The most plausible explanation for Christ I have ever seen.

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by ISV Venture Star

I do not see the need to question the existence of Jesus.

Academics question everything. It's what makes it fun.

[ISV Venture Star]

Originally Posted by Ashen Key

Academics question everything. It's what makes it fun.

As far as I am aware, the majority of serious academics (even atheists and agnostics) investigating the historicity of biblical events regard the 'Jesus never existed' hypothesis as pop-history tripe on a par with things like Gavin Menzies' 1421.

[Sight Unseen]

LOL

What's all this nonsense about being unfriendly to christians? Jesus, grow a sense of humor, and not everyone shares your beliefs. (as for me, my beliefs are my beliefs, irrelevant to anyone else.)

[josie20]

Originally Posted by Sight Unseen

LOL

What's all this nonsense about being unfriendly to christians? Jesus, grow a sense of humor

^^this


Seriously, people, smoke some weed and drink some beer. Maybe that stick will fall out of your ass.

[Icu]

Jokingly or not, I see no reason for everyone to pile on the criticism of what surely constitutes a sizable enough portion of ToS. And I'm not even religious.

I'm sure if someone made an atheist bashing version of this post they would get yelled at.

I also don't like people telling me I have a stick in my ass :/

[josie20]

lmao, that's why I said it I'd actually like to see an anti-atheist thread. That would be interesting, being that I'm not one and all...

I do know how to take a joke, however.

[Spock]

I think Jesus would be ashamed of those who can't accept the funny side of this.

There's no reason for sparks to fly, lets just sit back and appreciate the humour for what it is.

[Icu]

Originally Posted by Spock

I think Jesus would be ashamed of those who can't accept the funny side of this.

Well I don't think Jesus, if he were the son of God and all that, would be happy joking about something that means the difference between eternal happiness and eternal suffering on a scale that makes human life look insignificant.

But none of that is the point. I just think we shouldn't be making fun of anyone's beliefs, especially given the diversity of this forum.

I can usually "take a joke" especially if it's IRL or between friends, but I think the gray area becomes much larger on places like here. Meh, I'm not a mod, who cares what I say anyway, right?

[josie20]

Originally Posted by Icu

who cares what I say anyway, right?

Exactly lol jk

[Woodsprite]

Hey! I've got a joke:






Haha! Wasn't that so funny? Wasn't it?

Why isn't anyone laughing? I don't get it. Can't people lighten up and take a joke?

There's your answer, Spock.^


EDIT: The simple thing is, we don't post things like that^ because we know others will be offended. Though, religion has been constantly attacked time and again on Tree-of-Souls all in the name of "joking" that it really isn't funny anymore. It isn't. It's hurtful, and it makes this website a very poor excuse of being "open" to people from all ranges of beliefs who enjoyed Avatar.

Now I don't know about you, but this topic, no matter what the intent was, has been taken hard by a few of us. As Ashen Key once told me, it's not what the author's intent was, it's how it was perceived by the audience (or somewhere around those lines).

Now, I know most of the ToS moderating/administrating team is atheist or agnostic, which is why this topic has remained here (because it doesn't go against their beliefs). But now since I've posted this caption, they'll start to get a taste of their own medicine... and they'll probably edit the caption out of my post, or delete this post entirely. I'm just telling you now, you've opened a can of worms that should stay closed.

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

Now I don't know about you, but this topic, no matter what the intent was, has been taken hard by a few of us. As Ashen Key once told me, it's not what the author's intent was, it's how it was perceived by the audience (or somewhere around those lines).

The Author is Dead is the short form of it, but pretty much...yes, this. It doesn't actually matter what the intent is, what matters is how people perceive it.

So, what I SHOULD have said before (and didn't because I got distracted, my bad), is: the original post is rather in bad taste. I'd expect this at one of my online atheist communities, but there it's not going to offend anyone. Here, it will and HAS offended people.

