Look Shodan: would you consider a group calling itself “Nazis for Judiasm” (or the reverse “Jews for Nazism”) to be legitimate members of either group? Of course not: their fundimental principals are incompatable. What about “Ayn Randians for Communism”? “PETA-Members for leg hold traps”? “Communist Robber-Barons”?
If the idea that a group has core values has any meaning (and if not, how do you distinguish that they’re a group?) then people outside the broadest definition can safely be said to not be part of it.
Catholics and Protestants share all the same core beliefs. There’s some quibbling about the Pope and baptism issues (I think) but the guy they worship is the same and the message they say he preached is fundimentally the same. (Jack Chick “can’t” do it because he simply lies about what Catholics believe and thus creates a false distinction.). Thus, saying Catholics aren’t Christians is Not Ok because it flies in the face of the basic facts.
Jews for Jesus aren’t Jews by birth, they aren’t Jews by faith and they aren’t Jews by conversion. All they are is a sleazy bunch of con-men who don’t share ANY values/history/rituals with Jews. None. They simply AREN’T Jewish.
There’s not magic hard-and-fast line that you can draw and to some degree where the line is is open to interpretation. But there IS a a point at which most reasonable people will say…“Um. No. You CAN’T be a Catholic Satanist. I don’t think the words mean what you think they do.”
Fenris, wondering if he’s invisible or something in this thread.
What is with you Collounoids and your bizzare personality cult?
No one person (with the sole exception of Cecil), and certainly not the abrasive gentleman in question has knowledge “too vital to this board’s purpose to let it be banned” As I recall, he was banned once and, other than a dramatic drop in the use of the word “motherfucking”, his absence went pretty much unnoticed as we somehow muddled by without him.
The fact that he’s completely right in this particular case doesn’t change the fact that he is NOT any more “vital” than any other poster, that he’s a hell of a lot more abrasive than most other posters and that he has the vocabulary of a not-very bright fifth-grader
:rolleyes:
Clearly Noel “motherfucking” Coward and Oscar “goddamned” Wilde have little to fear. Hell, Wildest “motherfucking” Bill had a “dipshit motherfucking” better ability to “goddamned motherfucking” communicate or creatively “drooling empty headed chimp” swear.
There are many Christians who do not consider the LDS to be Christian. If one holds that the Council of Nicaea in 325 provides the sole definition of who is a Christian, then I would say that the LDS is clearly outside Christianity. (As are several groups who find themselves still living in the Middle East (in diminished numbers) who never accepted the Nicene declarations along with a couple of other small groups in Western Europe.)
My point, however, is that there are some Christian groups who will accept bestowing the appellation “Christian” on the LDS, the various monophysite Eastern groups, the Celtic Christians, and others while there are other Christians, not limited to Chick or Swaggart or Robertson, who would insist that only those who follow the Nicene instructions (or who follow that particular group’s set of rules) are to be allowed to be recognized as Christians.) In other words, there are a variety of views among all the Christian denominations regarding who each group will accept. There does not, however, seem to be any such variation of opinion (that I have seen) regarding the bone fides of the NOI among Muslims.
Personally, I find his arrogance annoying and abrasive. But when it comes to MENA, he knows a hell of a lot about it.
To say that one poster is not “more vital” than any other is, well, rather naive in a fuzzy, let’s-all-hug-each-other, communal sort of way. It’s simply not true. Some posters contribute a great deal more than others, and as we’re at war in the region which is Col’s expertise, I’d say it’s pretty damn vital to have access to his knowledge. At least if you want to have a better understanding of what’s happening over there, and if you want to prevent the spreading of ignorance on these boards. Which I kinda thought was the point.
Hey, perhaps some people find your cute little ditties vital.
Now, does that mean he’s always right and shouldn’t open himself up to debate rather than simply lecture? Of course not. But that’s life. I still greatly appreciate the knowledge he has, despite the fact that it’s often shared in an abrasive manner.
Cult, sect, entirely different offshoot faiths? There has always been some confusion in my mind as to how divergent these various groups are from the parent organization of the Universal Church of the All-Knowing Adam. I mean there is demostrably some limited overlap in membership between the followers of the Fenrisians and the Collunoids. How’s that work? And what about the Grienspaceki and the Shodanites - sister sects or merely superficially similar isolates that share one aspect of theology?
