Zombies are real!

[Moai]

Oh I forgot... I was reading a book last night and I came across a section that reminded me of you.

 

"Soul is not even that Crackerjack prize that God and Satan scuffle over after the worms have licked all our bones. That's why, when we ponder-as sooner or later each of us must- exactly what we ought to be doing about our soul, religion is the wrong, if conventional, place to turn. Religion is a little more than a transaction in which troubled people trade their souls for temporary and wholly illusionary psychological comfort - the old give-it-up-in-order-to-save-it-routine. Religions lead us to believe that the soul is the ultimate family jewel and that in return for our mindless obedience, they can secure it for us in their vaults, or at least insure it against fire or theft."

 

"Insure it against fire or theft" I LOVE that line...

 

Oh, its from Tom Robbins - Villa Incognito (Great read!)

 

Night...

 

Great quote! I have only read Still Life With Woodpecker of his. That is one for the archives, though!

[blind_otter]

Really? I am only quoting what I read in their book. It is the Word of God. I hear this time and again. I am also aware that many reject modern science because of this book. And the book clearly says that dead people rose from the grave and went into Jerusalem. It was seen by many. Read it for yourself if you don't believe me.

 

I've read it, but most of the bible seems to be the story of a group of people, as told through analogy and parable. Nothing about it seems literal, to me. It's just stories, like the mythology of any group of people.

 

I would be happy to leave Christians alone if they leave me alone, but they don't.

 

Seems to me you have a problem with fundamentalism. Big difference between spirituality and fundementalism. Just saying.

 

 

It is either poorly taught or not taught at all for fear of offending people whose religion dictates that the world is 6,000 years old (another assertion that is an affront to science, namely geology). So our children, who will eventually have to compete with children from the rest of the world who ARE taught science will be at a distinct disadvantage.

 

I disagree. I don't think that our children are poorly taught because of christian fundamentalism, as one should rightly label it (not just "christianity" in general). I think our children are poorly taught because our educational system sucks hairy ballsack and is based on an educational protocol that was developed during the industrial revolution and has been stagnant ever since. Standardized testing my brown butt.

 

All of these things affect me directly, my niece and nephew, my kid if I ever have any, your kids, and affect the survival of the country in general.

 

But I attribute "these things" to something other than religious fundamentalism (which I despise as well, so you're preaching to the choir. har har har again).

 

Marx said it, didn't he? Religion is the opiate of the masses. Point of order, people who are well educated don't tend to be fundamentalists much. I blame out ****ty educational system.

 

I still wish everyone would just live and let live.

[a4a]

BO I must disagree.

 

Religion, mainly the christian religion, not just the fundamentalist, have had an effect on us that are not of the christian religion - any or a different religion.

 

 

 

So live and let live cannot apply in reality.

 

Common things like having a drink on Sundays.

"blue laws" (here they often repeal the no sunday shopping laws to for christmas shopping- which seems really weird to me)

What can and cannot be taught in schools.

The list is quite long. I am sure you are aware.

 

I would happily join the live and let live movement, but that would have to be a two way street. It would be nice.

[Moai]

I've read it, but most of the bible seems to be the story of a group of people, as told through analogy and parable. Nothing about it seems literal, to me. It's just stories, like the mythology of any group of people.

 

Some of it is metaphorical, some of it is supposed to be fact. The zombie story is supposed to be fact.

 

Seems to me you have a problem with fundamentalism. Big difference between spirituality and fundementalism. Just saying.

Yes, I do, and there is a big difference between spirituality and religion, too. Just saying.

 

I disagree. I don't think that our children are poorly taught because of christian fundamentalism, as one should rightly label it (not just "christianity" in general). I think our children are poorly taught because our educational system sucks hairy ballsack and is based on an educational protocol that was developed during the industrial revolution and has been stagnant ever since. Standardized testing my brown butt.

 

Standardized testing is a recent development. The Elementary and Secondary Education act, passed in 1965 began standardized testing in the US. The "No Child Left Behind" act was instituted in 2001. Well after the Industrial Revolution.

