Bernard Law, protector of pedophile priests, is dead.

[Act_of_Reparation]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/19/obituaries/cardinal-bernard-law-dead.html

Denied victims justice and endangered who-knows-how-many more. Lives to 86 in relative comfort. Gets a charitable obit in the NYT.

Guess Karma was on vacation.

[shanny]

1. Karma is never on vacation

and he has a boatload of it to work off. I bet it will take many lifetimes.

[trotsky]

2. You have absolutely no idea if that is true.

And it is irresponsible of us as a species to assume "karma" will take care of justice for us.

[shanny]

4. That is mostly correct.

I think it is, but I don't believe it, and I certainly don't know.

Neither do you.

I do think that in a multiple dimension multiverse, about everything is possible--even justice.


btw: do you chastise Christians with equal fervor for their beliefs?

[Act_of_Reparation]

7. Yes.

He does. And rightfully so.

[shanny]

8. Rightfully? Sez you. eom

[Act_of_Reparation]

10. That's correct. I am the person who said that.

Very astute.

[guillaumeb]

15. Nice demonstration of the ongoing double standard.

Really well done. I could not have wished for a better one.

[Act_of_Reparation]

18. You must be talking about the double standard where atheists say it is OK to criticize ideas...

...and then criticize ideas.

[guillaumeb]

19. If that makes you feel good, I understand.

But considering your response, you might wish to look up the meaning of the term.

[Act_of_Reparation]

22. Yes, I am an idiot.

Vapid, unintelligent, and seemingly illiterate, it's truly amazing I've made it this far in life.

[guillaumeb]

25. Another diversion?

The double standard is still blindingly obvious.

[Act_of_Reparation]

27. No, it's not.

How could I possibly divert from a double-standard when I don't know what a double-standard is? I haven't gotten around to looking it up yet. Maybe when I'm done eating paste and drooling on myself.

[guillaumeb]

37. Are you a pastefarian? eom

[Act_of_Reparation]

40. I don't know what that is.

Puns hamstring my feeble intellect.

[MineralMan]

42. I am. I once consumed an entire jar of library paste

in Kindergarten. I was converted on the spot.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

24. Where has an atheist said you can't criticize atheism?

I'm waiting for the link since that is your standard.

[guillaumeb]

26. An attempt at humor?

A good one.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

29. Nope

Give a link or it didn't happen. Should be easy for you to find one.

[guillaumeb]

38. Some confusion on your part. eom

[Cuthbert Allgood]

39. No. Still none. You claimed a double standard by atheists. I asked for proof.

I haven't forgot where this started as much as you have tried to dance around the mulberry bush.

So, give a link to where this claim by atheists is that you can't criticize atheism. We are all still waiting.

[trotsky]

31. Please demonstrate the double standard.

Tell me where I have said atheism is off-limits to criticism.

I'll wait right here.

[guillaumeb]

14. Ooops!! That is not a proper subject for debate. eom

[shanny]

32. OK

[trotsky]

30. So it's "chastising" someone to point out there is no factual basis for their beliefs?

Wow. So much for political discourse. Guess we can't tell Republicans they're wrong about trickle-down, or else we'd be "chastising" them.

[shanny]

33. lol

[trotsky]

35. Thanks for the response.

I guess you can't defend the concept of karma.

[shanny]

43. It was earned.

Your cumulative assumptions are hilarious. Thanks for the laughs.

[Act_of_Reparation]

44. So they're only hilarious in the aggregate?

Individually, they're what? Amusing? Humorous? Jocular? Inquiring minds want to know.

[shanny]

47. lol

[guillaumeb]

45. An interesting way to welcome someone to this group.

But illuminating.

[trotsky]

66. How delightful to have you judge me.

Just like a good Christian.

[guillaumeb]

75. Self-awareness?

At least you admitted it.

[trotsky]

81. I'm aware of you judging others non-stop, yes.

Your behavior is unfortunately all too common among Christians.

[MineralMan]

5. Nah. He's just dead.

He can do no more harm, and good riddance to him.

He lived. He did evil. He died. It is over for him. He no longer exists.

[guillaumeb]

46. You sound quite certain of this.

Can one ask for proof of this certainty, or is it simply an unprovable belief?

