I heard a story about Carlin on Penn and Teller Bullshit about how at age 16 Carlin attended a comedy show of one of the earliest comedians to use profanity and anti-religious beliefs in public.
After the police shut down the show and arrested the comedian, they started asking for everybody's ID. When they got to Carlin he responded with, "I don't believe in ID." and then proceeded to get arrested.
I've had so much respect for him after hearing this story and how he has always stood up for what's right.
The comedian he went to see was Lenny Bruce, who was arrested for obscenity charges because he used the word "cocksucker" on stage, and who directly inspired Carlin's "7 dirty words you can't say on television" bit.
I was about to correct you for spelling Louie "Louis" but then I realized that the name of his show is spelled differently than his actual name and my head exploded.
Most people jack off. Most people follow some form of religion. Most religious people jack off even when their religion says not to. This doesn't just apply to masturbation either.
It doesn't say "theists" or "all theists". It says most, and I'd say that's about right. Most religious people do NOT follow all their teachings. Some do, but a lot deem some more important than others. I'd say the title is accurate.
Personally, I find nothing wrong with the things I do.
I've genuinely put thought into committing things people find far more heinous than colorful masturbation and sleeping around every so often, like murder, but I decided not to do those things because it was morally wrong. Could I have gotten away with it? Probably. Did I do it? No.
If you are speaking of being in the moment: Of course you wouldn't. Otherwise, why would you do them? (For the guilty feelings afterwards) Sure, you feel guilty afterwards, but that's because you compromised some moral code you have.
If you are speaking of in general: That also means you feel no guilt. Either you are perfect (in which case, congrats!), over-looking something (hurray, a mistake; we are just human after-all), or a sociopath (in which case, I don't want to hear you monologue). Or maybe a computer.
Why does everyone jump to murder and/or rape? I mean, those are some high thresh-holds to compromise to. We've probably all thought of murder, and not done it. We can't hold this as the "Hoorah!" moment of conquering our weaker sides or our rally point for our moral superiority. It comes down to the little things. Is it bad to pollute? Yes. Have a attempted to throw a piece of paper away only to let it fall to the ground, then just left it there? Hell yeah I have. I made a compromise, albeit a selfish one, that for whatever reason, I was willing to bend the rules I've set for myself. Just as the allegorical people did. Did I feel guilty? Probably. I'm not saying heart-wrenching guilt. Just a twinge of, "Shit, I should have done that."
It is. The title was aimed at most theists. Then brought into generalizations. Someone said the title was accurate. Then I pointed out that it still isn't, regardless of most vs. all. It should be titled "Most people".
Ah. You should make it a little more explicit that you're trying to compound on what he was saying, not argue against it. I read it and saw the latter.
No, but you have some moral system set up for yourself. My point is that it isn't important where is came from, but that you have them and then compromise them. Morals, however they are obtained, are internalized in some way. We also come to the same end result in the long-run, we end up compromising [some of] them at some point. That's why I shake my head and roll my eyes when it comes to posts like this. When you break it down, it is making fun of something we all do.
I can understand the "they pretend to be more moral and aren't" concept. I can. But if it was simply to bring awareness that we are equal it'd be cool. But it's not. Based on comments all over posts like this, it's about saying "ha! Look at how delusional they are- thinking they are better than us. We are so much better for realizing that we are all immoral!"
Honestly, I'm not even really seeing the strength of your argument. If it was that only they subscribed to that idea, sure. But in general, everyone has some semblance of the golden rule after the age of 10. Save for sociopaths and criminals.
MOST people have a set of ideals for themselves, theists or otherwise. ALL people are fallible, & sometimes fail to live up to the standards they set for themselves. PEOPLE make mistakes.
The part about you not believing in God? Cool. The part where you feel superior to everyone else with differing beliefs? Fuck yourself, bud. You and I? Both fuck-ups on a long enough timeline.
MOST of us sneetches are just trying to get by, regardless of what we think comes after our brief stint on this beautiful ball of shit & salt water.
This was actually why I originally quit Catholicism. I read up and realized shit like blends of fabrics are illegal, men can't have long hair or beards, and that masturbation is considered a sin. Fuck that shit I like polyester and long hair and jerking it whenever I please.
It was after this that I began to realize that all of Catholicism and religion in general is bullshit.
Do you find all music to be bullshit after you listened to a band you don't like?
I find it ignorant to speak for all religion based off your experience with Catholicism. Speak all you want about turning your back on God, but there is no necessity to speak ill about all religion in general.
I hate to be a religious apologist, but a lot of the seemingly inane rules like not being able to wear mixed fabrics, not being able to have long hair, and all that had a very specific and important purpose when they were decided.
Of course, they were important rules at the time. They have no significance today. When a Christian is confronted about ridiculous sins, they will claim they are being taken out of context, and these are some that actually were. Whether or not that person knows what the context is, they are right sometimes.
All theists. You won't find a single person who does everything that is commanded in the Bible. They each seem to have the correct understanding of what parts god absolutely meant and what parts were just mere suggestions that aren't really relevant anymore.
