# Simple questions and non-responsive answers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 20, 2008, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956 "2008-05-20T11:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/81 "2008-05-21T01:39:08Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] I _might_ have to give you the second one. All established religions that have been utilized throughout history would be included-few religions are completely dead. [/QUOTE] Fair enough – and as I noted, the second one was the real point of confusion (IMO). I sort of assumed the Pastafarian and Jedi were probably outside the poll parameters. While I’m sure if we dug enough we might find an actual ardent “true” beleiver in the FSM, the fact remains the primary focus of FSM is a parody religion. Jedi, while not parody, is similar in this. Few religions are completely dead – although some have been resurrected (if you’ll pardon the expression); Norse paganism into Asatru being an example. (My Google-fu fails to turn up any extant Mithraists however). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/82 "2008-05-21T11:46:12Z")
[QUOTE=Apollyon] (My Google-fu fails to turn up any extant Mithraists however). 🙂 [/QUOTE] I give you [Modern Mithraism.](http://books.google.com/books?id=OltMzIU1ae0C&pg=PA16&lpg=PA16&dq=Modern++Mithraism&source=web&ots=3qfCrzlPMz&sig=_AQprZwTfrax1K-dBKvECcP8a9U&hl=en) ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/83 "2008-05-21T12:14:56Z")
I give you [the Church of Google](http://www.thechurchofgoogle.org/) , and I don’t need to wish for it to be reality to make it so! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Duhkecco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@Duhkecco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duhkecco)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/84 "2008-05-21T14:01:36Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] Is that too much to ask? [/QUOTE] What do you mean by “too much”? 😉 Anyway, the question in the linked thread reminded me of this: Which god is powerful enough to ask a question that is so hypothetical that not even he/she/it can answer it? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/85 "2008-05-21T21:26:40Z")
I think part of the problem is that the question as stated contradicted itself. If there is a power great enough to establish any religion as true, then that Power almost by definition is God and you have already established that monotheism is true (and atheism cannot be) before you even wish. Or, to put it more succinctly, ask a silly question, get a silly answer. Nothing wrong with that, in the appropriate forum, but hardly unexpected. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/86 "2008-05-21T21:38:37Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] I think part of the problem is that the question as stated contradicted itself. If there is a power great enough to establish any religion as true, then that Power almost by definition is God and you have already established that monotheism is true (and atheism cannot be) before you even wish. Or, to put it more succinctly, ask a silly question, get a silly answer. Nothing wrong with that, in the appropriate forum, but hardly unexpected. Regards, Shodan [/QUOTE] Since you seem to have trouble playing a simple game of “what if”, why don’t you just assume that this all-powerful “god” you are referring to has decided to retire, and wants one of us to pick how to proceed from there. Why? Who the fuck knows-his ways are mysterious. Why an already established religion? Who the fuck knows-his ways are mysterious. How? Who the fuck knows-his ways are mysterious. You say “God” doesn’t work that way, and wouldn’t do such a thing? How the fuck would _you_ know-his ways are mysterious. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/87 "2008-05-21T23:12:24Z")
[QUOTE=Lemur866] Atheism is a religion just like clear is a color. [/QUOTE] Just had to say that I love the comparison… and that I found **Czarcasm’s** question to be self explanitory. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/88 "2008-05-21T23:49:57Z")
