Here's an undisputed fact: Humans that lived 500 years ago were imbeciles.
Still are. But there's a difference.
The people of 500 years ago would burn at the stake other Humans for what we today teach kids in elementary school.
So we've made some progress.
But humans of this planet Earth are still imbeciles.
I feel deeply regretful in the moments in I write these sentences that I cannot elaborate
But here's one other simple fact.
The people of 500 years ago were very easily frightened.
The people of 500 years ago were very easily impressed.
All you had to do to get the attention of those imbecile humans - the vastly uneducated humans of centuries ago - was to defy their past experience.
Anything new, to Idiotic Humanity, was either the work of The Divine or The Devil.
I, myself, could right now travel backwards in time, and with no technology of the present, or any kind of tool from the present, hell, without even the clothes I wear today, I could go backwards in Time to 500 years ago and scare the living crap out of those people so much, assuming they don't outright kill me, and cause them to worship any thing I do.
God Is Ignorance.
And that brings us back to modern day and this stark illustration that supreme ignorance is still alive and well here on Planet Earth:
http://www.premier.org.uk/var/ezdemo_site/storage/images/media/images/premier-news-images/christian/queen-elizabeth-ii-arrives-at-westminister-abbey/18372165-1-eng-GB/Queen-Elizabeth-II-arrives-at-Westminister-Abbey_galleryfull.jpg
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/student-finds-400-year-old-bible-778764867771
NBC NEWS
Student Finds 400-Year-Old Bible
TUE, OCT 04
Lewis & Clark College student finds a Bible from 1599 stashed in an old box.
http://www.krem.com/news/nation-now/risen-sees-jesus-through-eyes-of-a-nonbeliever/44836658
KREM 2 CBS Spokane
'Risen' sees Jesus through eyes of a non-believer
2:56 PM. PST February 16, 2016
The story of Jesus has been a big-screen staple for more than 100 years, starting with The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ in the early 1900s, and most recently, 2014's box-office success Son of God.
But Risen (in theaters Friday) dares to put a different spin on the Messiah movie, viewing the resurrection through the eyes of a non-believer: A fictional Roman military officer named Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), who probes Jesus' death in the days following his crucifixion.
"When I read it, I was surprised up until about page 30 or 40 that it turned out to be a biblical story," Fiennes says. "It felt like a man, not unlike (the Jake Gittes character in) Chinatown, who's sucked into an investigation that's beyond his capabilities, and I loved that concept as a way in."
Tom Felton, best known as smarmy wizard Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, plays a young soldier named Lucius who is enlisted by Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth) to aid Clavius in his search for Jesus' body, in an attempt to prove that whispers of his resurrection are a hoax. When Clavius discovers that Jesus is indeed alive, he's forced to re-examine his beliefs.
"What's nice about this one is it captivates the non-religious as much as it does the religious," Felton says. "In fact, I'm not sure which side will be more compelled, because it really is a standalone, detective-adventure film. It just so happens that it has the backdrop of the most famous story ever told."
Neither Felton nor Fiennes consider themselves particularly religious, although they both grew up with a familiarity with Bible stories. Part of the appeal of Risen, co-written by director Kevin Reynolds and Paul Aiello, was that it took a history-driven approach to the Jesus story, rather than a mythological one.
"I grew up with films like Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments and I loved them, but they were very evangelical and of their day," Fiennes says. "Now we've got either revisionist or Sunday school and boring, so I feel what's nice is here, we have a film that's a fresh angle. It's a conversation of faith, but at the same time, if you're not a believer, you can still take away the components of redemption, forgiveness and a second chance, which is Clavius' journey."
With Easter just a month away, and little competition in theaters (Jesse Owens biopic Race and horror film The Witch are the only other national releases), Risen has the potential to be another faith-based box-office hit following last fall's War Room, which netted $67.8 million on a mere $3 million budget. But could its more skeptical take turn off the audiences who shunned big-budget adaptations Noah and Exodus: Gods and Kings, which dared to put grittier spins on well-known Bible stories?