[Spock]

Originally Posted by Banefull

I know you didn't mean any harm Spock but please understand our point of view.

There ARE some people out there who do go out of their way just to piss us off (similar to how trolls visit TOS occasionally just to mess with us). Distinguishing between the two isn't always easy because honestly, I find that most jokes, while highly exaggerated, are, to some varying degree, generally reflective of what the person actually thinks.

I understand it, but that doesn't make it valid. More energy needs to be spent dealing with genuine insults.

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

As far as I know, Hitler is the only person in that caption who isn't an atheist (though he was borderline). Still, the alternate poster that supports atheism has at least three people in it who were never atheists (two of which spoke against it).

That's besides the point anyway. There are great athiests out there as well as great Christians, you also get the bad apples in both groups.

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

I understand that. The point I was making was that a "joke" can be taken quite differently by someone who believes in what's being joked about. If I started "joking" about things you believed and it was insulting, wouldn't you cry 'foul' as well as the others here who have already?

It shouldn't be taken as anything more than a joke. Besides if you know something to be true then you wouldn't feel insulted by any form of criticism. This however isn't criticism, it is a simple 'joke'.

Do you want me to edit my original post and state that it is explicitly a joke?

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

It isn't threatening, it's just downright mean. As I said, it isn't what you intended rather than what's perceived by others, and as has been shown (from other members speaking up, not just me), you've clearly made a mistake in judgment to how certain people would react.

That sounds a lot like arguing for the sake of arguing. Liberate yourself a little bit. It's really not necessary.

Originally Posted by Ashen Key

The Author is Dead is the short form of it, but pretty much...yes, this. It doesn't actually matter what the intent is, what matters is how people perceive it.

So, what I SHOULD have said before (and didn't because I got distracted, my bad), is: the original post is rather in bad taste. I'd expect this at one of my online atheist communities, but there it's not going to offend anyone. Here, it will and HAS offended people.

For some reason I've found the religious cult we have here on ToS is far more fanatical and devote in its beliefs than any religious institution I've ever encountered (maybe a few exceptions). The response to my OP exemplifies this. This was the last place I expected a response like this to; lets face it, a joke.

[Ashen Key]

Originally Posted by Spock

It shouldn't be taken as anything more than a joke. Besides if you know something to be true then you wouldn't feel insulted by any form of criticism. This however isn't criticism, it is a simple 'joke'.

Which offended people. It happens. I can get exceedingly offended by people joking about atheism - it's not about what I know (or think I know - I'm in the 'there is probably no form of god' atheism camp), but about the respect being shown to what I believe.

Originally Posted by Spock

For some reason I've found the religious cult we have here on ToS is far more fanatical and devote in its beliefs than any religious institution I've ever encountered (maybe a few exceptions). The response to my OP exemplifies this. This was the last place I expected a response like this to; lets face it, a joke.

A joke which people got offended at. Just because it's a joke doesn't let it off the hook. And, yes, it's a mild joke, but offence is offence. I'm not about to crack any zombie!jesus jokes in a place like this, precisely BECAUSE I know that there are Christians here, and I have no wish to offend them. I don't actually LIKE religion that much, but I'd really prefer it if this didn't start off a precedent of us mocking each other's religious (or lack thereof) beliefs.

[Spock]

Originally Posted by Ashen Key

A joke which people got offended at. Just because it's a joke doesn't let it off the hook. And, yes, it's a mild joke, but offence is offence. I'm not about to crack any zombie!jesus jokes in a place like this, precisely BECAUSE I know that there are Christians here, and I have no wish to offend them. I don't actually LIKE religion that much, but I'd really prefer it if this didn't start off a precedent of us mocking each other's religious (or lack thereof) beliefs.

I could argue from another point of view now. What if I said I truly believe Jesus was a Jedi master? (this will prove interesting)

[josie20]

Can't...read...small...caption...


EDIT: Hitler wasn't an atheist.