 

And yes, it is Christianity IN GENERAL that is partly responsible for our children not getting adequate science and math education. The moderate believers protect the Fundies.

 

Here's a link that shows how many people in the US accept evolution:

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/22/opinion/polls/main965223.shtml

 

Here is an 8th grade graduation exam from 1895:

 

Grammar

(Time, one hour)

 

1. [FONT=arial,helvetica,geneva]Give nine rules for the use of Capital Letters[/FONT].
   
2. Name the Parts of Speech and define those that have no modifications.
   
3. Define Verse, Stanza and Paragraph.
   
4. What are the Principal Parts of a verb? Give Principal Parts of do, lie, lay and run.
   
5. Define Case, Illustrate each Case.
   
6. What is Punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of Punctuation.
   
7. - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic

(Time, 1.25 hours)

 

 

1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
   
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
   
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50 cts. per bu., deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?
   
4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
   
5. Find cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
   
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
   
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per m?
   
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
   
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance around which is 640 rods?
   
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

U.S. History

 

(Time, 45 minutes)

1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided.
   
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
   
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
   
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
   
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.
   
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
   
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
   
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, and 1865?

Orthography

 

(Time, one hour)

 

 

1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic orthography, etymology, syllabication?
   
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
   
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals?
   
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u'.
   
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e'. Name two exceptions under each rule.
   
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
   
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: Bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, super.
   
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: Card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
   
9. Use the following correctly in sentences, Cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
   
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography

 

(Time, one hour)

 

1. What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
   
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
   
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
   
4. Describe the mountains of N.A.
   
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fermandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.
   
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
   
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give capital of each.
   
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
   
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
   
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give inclination of the earth.

How would you have done? That test was given DURING the Industrial Revolution.

 

But I attribute "these things" to something other than religious fundamentalism (which I despise as well, so you're preaching to the choir. har har har again).

 

Love the choir!

 

Marx said it, didn't he? Religion is the opiate of the masses. Point of order, people who are well educated don't tend to be fundamentalists much. I blame out ****ty educational system.

 

I still wish everyone would just live and let live.

 

Yes, it was Marx who said that. And yes, our educational system is in disrepair, but language scores are not suffering as much as they are in science. Given what most Americans believe, it isn't going to change any time soon.

 

I would add that because of the general anti-intellectual sentiment held by most believers (check some recent threads for that vibe), you can see the reasons why we are failing our children.

[Moai]

BO I must disagree.

 

Religion, mainly the christian religion, not just the fundamentalist, have had an effect on us that are not of the christian religion - any or a different religion.

 

So live and let live cannot apply in reality.

 

Common things like having a drink on Sundays.

"blue laws" (here they often repeal the no sunday shopping laws to for christmas shopping- which seems really weird to me)

What can and cannot be taught in schools.

The list is quite long. I am sure you are aware.

 

I would happily join the live and let live movement, but that would have to be a two way street. It would be nice.

 

Good post. Blue Laws are so nutty, I am glad I live where there aren't any. Liquor 24/7/365, gambling, legalized prostitution, easy gun purchases (no limit on number, either), lots of open space...*sigh* lucky lucky lucky!

 

Nobody move here, though! I retract everything I said! It sucks here! I'm going to leave and so is everyone else!

 

Damn.

[blind_otter]

I would happily join the live and let live movement, but that would have to be a two way street. It would be nice.

 

Wouldn't it, though? People would probably get bored having to bother with managing their own lives rather than sticking their noses in other people's business.

 

It's all so depressing. The worst part is that the only people taking part in this discussion are the ones who are open minded enough that they agree with a lot of the sentiments being expressed on this thread. I'm generally frustrated with religion. I love the idea of spirituality. Something greater than oneself. Unity. Deeply, passionately held convictions. But the reality, as you so succinctly stated, a4a, is something much uglier.

