Christianity

[Lacewing]

I have no conflicts. I am so far above the fray and I stream along within currents of effervescent luminousness! I am the smile of Siddhartha. And the ultra-sharp blade of the assassin. I am the waterfall of death and the newly sprouted flower. I am a little puppy's whimper. I am that dried up ham & cheese sandwich found, mummified, behind your couch's cushions. I am a Holy Text. I am garbage blown in the wind. I am the planet Hercolubus careening through spacial void to bring an end to all things. I am some mere flakes of dandruff. I chirp, I whinnie, I wail.

Yes, yes, you are!!

[Lacewing]

Well, as the saying goes, if you don't laugh, you cry

Sometimes!

I go a little both ways: a mix of humour and censure.

Me too.

Feel free to share your methods of self-amusement!

It's spontaneous in the moment, inspired by the stupid things people say. There seems to be a lot of material here.

There are inspiring and enlightening moments too -- even amidst the laughter.

[Harry Baird]

It's spontaneous in the moment, inspired by the stupid things people say. There seems to be a lot of material here.

A lot of material, indeed. Almost enough for another play.

*No, Harry. No. Just ... no, Harry. Just don't. Leave these poor people alone.*

There are inspiring and enlightening moments too -- even amidst the laughter.

Sort of like this, right? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvpjxfWrjzY

[Lacewing]

It's spontaneous in the moment, inspired by the stupid things people say. There seems to be a lot of material here.

A lot of material, indeed. Almost enough for another play.

*No, Harry. No. Just ... no, Harry. Just don't. Leave these poor people alone.*

It truly is a hilarious farce.

There are inspiring and enlightening moments too -- even amidst the laughter.

Sort of like this, right? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvpjxfWrjzY

Yes, just like that.

[Harry Baird]

But Lacewing, let's address the elephant in the room. You have bitterly crushed our dear friend's heart. How are you going to make it right for him? The poor fellow lies in desperate misery. Life is all but impossible for him at this point. Only you can save him. What will you do?

[Immanuel Can]

However, if you have it on hand, let's see what you think actually "contradicts." Put the two Biblical statements that you allege as "contradictions" side by side for me. And I'll see what I can do to address them.

Click on the link, reread the argument, and address it.

Your allegation is that the Bible is "contradictory."

It's only fair that you point out the "contradiction" to which you refer: using to statements, both Biblical, but which amount to a direct denial of one another. That's definitionally, what a "contradiction" requires: to directly opposite claims, referring to the same thing at the same time. (See Aristotle.)

If you can't do that, there's no evident "contradiction," except, plausibly, of your preferences. But of course, nobody, Bible or me, is manifestly obligated to resolve statements that contradict nothing more than your personal preferences.

[Harry Baird]

Click on the link, reread the argument, and address it.

[...]

Of course, he doesn't. Somebody recently said something about "farce", I believe?

[Immanuel Can]

Of course, he doesn't.

Harry, it's not on me to go and find you a "contradiction" you can't find.

If you've got one, you'll present it.

If you don't...well, nobody's going to.

[Harry Baird]

If you've got one, you'll present it.

"I can't see the argument you've linked to, 'cos I've got my hands in front of my eyes and my fingers in my ears (see, I'm just as contradictory as the Bible is!). Lalalalala, everything's black and everything's silent. I can't see your link. There's no argument to respond to."

[Lacewing]

But Lacewing, let's address the elephant in the room. You have bitterly crushed our dear friend's heart. How are you going to make it right for him? The poor fellow lies in desperate misery. Life is all but impossible for him at this point. Only you can save him. What will you do?

Well, if that was true... I would talk gently and try to comfort and reassure him. But we all know he's putting on a drama, so I'm meeting him on the stage for our epic performance. I honestly do love people and wish them well. If they become identified with their trips so desperately that they become ridiculous on this forum, it seems useful to bring that to their attention here. Typically, it seems, people develop filters and blinds to preserve their view, no matter what, as it represents their identity and purpose and 'rightness', no matter how nonsensical that might be. Logic and cooperation and balance and truth become enemies and are denied and ignored. So, I don't need to worry about hurt feelings in those cases, and the theater rages on!

[Harry Baird]

But Lacewing, let's address the elephant in the room. You have bitterly crushed our dear friend's heart. How are you going to make it right for him? The poor fellow lies in desperate misery. Life is all but impossible for him at this point. Only you can save him. What will you do?

Well, if that was true...

Oh, but it is so terribly, terribly true. He is near on suicidal at this point. We have been on the phone, and I have been counselling him as best I can. "Alexis", I urge him, "There will be others. And she cares. All is not lost! A life full of hope awaits you!"

Alas, I cannot seem to get through to him. He is so despondent that it hurts me too. I am nearly at my wit's end myself.

[Immanuel Can]

If you've got one, you'll present it.

"I can't see the argument you've linked to,

No, I can see your opinions. What I can't see is the Biblical "contradiction" of which you spoke.

Spell it out for me: what are the two parts that contradict? It'll take you even less effort than being sarcastic, if you know what you're talking about.

[Harry Baird]

I can see your opinions.

An argument is not an opinion. Address the argument or implicitly concede it. The choice is yours. I'm going to keep on linking you back to it until you address it. Until you do that, you remain in a state of concession. Happy times!

[Immanuel Can]

I can see your opinions.

An argument is not an opinion,

It's not a "contradiction" either. So ante up, I guess.

I'll tell you what: Just give me the references. Give me two words and four numbers. I'll go and look it up myself, and address it.

[Lacewing]

But Lacewing, let's address the elephant in the room. You have bitterly crushed our dear friend's heart. How are you going to make it right for him? The poor fellow lies in desperate misery. Life is all but impossible for him at this point. Only you can save him. What will you do?

Well, if that was true...

Oh, but it is so terribly, terribly true. He is near on suicidal at this point. We have been on the phone, and I have been counselling him as best I can. "Alexis", I urge him, "There will be others. And she cares. All is not lost! A life full of hope awaits you!"

Alas, I cannot seem to get through to him. He is so despondent that it hurts me too. I am nearly at my wit's end myself.

Hmm. I didn't realize you guys were so close. Well, I'll have to hear it from him, and then I can decide how to proceed. He may have to undergo some intensive treatment... such as staring at his Siddhartha smile in the mirror until he 'gets it'.