Forums and Facebook are like Quaker church services.

[Mojotronica]

Have you ever been to a Quaker (Society of Friends) church service? Everyone gathers in a room and meditates silently. When someone is inspired to speak, they stand and make a statement, then they sit and everyone meditates on what they said. Usually there's no commentary on the thought, but there could be.

That model is closer to what you'll see on Facebook than on an internet forum (which is more interactive) but FB's feed system is more popular. You could make a spurious argument that the Quaker philosophy has been embraced by all users of the new media, and that while it's a relatively unpopular and fringe church it gained more (de facto) influence than the monstrous cathedrals of Televangelism.

(Of course, people are less likely to meditate on purely spiritual matters on Facebook.)

[Al B. Sure!]

That's not how it is at all.

And no, I've never been to a Quaker church service but from your description, no.

[Fake Boris]

Another terrific post by Mojotronica.

If more people understood that religion has a value that goes much beyond the factual truth of the doctrines, the world would be a better place.

[Al B. Sure!]

Another terrific post by Mojotronica.

If more people understood that religion has a value that goes much beyond the factual truth of the doctrines, the world would be a better place.

Of course:

[Fake Boris]

I see that you are a religious atheist.

[Aeson]

Don't forget about oatmeal. Facebook and Oatmeal...

[BlackCat]

I see that you are a religious atheist.

Well, Al is Al - this is much more fun considering understanding religion :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_sacrifice

[Felch]

This Mojo guy is the worst DL ever. Where's the clever gimmick? Where's the subtle racist undertone? Where's the beef?

[Mojotronica]

I'm not a DL, I'm a human being. I've been a member at Poly since 2003.

The reason I'm posting significantly this week is to get my Poly post count past 100. Then I will lurk again.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Another terrific post by Mojotronica.

If more people understood that religion has a value that goes much beyond the factual truth of the doctrines, the world would be a better place.

So having someone occasionally say something random, and having others possibly respond (but probably not) is in some way a validation of religious values?

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

I don't know yet how Mojotronica will respond, but I'm already prepared to guess that my response to it will be the single word "Bollocks".

[Fake Boris]

So having someone occasionally say something random, and having others possibly respond (but probably not) is in some way a validation of religious values?

No, it's just the recognition that you will never do away with social circles built around a certain belief in a certain bull****, and that as such, criticizing the factuality of religious doctrines is not only of a low priority, it's pointless if your goal is to "eradicate" religion.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Actually if Quaker meetings were more like FB, they'd feature my friend Chug telling lady friends that he'd like to rub his reproductive fluids over their buttocks, and promptly getting scolded by their furious parents.

[Fake Boris]

Freud has already demonstrated that this is what religious people mean to say, only more subtly.

[Mojotronica]

I don't know yet how Mojotronica will respond, but I'm already prepared to guess that my response to it will be the single word "Bollocks".

What is an English word for balls?