[blind_otter]

Here is an 8th grade graduation exam from 1895:

 

Grammar

(Time, one hour)

 

1. [FONT=arial,helvetica,geneva]Give nine rules for the use of Capital Letters[/FONT].
   
2. Name the Parts of Speech and define those that have no modifications.
   
3. Define Verse, Stanza and Paragraph.
   
4. What are the Principal Parts of a verb? Give Principal Parts of do, lie, lay and run.
   
5. Define Case, Illustrate each Case.
   
6. What is Punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of Punctuation.
   
7. - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic

(Time, 1.25 hours)

 

 

1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
   
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
   
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50 cts. per bu., deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?
   
4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
   
5. Find cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
   
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
   
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per m?
   
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
   
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance around which is 640 rods?
   
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

U.S. History

 

(Time, 45 minutes)

1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided.
   
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.
   
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
   
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.
   
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.
   
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
   
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
   
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, and 1865?

Orthography

 

(Time, one hour)

 

 

1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic orthography, etymology, syllabication?
   
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
   
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals?
   
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u'.
   
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e'. Name two exceptions under each rule.
   
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
   
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: Bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, super.
   
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: Card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
   
9. Use the following correctly in sentences, Cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
   
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography

 

(Time, one hour)

 

1. What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
   
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
   
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
   
4. Describe the mountains of N.A.
   
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fermandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.
   
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S.
   
7. Name all the republics of Europe and give capital of each.
   
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
   
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
   
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give inclination of the earth.

How would you have done? That test was given DURING the Industrial Revolution.

.

 

I would have failed.

 

But I was referring to the methodology of our educational system. The piecemeal, factory way we cobble together information for the children - the way we organize and present facts and the order by which we present them - I just read an article about how this was developed during the industrial revolution, so forgive me for spouting off someone else's much more researched opinion.

[a4a]

Wouldn't it, though? People would probably get bored having to bother with managing their own lives rather than sticking their noses in other people's business.

 

It's all so depressing. The worst part is that the only people taking part in this discussion are the ones who are open minded enough that they agree with a lot of the sentiments being expressed on this thread. I'm generally frustrated with religion. I love the idea of spirituality. Something greater than oneself. Unity. Deeply, passionately held convictions. But the reality, as you so succinctly stated, a4a, is something much uglier.

 

are you calling me ugly?

 

and boy you sure have changed your tune since you smacked me around for piping up in a God thread last fall.

[blind_otter]

are you calling me ugly?

 

and boy you sure have changed your tune since you smacked me around for piping up in a God thread last fall.

 

Yeah. Life does that to me. It keeps taking all my raw, ragged edges and eroding them away into smooth, round, softer edges.

 

You? UGLY? Never. That avatar you used to have, otoh....

[sb129]

I saw a film about a tribe in South America where one woman has many husbands, which was fascinating. Violence is virtually unknown amongst them.

 

I am very much in the "consenting adults can do whatever they want in the privacy of their own home" camp.

 

Where is this place?

 

I agree with the second point too.

 

As much as I am enjoying reading this thread, i am too tired to actively participate today.. and y'all are playing so NICE.

 

Boshemia and Blindotter make great contributions, and everyone is so tolerant, and not all THAT different.

 

Its giving me warm fuzzies.

 

I must admit tho, I was kinda looking forward to the next rounds of craziness.... oh well.

[a4a]

Yeah. Life does that to me. It keeps taking all my raw, ragged edges and eroding them away into smooth, round, softer edges.

 

You? UGLY? Never. That avatar you used to have, otoh....

 

It will be back..... I have faith in that indeed!

 

Once I am finished with taters and zombies, it will rise from the dead!

 

*************************************************

 

It is so interesting to see people deny and recognize how religions do effect the non religious. Vice versa of course. There are constant battles over that where I currently live (in my wigwam).

 

Now if it were to be live and let live here a fine example would be to :

 

Let the bar owners and liquor store owners decide if they wish to be open on Sundays. Allow patrons to make the decision if they would like to go to the open bars on Sundays.