[MineralMan]

48. Evidence. I have,seen an exhumed grave.

I have participated in an archaeological excavation of an ancient burial site. I have seen deteriorating human bones. I have scattered remains. That is our end. What have you seen to indicate a continuation of self after death?

Please note that I have answered your question, so please do me the courtesy of answering mine.

[guillaumeb]

49. I have physically seen nothing, literally nothing,

to support my faith based belief. And I have said many times that my faith based beliefs are unprovable.

But looking at the bones tells us nothing about the person who so briefly inhabited those bones. Yes, the bones can show age, and evidence of past trauma, and possibly the cause of death, but a person is more than bones.

And faith, and philospohy, attempt to round out our understanding of the person who inhabited the bones.

If it is your belief that sentience and the essence of the person ends with death, I understand. But it is not my belief.

[MineralMan]

50. Beliefs are what they are...mental thoughts.

Evidence is material and subject to examination by third parties. Thoughts are fleeting and cannot be so examined.

Beliefs are subject to change on a whim. Physical evidence is, well, physical evidence.

[guillaumeb]

52. True, but as sentient beings, we are more than our bones.

And faith and philosophy attempt to fill in what is contained in the bones.

We all have thoughts, beliefs, and opinions, and many times these cannot really be examined or proven. But it is our nature to speculate.

[Voltaire2]

54. If you are claiming that dualism is a proven fact you are mistaken.

But I will play along. Are the mental processes of a cockroach "more than its bones"?

[guillaumeb]

56. Did you read the part about sentience?

I should have said human sentience.

[Voltaire2]

57. Ok at what point do mental processes meet your qualification of sentience?

[guillaumeb]

58. When they rise to the level of human sentience. eom

[Voltaire2]

59. So is a 1 year old baby sentient?

[guillaumeb]

60. A baby human is a human baby, and sentient.

So...........was there a point that you are attempting to make?

[Voltaire2]

61. So this "sentience" is then only a property of humans, and all humans have this property?

[guillaumeb]

62. Sentience is defined as awareness of surroundings.

So, while humans have this property, it is not limited to humans. As to humans, I cannot answer for those with severe brain injures.

[Voltaire2]

63. A cockroach is very aware of its surroundings.

Surely that cannot be definition of sentience.

[Act_of_Reparation]

68. lolwut?

Sentience is the ability to experience subjectively. At least I think it is. I find it difficult to read through my old psych 101 notes, being illiterate and all.

[MineralMan]

70. By whom is it so defined?

Awareness of surroundings is something most living animals have, right down to animals like ants. If that is your definition of sentience, then the concept of ahimsa must be prominent in your mind. In your definition, all animal life has sentience:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa

[Act_of_Reparation]

69. Erroneous thinking.

Human babies are baby humans. Baby humans differ from adult humans in numerous ways. Brain development is one of those ways. Sentience is a function of brain development.

I don't know if babies are sentient at birth, but I do know brain development occurs well into the late teens and early twenties. I cannot assume babies are sentient.

But what do I know. I can't read, after all.

[MineralMan]

74. Once we are only bones, we are no more sentient beings.

When brain activity ceases, the individual is no more. That's not a bad thing. It's just nature at work.

Make the best of your limited time, I suggest. It's all you have. The person who is you is just thoughts and brain activity. When that ceases you will be no more.

Me, too.

[sprinkleeninow]

77. Youse guys be 'your' sentient kind of beings and us will be

'our' sentient kind of beings.
Iz dat copacetic enuff? 🤓

🎄🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🎅🍪🥛🎁🎁🎁💰💰💰

[MineralMan]

79. I believe I'll continue to post as I choose, if you don't mind.

Last edited Thu Dec 21, 2017, 05:17 PM - Edit history (1)

Bye, now...

[sprinkleeninow]

82. I don't mine. 😉

[Voltaire2]

53. I'm pretty sure it is entirely possible to prove with reasonable confidence that the shithead Law is

in fact dead.

[guillaumeb]

55. True, but that was not the entire claim. eom

[Irish_Dem]

3. He is facing his karma as we speak, now descending into the seven rings of Hell.

For those of us who believe in karma, hell and an afterlife, we know this man will face horrific karmic lessons.