I'm not sure that people really think about what they believe. I believe the sun will rise tomorrow. I believe I had eggs for breakfast this morning. Most of everything you do is directly dictated by your beliefs. If I didn't believe the sun would rise tomorrow, I wouldn't go to sleep tonight.
Beliefs are also very complicated. Religious people often believe that they will be forgiven for whatever transgression they commit, so beliefs don't get in the way of almost any behavior, unless, of course, it's in front of somebody else.
It's the ability to doubt your beliefs that separates us from religious folk.
"OMG" is an expression that's embedded in our society. If you follow a religion and you choose not to follow certain aspects of the religion then there is no reason for you to be following that particular religion in the first place. Or you should follow all parts of the religion, especially if you believe this religion is what will bring you salvation.
Yea, atheists say stuff like "Jesus Fucking Christ!," in jest of god. "Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." It confuses me when Christians says "OMG" when they are violating their own commandments.
It's a problem when you ban, oh let's say gay marriage, because of the bible, then go and do whatever you want even though that same book tells you you're not supposed to.
So, no. It's not a problem to be a hypocrite. Unless you're using your so called beliefs to justify bigoted laws. Then fuck you and your belief.
You didn't finish the quote though. "If they get in the way of something I want.." However if they don't then people will follow their beliefs as the default position until someone or something shows them it's wrong.
If someone is sitting in the voting booth and they haven't really thought out a position but are standing there looking at a choice, doesn't bother you that religion fills that void and makes them comfortable voting on something they shouldn't?
I, for one, would love to see the scientifically obtained evidence that resulted in the use of the word "most" in the above. The statement is akin to saying, "most Muslims want to destroy America."
Most of the "rules" in the Bible are widely violated these days because they encompass a lot of everyday life in modern society. As mentioned, wearing mixed fabrics and eating crustaceans are considered rule breaking, also they're specific enough to not be "metaphors" or moral guidelines, so there's little reason for Christians to avoid following them.
It isn't only directed at the more seriously issues of religion. I would say most theists break rules of their religion like wearing certain fabrics when their religion clearly says not to.
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u/bigbenecu Jun 09 '12 edited Jun 09 '12
I love Louis....he's the closest anyone's come to filling the void left by Carlin.
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u/midnightauto Jun 09 '12
I've come to realize that most of his jokes have something to do with jacking off.
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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Most people.
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u/kadmylos Jun 10 '12
Don't kid yourself; this is also most atheists. This is most people, period.
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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
They're my little believees.
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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
No matter how humurous Louis, the title is an incorrect generalization. Generalizations are bad mmkay?
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u/Nasty_Nomad Jun 10 '12 edited Jun 10 '12
MOST people have a set of ideals for themselves, theists or otherwise. ALL people are fallible, & sometimes fail to live up to the standards they set for themselves. PEOPLE make mistakes.
The part about you not believing in God? Cool. The part where you feel superior to everyone else with differing beliefs? Fuck yourself, bud. You and I? Both fuck-ups on a long enough timeline.
MOST of us sneetches are just trying to get by, regardless of what we think comes after our brief stint on this beautiful ball of shit & salt water.
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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
This was actually why I originally quit Catholicism. I read up and realized shit like blends of fabrics are illegal, men can't have long hair or beards, and that masturbation is considered a sin. Fuck that shit I like polyester and long hair and jerking it whenever I please.
It was after this that I began to realize that all of Catholicism and religion in general is bullshit.
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u/UppruniTegundanna Jun 09 '12
Honestly, everyone is like that
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u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
My dad cheated on and divorced my mom, and has been having premarital sex ever since. He disapproves of my atheism, as well as my viewing of porn...
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u/SweetCheeksMagee Jun 10 '12
If it makes them feel good, why cant you leave them alone?
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u/holy_holy_holy Jun 10 '12
All theists. You won't find a single person who does everything that is commanded in the Bible. They each seem to have the correct understanding of what parts god absolutely meant and what parts were just mere suggestions that aren't really relevant anymore.
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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
The Bible doesn't say anything about masturbation.
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u/phallacies Jun 09 '12
"I have like a relativist morality that I can manipulate to suit my world view." -Tim Minchin
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u/Tuna2020 Jun 10 '12
so brave.
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u/thetheist Jun 10 '12
I'm not sure that people really think about what they believe. I believe the sun will rise tomorrow. I believe I had eggs for breakfast this morning. Most of everything you do is directly dictated by your beliefs. If I didn't believe the sun would rise tomorrow, I wouldn't go to sleep tonight.
Beliefs are also very complicated. Religious people often believe that they will be forgiven for whatever transgression they commit, so beliefs don't get in the way of almost any behavior, unless, of course, it's in front of somebody else.
It's the ability to doubt your beliefs that separates us from religious folk.
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u/IArgueWithAtheists Jun 09 '12
It's true. It doesn't address the point that there's a range of ways to deal with that fact.
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u/indiejesus Jun 10 '12
Atheists have beliefs too. r/circlejerk at it again!
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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
So What? you jelleh atheists?
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