 

Slowly it changes to that sort of thinking indeed. Nothing like sitting at a bar on a Sunday indulging in chocolate martini's after a hard days work. I should have that freedom to choose to do that, and the bar owner the freedom to take my money for providing me with chocolate martini's.

 

Alas I have to drive 1.5 hours to do so............ sad, pathetic, and not good for global warming or fuel conservation.

[Storyrider]

I think there is actually more evidence that Jesus was a vampire. He was risen from the dead (therefore one of the undead). He claimed eternal life. He claimed others could have eternal life as well, by drinking his blood.

 

(Hot damn, I love the top of the page! Haha!)

[blind_otter]

I think there is actually more evidence that Jesus was a vampire. He was risen from the dead (therefore one of the undead). He claimed eternal life. He claimed others could have eternal life as well, by drinking his blood.

 

Word. Next time I go to mass with my mother I'm wearing fangs and hissing at the priest when I go up for communion.

[Storyrider]

Ha ha! I don't know how the cross thing works if you're a Christian type vampire. Maybe you have to brandish a star of David at them.

[a4a]

BO that is not nearly as scarey as you think. We see masses of sheeple from our perspective being told the evils the non believers commit... they come after us like we are indeed vampires. Some sort of mass hysteria, reminds me of a stephen king novel..... and speaking of zombies I just breezed through his book Cell which is about zombies being created by the use of cell phones! :laugh: a 2 day read - entertaining when you are droppin' the kids at the pool and need something light. - or if you are outta TP.

 

Hell not long ago I was told that satan dude was working through me, here on LS. :laugh:

 

But imagine how many people do think that..... the witch hunt mentality can easily be revived, and actually is alive and kicking quietly under the disguise of organized religion.

 

vampires fear fundamentalists...... not because of the religious aspect but because they seem to be down right lunatics to a vampire even. And vampires have seen some crazy shiat in their time.

[sb129]

a4a- chocolate martinis. Yum.

 

Maybe make them yourself? Beside the point but.....

[a4a]

a4a- chocolate martinis. Yum.

 

Maybe make them yourself? Beside the point but.....

 

I don't want to make them myself.... I want them made for me at $6.50 a pop. Part of the joy of it all.

 

I got joy, joy, joy, deep in my glass, deep in my glass, deep in my glass.................................

 

no I have not had one - not a bad idea though...... maybe I will.

 

If I am allowed to sin in my own home on a Monday? or is it Tuesday?

[sb129]

If you do know how to make them, please share...

[sb129]

I will pay YOU $6.50???

 

 

Sorry I know I went off topic.....

 

But I could murder a chocolate martini right now.

Yum.....................

[a4a]

If you do know how to make them, please share...

 

google martini art....... massive info variety of choices. Calling H to pick up ingredients now!

 

of course to stay on topic I may drink a Zombie instead.

[Storyrider]

google martini art....... massive info variety of choices. Calling H to pick up ingredients now!

 

of course to stay on topic I may drink a Zombie instead.

I was just going to say, isn't there a drink called a Zombie? On topic again.

[quankanne]

I notice that our resident believers are conspicuously silent. Given time zones and work and such maybe they haven't seen this thread yet. Or maybe they are ignoring it because it is evil or something. Time will tell didn’t originally look at this thread because I thought it was a spoof post. And didn’t have the time needed to go through the posts. Not because I thought it was evil!

 

Not only was I once a believer, but my father was a Baptist minister and I went to a Jesuit college for two years. that explains many things about the thoroughness of your disbelief ...

 

Is it not sad that men can be convinced that they should give up their one, precious life here for a promise of some eternal reward – a reward that is based on speculation? a believer thinks of it the other way around ... in the immortal words of Peggy Lee, they ask themselves “is that all there is?” when contemplating life, which they believe is not just limited to the here and now. Not sure why non-believers feel these folks are “giving up” something “precious” when they’ve identified the after-life as the one with greater value for them, or why some feel threatened by this ...