[Act_of_Reparation]

6. "Know"

This word... I do not think it means what you think it means.

[shanny]

9. lol

but you do "know" all there is to know? that is--unintentionally I'm sure--hilarious

[Act_of_Reparation]

11. I know the definition of "to know".

And that is all I claimed to know.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

12. So a kid dying with cancer must have done something horrible, right?

Because karma.

[Irish_Dem]

16. No. That is a horrible thought. nt

[Cuthbert Allgood]

17. That's the logical extension of "karma"

Or is karma just for bad things happening to bad people. Because the concept is that you get what you deserve. So Trump is rich because he's awesome.

[trotsky]

34. Karma says that bad things happen because you deserve it, right? n/t

[Voltaire2]

64. I guess only when it fits the defined "karma" pattern.

Otherwise it's just shit that happens to people who didn't deserve it.

[trotsky]

67. And that's the repulsive side of karma.

Logically, if bad things happen to people who deserve it, if something bad happens to someone, obviously they deserved it. This horrible belief has led to things like the caste system, slavery, etc.

[MineralMan]

71. Calvinism, too.

Success is evidence of being one of the Elect. If you are poor or born with a defect, then it's obvious God doesn't favor you.

Ick-poo!

[trotsky]

73. Correct.

Much the same anti-human philosophy.

[guillaumeb]

20. An amazing leap.

An Olympic caliber leap on your part.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

21. Why is that?

From Dictionary.com

noun
1.
Hinduism, Buddhism. action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation: in Hinduism one of the means of reaching Brahman.
Compare bhakti (def 1), jnana.
2.
Theosophy. the cosmic principle according to which each person is rewarded or punished in one incarnation according to that person's deeds in the previous incarnation.
3.
fate; destiny.
Synonyms: predestination, predetermination, lot, kismet.
4.
the good or bad emanations felt to be generated by someone or something:

What happens now is based on what you did previously. Kid dying from cancer must have been an asshole in a previous life. Trump must have been a hell of a guy since he's rich and President. You can't just say karma is for bad things happening to bad people. That is not, definitionally, how it works.

But, please do explain how I'm making "Olympic" caliber leaps.

[guillaumeb]

23. So you deny that cancer can be caused by many things?

Another interesting leap.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

28. I'm not the one who believe is karma.

But, if one believes in karma, then that would apply to a kid dying of cancer. Something they did in this life or a previous life would be the reason why they have the illness now.

Again, karma is a bullshit concept, but if one is going to push it, then one needs to realize the implications of that.

[trotsky]

36. It feels really good to believe that will happen, yes.

It also feels really good to believe I'll win the lottery.

Does that mean it will happen?

[MineralMan]

72. It might, you know. You can't win if you don't play.

Buy your Lotto tickets where you get your gas!

[Mariana]

65. Most Christians believe he's enjoying eternal bliss in Heaven.

Christians generally believe that Christ forgives sin, and Christians like Law suffer no punishment whatsoever in the afterlife for anything they did while they were alive, no matter how horrific their acts were. Are those Christians wrong?

[sprinkleeninow]

78. Most and generally again. That 'covers' one's, does it not?

Oy veh, Matzo Ball Soup.

[Mariana]

80. It is impossible ever to say ALL Christians believe anything.

With thousands of denominations and millions of independent practitioners, one can believe or disbelieve just about anything and still be one flavor of Christian or another.

Do you disagree that most Christians believe Christ forgives sin?

[sprinkleeninow]

83. If one is sincerely and honestly repentant, mortifies his flesh (see *Law*),

strives to live as close to a God-pleasing life thereafter, then, yes, he is 'afforded' forgiveness.

I detest dirty behavior. But, if I find myself wandering into judgment, I stop it. I do not wish to dirty 'my' hands. I leave 'them' to Heaven and to law enforcement. That's a relief.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

13. Good

Fuck that guy and his corrupt institution. Too bad the Pope decided to shelter him and save him from the prosecution he deserved here in the US.

[Angry Dragon]

41. may he rest in HELL

[Sneederbunk]

51. One of John Paul II "mistakes"

[calimary]

76. Buh-bye.