"When you're dealing with Scripture, you're treading on sacred ground that's dear to millions and millions of people," Fiennes says. "You want to honor that, but at the same time, you want to make it cinematic. This might pave the way for allowing a diverse audience into the auditorium that can enjoy it on their own terms and not feel they're being persuaded one way or another."
http://www.gateworld.net/atlantis/s1/transcripts/101.shtml
GateWorld
STARGATE ATLANTIS
RISING, PART 1
EPISODE NUMBER - 101
DVD DISC - Season 1, Disc 1
ORIGINAL U.S. AIR DATE - 07.16.04
SHEPPARD: Someone's been busy, you know?
TEYLA: The drawings in the caves are extensive. Many must date back thousands of years -- or more.
(Sheppard makes his way around the walls, looking at the drawings. He points to one.)
SHEPPARD: Does this represent the destruction of your city?
TEYLA: This drawing far predates that.
SHEPPARD: So, what, someone knew it was going to happen?
TEYLA: I believe it happens again and again. The Wraith allow our kind to grow in numbers, and when that number reaches a certain point they return to cull their human herd. Sometimes a few hundred years will pass before they awaken again. We've visited many, many worlds -- I know of none untouched by the Wraith. The last great holocaust was five generations ago, but still they return, in smaller numbers, to remind us of their power.
SHEPPARD: It's a hell of a way to live.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganism
Paganism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paganism is a term that developed among the Christian community of southern Europe during late antiquity to describe religions other than their own
Throughout Christendom, it continued to be used, typically in a derogatory sense.
http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/58.htm
The Paradise Syndrome [ Star Trek: The Original Series ]
Stardate: 4842.6
Original Airdate: Oct 4, 1968
KIRK: Miramanee, tell me about the Wise Ones.
MIRAMANEE: Tell? But a god knows everything.
KIRK: Not this one. Tell me.
MIRAMANEE: The Wise Ones brought us here from far away. They chose a medicine chief to keep the secret of the temple and to use it when the sky darkens.
KIRK: Secrets of the temple.
MIRAMANEE: There are no lacings. (his uniform top) How is this thing removed?
KIRK: The secrets were passed on from father to son?
MIRAMANEE: Yes. How does this open?
KIRK: Well, why doesn't Salish use it? Why are the people in danger?
MIRAMANEE: His father did not wish to share his power too soon. He died before he told Salish the secret.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063442/quotes
IMDb
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Quotes
George Taylor: There's your Minister of Science; honor-bound to expand the frontiers of knowledge...
Dr. Zira: Taylor, please!
George Taylor: ...except that he's also chief Defender of the Faith!
Dr. Zaius: There is no contradiction between faith and science... true science!
George Taylor: Are you willing to put that statement to the test?
http://www.krem.com/news/nation-now/what-i-learned-from-visiting-noahs-ark-column/268277024
KREM 2 CBS Spokane
What I learned from visiting Noah's Ark: Column
Kevin Aldridge, Cincinnati Enquirer 4:28 AM. PDT July 09, 2016
For any other theme park, rain is a problem. But for the Ark Encounter and Answers in Genesis, it was providence.
The clouds and drizzle did little to dampen the spirit and anticipation of the 7,000 people who gathered Tuesday to get a sneak preview of the 500-foot-long, $100 million, life-sized replica of Noah's Ark in the Kentucky town of Williamstown. In fact, the weather only seemed to add to the excitement of the moment.
There has been no shortage of strong opinions about the ark since plans were announced to build it. Now that it is open, the controversy and debate will only intensify. The ark challenges beliefs, and when beliefs are challenged, intense debate tends to ensue. And much like the Creation Museum a few miles north, there is plenty here to discuss. Whether you're a creationist, an evangelical or an atheist, everyone who visits the ark will at some point ask themselves: What do I really believe?
Here are seven things (God's divine number) I believe following my visit there:
Nothing says "America" like the ark. We do everything big in America. We like big cars, mansions, skyscrapers, roller coasters and super-sized meals. The ark, the world's largest free-standing wooden structure, fits right in. But the ark is also a reminder of what makes America so great. Despite all the controversy and disagreement about the ark, the fact that a religious group can build it without government censorship or a war breaking out speaks volumes about what sets our country apart from others. We see how religious differences are tearing apart the Middle East, but not here in America. Yes, there will be some protesters out at the ark with signs and rhetoric. But the fact that we can remain mostly peaceful in America despite our sometimes vastly different beliefs makes this the greatest nation on the planet.
