The Reality of Star Trek
- Thread starter Enow
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That's the Iron Rule. 
I'm sorry, but you're making a distinction without a difference in the way 99.9% of people understand and mean that quote. "Treat others as you would like to be treated" can be just as succinctly summed up as "don't be a douche" (or in the immortal words of the Prophets Bill and Ted - "Be awesome to each other").
As you say, you can't know from the outset what people want or need - but you can know that you wouldn't want them to be a dick to you, so you show them kindness and respect and allow the differences you would hope they allow for you. It ties right in with "love your neighbor as yourself." (The real problem is that both assume people care for themselves - it doesn't have much directly to offer the disconsolate, the depressed, and the self-loathing.)
Is this really gonna turn into some sort of proof-texting thing? You realize that the abolition movement in the US had massive religious support, just as the pro-slavery position did?
Truly had not planned on posting anything further but saw this and just couldn't resist. Apparently the rumors of NASA's death have been greatly exaggerated.
Well, being pedant in religious discussions is kinda my shtick.
What I wanted was to stress the point that the "Christian message" is one of moral absolutes. The humanist message is one of ethical relativism. (Which is not necessarily one of amorality or ethical nihilism, but I know you know that.)
So what I hear you saying is, you'd fit right in with the fundygelicals in religious discussion? 
runs
For me, I'm willing to accept "Don't be a douche" as an absolute moral principal - even if I screw up, of course.
I think if everybody had that as their only absolute, we'd do okay.
runsFor me, I'm willing to accept "Don't be a douche" as an absolute moral principal - even if I screw up, of course.
I think if everybody had that as their only absolute, we'd do okay.
Oh yes. I have so much fun with them. Too bad they usually stop talking to me after a while.So what I hear you saying is, you'd fit right in with the fundygelicals in religious discussion?
I used to get Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and some Spanish-speaking missionaries come by and try to save my soul. Since I'm a preacher's kid, and know what I believe, I used to banter with them and listen to the pitch. Then I'd tell them they're wasting their time on me. Eventually word must have gotten around, because I was never bothered again on their trips through the apartment complex.
I don't always discuss religion; but when I do, I convert them to Iguanism.
Undoubtedly that's it. Though only the panhandlers pay attention to me when I'm hobbling up the street. Never any foxy babes. Come to think of it, I've never seen a foxy babe in this neighborhood in the last seven years.^^ Probably your raw sexual magnetism making them question things too much.
Though a couple of months ago, I was waiting for the light to change to walk across the street and some old weirdo came up to me. He started talking about the cane I walk with (which is metal). He started telling me I needed to use baby oil on the cane, and started rubbing his hand across my back.
Fortunately the light changed, so I could say "Gotta go" rather than knock his block off.
I like Star Trek. Anyone else?
How, I'm practicing it all the time when I meet people I feel to be deliberately mean.
But the one thing I don't have to guess is that it's obvious you did not know the context of that statement and were just trying to be - sarcastic
"It was Communion time where you eat this wafer and you are eating the body of Christ and drinking His blood. My first impression was "Jesus Christ! This is a bunch of cannibals they've put me down among!" For some time I puzzled over this and puzzled over why they were saying these things, because the connection between what they were saying and reality was very tenuous. How the hell did Jesus become something to be eaten?"
Star Trek Creator by David Alexander (introduction by Majel Barrett Roddenberry), page 37
Gene Roddenbery continues how this was the crucial point in his life that made it "clear" to him "that religion was largely nonsense."
Obviously symbolism was a concept completely alien to him, therefore I find this kind of hilarious misinterpretation rather sad.
Bob
Meh.
What's Star Trek?
I think it more likely that he thoroughly understood the concept of transubstantiation.
WWI and WWII did not affect every country in the same way nor equally. For example, in the USA...there was no combat here. Sure the people served in Europe and Asia and elsewhere. But, there was no actual damage done EVERYWHERE on the planet. If THAT were to happen...and the devastation literally covered the entire planet...we'd probably HAVE to ban together to help fix it.
For example...I live right next to NYC, therefore what happened on 9/11 was a bigger deal for me and the people who live in the vicinity. Did it affect the whole country? Yes, but not as much as it affected the people who were IN the building, like my cousin...or me who could look out my window and literally SEE it.
If the Star Trek's version of WWIII is actually devastation to EVERYONE and not just a cluster of people, yeah I think it could change how people think.
And contact with aliens? We would finally realize how freakin' small we are compared to the rest of the universe.
