Hey guys, kinda jumping around all over the place now. Some of the stuff you've been talking about is interesting and deep. While some of it is just deep. Not trying to be too facetious.

It looks like Marcathonas got a time out as a visitor but he was pretty worked up there. He also mentioned in his last post in this thread that it would be his last on GC2. I've said this in another thread but I want to say it here as well just in case he's watching. I truly hope he does come back because he's a good kid and a valued contributer to the GC2 community. Yes, he is a hothead, but which of us wasn't the angry young man when we were 15.

The other thing I want to mention, hopefully without being accused of being a fanboy, is that you really should check out the JoeUser political forum. I've been lurking there for awhile now, but haven't yet mustered up the nerve to make a post. You need to have your facts straight, be able to quote your references, and, be able to defend your references as legitimate. But if you have the balls to swim with the sharks that's where you'd want to be. Here's a handy link in case you want to check them out.

JoeUser Forums

I don't know how they'd feel about free form morphing of threads to different topics, but the political discussions can be pretty intense. I'm sure that you folks could hold your own.

I as well, hope that Marcathonas sticks around.

Thanks for the link Mumble, I will have to check it out.

ShuShu, yes, I do admit politics plays a role within the world of most religion, but there are religions which are not political.

As far as nothingness being something that is another matter entirely. As I stated earlier, you either are religious or you are not. Atheism is not a religion. Therefore my logic dictates to me that it is either something or it is nothing. You cannot create nothing because nothing is already nothing. Sheeesh now I am confusing myself.  

Mumble,

Punched right through that envelope there. I agree, that I have no way to back up my last observation with more than anecdotal referrences to the Dark Ages, Copenricus-Modern Weaponry, and the crusades.

I agree I stated it too affirmatively. I do think however, that the underlying point is still worth note. Political Power does not just breed corruption, it also stifles intellectual curiosity. To that end, I still think I'm on the topic of Facism.

We are not heading towards fascism, it only seems like we are, because political rhetoric has been perfected to a science in recent years, much like it was the last time fascism reared it's ugly head. The stakes seem so much higher because they need to be higher in order to be persuasive. We are fat and lazy and need to be scared into voting or we'll stay home. And both sides do it.

Quixen,

Faith is personal. Aetheism is a personal act of Faith as much as belief in God is a Personal act of Faith. Neither can be proven, both can be felt. Aetheistic Religious orders exist and are every bit as vocal as all the other religious orders They are however, far less centralised with far fewer adherents than more mainstream religions.

Facism creeps in when the boundry between the personal and the organizational (political) are crossed.

Wheel,
Please feel free to classify me as a hypocritical libertarian crackhead at any point here... although for my part, I think I practiced what I have, er, preached consistently here. Must be all those drugs I never took as a youth.

Pogue

I agree.

I would point out that the theory behind negative campaigning is that it tries to scare us into not voting. The scary thing being that it works.

Karl Rove's gay marriage ballot tactic worked more along your lines though

That is why the Hindu's rely so much on Koan's to make their point

GC2 is interesting way to contemplate the Vedas. Each game is a new cycle of reality with the same characters in a slightly different role interacting in different ways in a new universe.

The Wheel of Fire has spoken.

Each game is a new cycle of reality with the same characters in a slightly different role interacting in different ways in a new universe.

This is so true Wheel. Never really thought about it that way.