Ken Ham is very good at what he does. The ark couldn't have a better pitchman than Ken Ham, the founder, president and CEO of Answers in Genesis. Granted, he was playing to a friendly crowd at Tuesday's press conference (I've never been to a presser where the interviewee was surrounded by thousands of applauding fans), but Ham handled himself well. He had thoughtful answers to every question posed and didn't run from controversial topics such as tax breaks received by the ark. You don't have to agree with Ham to appreciate his charisma and ability to stay on message in spite of his critics.
The ark will change some minds, but not the majority. In the spectacle that is the ark, it can be easy to forget that its main purpose, according to Ham, is ministry. For many visitors and even those who work there, the Ark Encounter will be a religious experience. There will even be those who convert to Christianity based on their experience there. Ham spoke of one construction worker who turned his life over to Jesus Christ just from working on the project. Calling the ark "the greatest Christian outreach of this era," he said 40 percent of visitors are expected to be non-Christians. However, belief systems aren't easily changed, and I think the majority of visitors will remain unmoved from their current set of beliefs. It will be hard for many people, including some Christians, to accept the idea of dinosaurs on the ark and other very literal interpretations of the Bible contained there. Despite its best effort, the ark also lacks the "hard evidence" that many skeptics will require before accepting the story of Noah's Ark as truth. The basis of any faith is having to accept as truth some things that lack clear, visible evidence. Those seeking hard proof and definitive answers will surely leave the ark disappointed. But I'm sure AiG will consider any persons converted, even if only one, a victory.
Science and religion are not adversaries. The Bible teaches that God is incomprehensible, but also that God is knowable. In other words, humans cannot possibly know everything about God who is infinite, but we can grow in our knowledge of God in at least a limited sense. As a believer in God, I think that science is one of the ways in which we can grow in our knowledge of God and creation in that limited sense. Science, to me, is not about disproving the existence of God, but helping us to better understand the ways in which he orders the universe. It's hard for me to look at the natural order of our world and believe that somehow it is the product of a completely random phenomenon. Science and religion share an interest in the pursuit of truth and greater knowledge of our origins.
Debate about the ark is a good thing. There's a saying that there's no such thing as bad publicity. I believe all the conversation surrounding the ark — positive and negative — is a good thing. It has people thinking about their faith (or lack thereof), which can can draw them closer to God. It also gives believers a chance to spread the biblical message to those who might be receptive to something they have never heard before or had little knowledge about.
The ark raises the stakes for religious attractions. The ark could be a new beginning for Christian-themed attractions. Its size and scale makes it more than a Bible museum. It is a truly immersive, visceral experience that literally puts visitors in the midst of the Noah's Ark story in the Bible. It's these sorts of experiences that have made theme parks like Disney and Universal Studios such big hits with guests. People don't just want to hear stories and history, they want it to come alive for them. They want to be a part of the story. While Ham says the ark is more than entertainment, the reality is that visitors — Christian or not — expect a little entertainment value and to be engaged. For Christian-themed attractions that can be a delicate but necessary formula. But if the ark is successful, it could be the launching pad for a host of other immersive Christian-themed attractions. Could you imagine a life-sized Tower of Babel? Or, with today's digital technology, how about a parting-of-the-Red-Sea experience or going inside the belly of the whale with Jonah?
The Ark Encounter is going to make lots of money. If Tuesday's gathering of 7,000 is any indication of how the ark is going to be received, then the Answers in Genesis accountants better get ready. Ken Ham said he expects 1.4 to 2.2 million people to visit the ark annually. At $40 per adult ticket that adds up to big bucks. And that's not even factoring in all the hats, T-shirts, food, beverages and other swag that will be sold in the gift shops and restaurants. The ark is such an architectural marvel that it will draw people not just from across the country, but from around the world. I spoke with one couple who drove 10 hours from Augusta, Ga., just to be among the first inside. We can debate whether the ark will actually have the $4 billion economic impact that Ham says it will, but what's not in question is whether it will be an economic success. My suggestion to those planning to attend: arrive early in the day.
- posted by H.V.O.M - Kerry Wayne Burgess 10:18 AM Pacific Time Spokane Valley Washington USA Friday 07 October 2016