 

Why do you need to feel special in that way? When you consider all the different ways the DNA in your system could have combined but did so in such a way as to produce you--the only you there will ever be -- isn't that special enough? Only you will ever see the world the way you do. It will never be repeated. I didn’t do this myself, though I nurture my body ... my parents’ role in this was to get their funk on so that I could exist on a cellular level, but the essence of me is solely due to God, because I am His beloved creation. It’s not a “need” to feel this way, but a recognition of what work he has done in me. What value do I assign myself if I don’t see myself as a child of God, and how do I value others if they are not my brothers and sisters in Him?

 

When you realize that there is no super-being keeping track of everything you do and waiting to punish or reward you for how you think, you can just relax and enjoy life. The one life you have. lol, you make him sound like Big Brother, just waiting to pounce and steal my gubmint cheese from me because I’ve done something to displease him! It’s just as easy for me to relax and enjoy life understanding and maintaining a supernatural code of honor as it is for another to exist without it – it works for me and makes sense the way existing without God makes sense to a non-believer.

 

Yep. And they use the Bible to back it up. Other disagree with their interpretation. How can this be? because we tend to be boneheads when we lose sight of the big picture, that there’s something more to life than just appeasing our base needs and desires. Which is pretty much what those believers who twist faith to fulfill their desires. However, they shouldn’t be confused with the bulk of believers, who feel that the best way to introduce God to others is to love them as He loves us.

 

Notice how the more we learn about Nature, the smaller god gets only for those who conscientiously decide that God and science are mutually exclusive ...

 

Rationalism offers the most hope, as the more who follow it the more man prospers. This is shown everywhere in the world. And which is better to hope for; a world that is better for all people everywhere, or a spiritual reward that is at odds with every other? One is tangible and possible, the other causes irrational actions and decisions here and now. Hope in what? A material world, in the here and now? Hope should transcend even the here and now, it should look to the future, even past death, and rationalism is close-ended if it’s only based in the secular. I think you’re trying to build a case of faith = irrational (and destructive) behavior, based on the actions of a small group of people in a body of believers. Faith defies logic, yes, but it doesn’t make it any less valid than logic.

 

as for the Matthew passage you originally posted: I’ve always thought that passage dealt with the spiritual aspect of the dead rather than the corporeal one.

[Topper]

I think there is actually more evidence that Jesus was a vampire. He was risen from the dead (therefore one of the undead). He claimed eternal life. He claimed others could have eternal life as well, by drinking his blood.

 

(Hot damn, I love the top of the page! Haha!)

 

Funny thing is that, one excuse for the Persecution of Christians by Rome was the mistaken belief that the Eucharist was actually ritual Cannibalism practised by Christians. There are account of Romans saying that Christians were stealing Babies in order to drink the blood and eat the flesh of the innocent.

See how things can get out of hand when you believe all the rumors.

 

a4a We know your not doing Satins work, he works for you.

[a4a]

 

a4a We know your not doing Satins work, he works for you.

 

Ya got that right..... I keep his balls on my mantle with the others.

[Storyrider]

Funny thing is that, one excuse for the Persecution of Christians by Rome was the mistaken belief that the Eucharist was actually ritual Cannibalism practised by Christians. There are account of romes saying that Christains were stealing Babies in order to drink the blood and eat the flesh of the inoccent.

See how things can get out of hand when you believe all the rumors.

 

The Arab newspapers say that about Jews still today. But, my original point was to gently satirize Moai's point.

 

a4a We know your not doing Satins work, he works for you.

 

I'm sure a4a looks good in satin. Velvet too. Haven't we been though this before?

 

Quankanne, I'm glad you posted. The thing about this life versus next life irks me too. I think people who believe in the afterlife usually devote more zest and energy to this life, not less. And "Religion is the opiate of the masses" was a phrase used by those who wanted to subjugate those same people to the State, not free them as individuals.