Some people ask for clarification to try to be clever, some ask for it because they genuinely perceive ambiguity in the question. Same as some people over-qualify their answers with exceptions and ifs and buts, because they know if they don’t, someone else will be along shortly to point out those exceptions, ifs and buts. (or because they’re just trying to appear clever by knowing about the exceptions, or just that they perceive them as genuine and relevant) It’s a board where one of the prevailing ethics is that we try to think things through as completely and rigorously as we can. You can’t avoid these behaviours in a place like this. It’s part of what makes this board different from Yahoo Answers. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/89 "2008-05-22T00:19:11Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] Since you seem to have trouble playing a simple game of “what if”, why don’t you just assume that this all-powerful “god” you are referring to has decided to retire, and wants one of us to pick how to proceed from there. Why? Who the fuck knows-his ways are mysterious. Why an already established religion? Who the fuck knows-his ways are mysterious. How? Who the fuck knows-his ways are mysterious. You say “God” doesn’t work that way, and wouldn’t do such a thing? How the fuck would _you_ know-his ways are mysterious. [/QUOTE] Well no wonder this old God is retiring, it would appear he is very cranky and needs a long nap. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/90 "2008-05-22T01:41:08Z")
Is this why your grumpy all the time? Because people are, and I’m almost afraid to use this word but here goes, dumb? Look at it this way. Either your going to have to come down to our level or were going to have to rise to yours. I’m thinking you should just get drunk or stoned because if your waiting on our dumbasses your going to be pretty lonely all be yourself. Maybe you and a couple of people. Or maybe not. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/91 "2008-05-22T02:21:43Z")
[QUOTE=Omegaman] Is this why your grumpy all the time? Because people are, and I’m almost afraid to use this word but here goes, dumb? Look at it this way. Either your going to have to come down to our level or were going to have to rise to yours. I’m thinking you should just get drunk or stoned because if your waiting on our dumbasses your going to be pretty lonely all be yourself. Maybe you and a couple of people. Or maybe not. 😉 [/QUOTE] I thought I spoke [Stengelese](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casey_Stengel#New_York_Yankees), this must be some variant I was previously unaware of. (_Translated: What did you just say?)_ ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/92 "2008-05-22T02:46:46Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] I thought I spoke [Stengelese](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casey_Stengel#New_York_Yankees), this must be some variant I was previously unaware of. (_Translated: What did you just say?)_ [/QUOTE] Well this is _the_ perfect example of what **Czarcasm** ’s pissed about! It should have been “by yourself”. DUMBASS!! _Red Foreman_ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/93 "2008-05-22T03:28:23Z")
[QUOTE=Omegaman] Well this is _the_ perfect example of what **Czarcasm** ’s pissed about! It should have been “by yourself”. DUMBASS!! _Red Foreman_ [/QUOTE] Actually I wasn’t correcting your grammar or spelling, Og knows that would be silly for me to do so with my own frequent problems with spelling and grammar. I thought the Stengelese part was this last bit: “Maybe you and a couple of people. Or maybe not.” I just wasn’t sure of your meaning. Sorry, Jim ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/94 "2008-05-22T04:24:36Z")
I would choose not to answer. Who am I to play god God? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/95 "2008-05-22T04:47:32Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] All established religions that have been utilized throughout history would be included-few religions are completely dead. [/QUOTE] I think you underestimate how difficult it is to define both ‘religion’ and ‘established religion’. Please consider, and feel free to comment on: 1. The Sun God Ra Undoubtedly seriously worshipped centuries ago. No sign of a modern Church (though I did find a web page of someone claiming to be Him today). 2. Judaism A recognised religion, though by definition (was Jesus the Son of God?) either this or Christianity is false. 3. Christianity A recognised religion, split into two main branches and many sects (Congregationalists, Wee Frees etc) which disagree over contraception, confession, women priests, gays etc. Either this or Judaism is false. 4. Buddism Buddists do not worship Gods or Deities. 5. Scientology They claim to be a religion - I believe a court has ruled they are a cult. Who decides what a religion is? 6. Jedi In the 2001 UK Census 390,000 people listed their religion as Jedi Knight making it the fourth biggest belief in the country. There are also an estimated 70,000 Jedi knights in Australia, 53,000 in New Zealand and 20,000 in Canada. There is as much ‘proof’ of Jedi Knights as there is of any of the above. Does that make it a religion? ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/96 "2008-05-22T10:33:58Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Actually I wasn’t correcting your grammar or spelling, Og knows that would be silly for me to do so with my own frequent problems with spelling and grammar. I thought the Stengelese part was this last bit: “Maybe you and a couple of people. Or maybe not.” I just wasn’t sure of your meaning. Sorry, Jim [/QUOTE] Jim What a sorry pair we are!! No apology necessary !! Isn’t a shame when I stumble around like boob while trying to make a damn joke ?! _This_ is funnier than either of our attempts at humor !! I was trying to do Red Foreman from that 70’s show, how he always calls his kid “DUMBASS!!” In reference to myself for goofing up the words. I got your reference about Stengle no problem. It’s been a bad few days for me, I have to start a pit thread about something really important to me and I better get started. Warm up the spell check !!! Wish me luck. You take it easy man. We have words you and I, but it’s the way we learn from each other, if you don’t mind me being so forward. You know I respect you just the same I hope. P.S. Apologies **Czarcasm** for screwing around in your thread. It was going to be a little driveby humor but I had a little accident. ☹😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/97 "2008-05-22T10:44:26Z")
[QUOTE=glee] I think you underestimate how difficult it is to define both ‘religion’ and ‘established religion’. [/QUOTE] Atheism, on the other hand, is easy - the definition is: ‘Not what anyone says it is’. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/98 "2008-05-22T12:59:25Z")
[QUOTE=glee] 1. The Sun God Ra Undoubtedly seriously worshipped centuries ago. No sign of a modern Church (though I did find a web page of someone claiming to be Him today). [/QUOTE] While they don’t have a church recognized by the state or the IRS, there is still active modern worship of Ra. My husband’s got an article about them coming out in an anthology soon. They’re the official firetenders at a number of neopagan festivals we go to. Fire and the sun are inextricably linked in their worldview. As the earth circles and centers the sun, so do many modern festivals literally circle and center on the fire as a place for both fun times and transformative religious work. [Here’s a picture](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9460062@N07/2513025179/) of a small group being led in the early morning Resh (prayer) recently. If they look a little droopy, it’s because they’ve been up all night long. They’ll go to bed after this, and wake up at noon for the noon Resh, and then start [building](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9460062@N07/2513030613/) another [bonfire](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9460062@N07/2513035465/) and [teaching the woodchucks](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9460062@N07/2513856122/) (older kids in the community) how to do the same. ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/99 "2008-05-22T14:55:33Z")
I did not bother to respond to the original thread, but I do note one teeny tiny problem with it–the title of the OP asked about a _God_, but the body of the OP asked about a _Religion_. These are obviously two very different things–Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all have the same god, and (some forms of) Buddhism have no god at all. I believe this led to some of the non-desired answers. But I am only responding to \*this \*thread because… [QUOTE=Czarcasm] …you don’t get to use tarot cards in Texas Hold-em(“but they _are_ cards! I don’t understand what your problem is with my hand!”) [/QUOTE] Everyone should read [Last Call](http://www.amazon.com/Last-Call-Tim-Powers/dp/038072846X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211468027&sr=8-3) by Tim Powers. It is utterly awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/100 "2008-05-22T16:44:27Z")
**Czarcasm** , I see your point, but believe you are trying to empty the sea with a teaspoon. People will answer the question that they want to answer, no matter how you phrase the question. If I ask about best store-bought spaghetti sauce and specifically say: Don’t bother to suggest that I make my own - ain’t going to happen; well someone will come in and tell me I should try to make some myself, it is very easy. If I ask people if ozone generators will hurt computer parts and explain that a local contractor suggested an ozone generator for some mildew problems I am having - and if I add that I am already investigating alternatives, so I don’t need suggestions; why then, the very first (and only) post will provide alternative suggestions. I could go on and on, providing examples from questions I have asked, but you get the idea. In real life it is just as bad, but in real life I laugh and make fun of people for not answering the question I asked. I don’t do that online because people can’t tell when you are teasing as easily online. I guess to answer your question: “Is this too much to ask?” Well, I don’t believe it to be, but it still ain’t likely to happen [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956.md?page=6)