And won’t anyone spare a thought for the poor Tamerlaners, relegated, like the Popular Front of Judea, to a lonely status in our own section of the Coliseum bleachers, without followers or tithes?
Awww, {{{{Tamerlane}}}}. I’ll give you a few tithes. There. Feel better, sugar? Btw, Tamerlane, I’m curious. Have you ever had a pit thread dedicated to you, or have you gotten into a knock down drag out virtual fight the way that Sugarlump has? [giggle] That’d be something to see if you did. I suspect when you get upset, folks know to tread lightly.
But, I digress. The real question that everyone should be concerned about is where are the celestinaites? Hmmm? Where are those souls who love the sound of a good giggle and who love just havin’ a good ol’ time? I tell you. I never get any respect around here. [sniff]
Glaring Angrily I do not! I just checked my account and it is just as anemic as it was before. Cyber-tithes do me no good - Daddy needs a new Audi A6 ( to spread the word in style, dontcha know ).
Nah. No pit threads ( yet ) and I’ve only gotten visibly pissy a couple of times I can think of. Maybe toss in a few more exasperated sneers at folks for whom I was feeling zero respect at the time ( I can think of at least one now-banned racist in that category ).
But nothing major.
Well excessive giggling in IRL disturbs me ( what’s so funny? ), but otherwise I’m there :).
It’s not a question of his contributing to the SDMB. Nobody seriously doubts that. It’s his unwillingness to link to a pit thread. For a smart guy (and ass), he’s really stupid about forum rules. See, I’d never say that in GD. Some of Collounsbury’s best pit rants were in GD. It’s called a link, MENA brain!
Ah, I love you too Fenris, and you do have panache. I might add you can add ot the list the “Real Hebrews” or some such name. They camp out around 44/45 and B’way at Times Square harranging the passerby with their tales of how the Black Man is the real Hebrew. Clearly if we accept the standard being pimped by my two admirers, they are your brothers as well, so embrace them.
A hint though, it always helps to have secret police and thugs to build your cult of personality. I budget it every quarter, for few to go round and spread the love, keep up my image.
Well, while I respect your knowledge of the Middle East, perhaps you should drop the fake Brit affectation now that we know where you are from. This pseudo-intellectual bullshit persona is damned irritating.
I do love those guys camped up by… You know, I used to see 'em at 34th, down to the east of Penn Station, where the Toys R Us used to be, in that big triangle where you get on the ACE.
Nah, I don’t think so. Like I said, I’m on your side on this one and I’m pretty surprised to read that Shodan’s not. Personality considerations aside, he’s always struck me as being…well…rational. By the standards he and Grieny are spouting though, I, a short, bearded, white Jewish guy could waltz into a meeting of, say…the Black Panthers claiming that I’m a tall, leggy Black woman…just ‘cause I say that I am and who the hell is anyone to say I’m not? Th’ bigots. They’d be just like Jack Chick.
Changing the subject for a moment, y’know what would be fun? Taking the “Real Hebrews” you talked about and lock 'em in a room with some Identity Christians (who also claim to be “Real Hebrews”…they want the title of “the Chosen People” and claim that Jews aren’t it, being half snake and all). I’d pay a sawbuck to see the < cough > debate that ensues.
You’re right man, my that would have some real entertainment value.
You should swing by Times Square (although I think they got cleared out. Glad to see E-Saby has seen them too.
They do have a certain… style. I like the satin quasi-traditional ‘Herew’ clothing they wear.
If you can imagine, and you should for it’s well worth it, Temple Mount Priests done up like 1970s Pimp Hipsters.
Really, it has a certain… chic? Just thinking of it brings a smile to my face.
(BTW Fenris, I can get you discount rates on the personality cult thugs. But they tend not to work on Fridays so no posting then)
Btw, Tamerlane, I’m curious. Have you ever had a pit thread dedicated to you, or have you gotten into a knock down drag out virtual fight the way that Sugarlump has? [giggle] That’d be something to see if you did. I suspect when you get upset, folks know to tread lightly.
).