to a horror movie in the 1970s.

Christian numerology includes:

- Any number with a 1. (unity)
- Any number with a 2. (witness)
- Any number with a 3. (divine perfection / holiness)
- Any number with a 4. (the world)
- Any number with a 6. (imperfection)
- Any number with a 7. (perfection/completeness)
- Any number with a 8. (victory)
- The number 12. (governmental perfection) (Yes, really.)
- The number 300. (tau / the cross)
- The number 666. (Nero / beast)
- The number 888. (Jesus)
- The number 1000. (immensity / fullness of quantity)

As a quick lookup of 666 shows, these numbers can have wildly different meanings according to different branches of Christian mythology.

Likewise there are a great many wanted and unwanted numbers in Judaic mythology.

Likewise there are several wanted and unwanted numbers in Norse and Germanic mythology.

Likewise there are many wanted and unwanted numbers in Chinese mythology.

Likewise there are many wanted and unwanted numbers in Egyptian mythology.

Islam has its own numerology.

Hinduism has its own numerology.

The rest of us should not have to pretend that certain numbers don't exist, so that someone can have or avoid significant numbers according to their mythologies.