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"Paint the Lily", "To Prime the Pump", Primary Colors, Republicans and Democrats, Symbolism of Colors
Since the year 2000, American Republican states are red, Democrat states are blue. Up till then, it was the other way round. So one can hardly attach too much significance to the symbolism of these primary colors, but what’s to stop me ? Blue is universally recognized as a symbol of intelligence (“blue-skying” is practised by people who think). Red, the color of blood, can be seen as a symbol of violence, but also of red-faced embarrassment. “An intelligent Republican” is not an oxymoron, anymore than is “a dumb Democrat”. But intelligent Republicans in those red states and elsewhere must be blushing ever since Donald Trump was elected President. One can debate the wisdom of what he decides to do. There can be no debate about the ignorance of general knowledge and even of English which he reveals every time he opens his mouth or gets up in the wee hours to tweet.
His recent claim to have invented the 19th century phrase “to prime the pump” is not only preposterous. As he really believes he is the wordsmith who created it, he paints the lily (NOT “gilds” !) by boasting about it. The comics and commentators provide multiple daily examples, but this one is enough to make my point – which goes beyond the domain of politics.
Atheists are sometimes inclined to consider their intelligence superior to that of non-atheists. But dumb atheists exist, as do intelligent believers. Nonetheless I would be ashamed to be a Republican, and I am still embarrassed to admit that I was once a believer.
“Roses are red, violets are blue, What matters most is what is true” – not false claims and alternative facts. And it is the truth that will make you free.
RIDENDA RELIGIO
Blind Faith: Blind Folly 
Trump is indeed an embarrassment as are the numerous (but in fact a minority of voters in the recent US presidential election) voters who opted for Trump and not Clinton.
The absurdity of the conviction of Ahok in Indonesia for “blasphemy” (questioning some xenophobic exhortation in the Koran) is also an embarrassment and an indictment of those campaigning for Ahok’s trial and jailing.
The recent “canonisation” by an intelligent man of two children who claimed to see the Virgin Mary at Fatima is also an embarrassment – an assault on our collective intelligence – as is the credulity of those who still maintain that the sun danced in the sky.
The world is a fascinating place which has much to excite, praise, emulate and rejoice in. The stupidity of much of “religion” is not among those laudable things. It is yet another sad embarrassment.
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All of this underlines the mystery of credulity. How can intelligent people swallow such absurdities ?
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Intelligent ? There is such a lot of different kind of intelligences …
If it was possible to do a poll ( ?) among “intelligent” persons I bet that a majority will be rather atheist.
I bet also that most of them don’t want to discuss about that for many reasons, one of them being “liberty”, already pointed out in this blog.
My conviction is that another group of these “intelligent atheists” find many advantages to the situation, the worst of them being the help religion bring them to manipulate people. These “users” of religion are leaders in their countries, in their community, etc …
That’s why mentality does not change quickly.
It can change if the use of religion is not enough to improve or chiefly to save their situation.
For example, if sunnits and chiits stop to kill themselves and focus on Israel, I bet that lot of media will explain that the root of the 3 monotheist religions is a pure invention, etc …
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To suggest that Muslims “focus on Israel”, instead of killing each other, is misleading at best and frightening at worst. Good intentions are a poor excuse for sloppy expression – in any language. I have to believe that you mean that an examination of Jewish faith would reveal, to believers in Islam (and Christianity), that the first of the three monotheisms is “a pure invention”. This is your constantly repeated pipe-dream. First-time readers of your comment may think you mean something more sinister. “Verbum amici” – a word from a friend . . .
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Ah, the language … I answered your question “How can intelligent people swallow such absurdities ?” .
I just wanted to find an example of an idea which is admitted by lot of people but that has no publicity. This idea remain almost hidden until an event force leaders to push this idea on the front of the scene
So another try in another domain :
In France, atomic industry was glorified for a long time. Since Fukushima, the idea of changing our priorities find more place in newspapers
Ah, still frightening ? sorry but I believe that danger help to concentrate oneself on essential …
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The “miracles” at Fatima are absurdities. Is the atomic industry a – dangerous – absurdity ? It will be interesting to follow the Macron-Hulot debate.
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“Miracles” at Fatima are just a gadget to satisfy some Christians
They don’t start an orchestrated campaign in media to convince everybody of the reality of God
My second example is less significant than the first one, because :
– Around atomic industry, there are lot of realities the importance of which can change according to technology development
– Around the invention of God by Jews, … there is NOTHING. The “illusion” is easier to destroy. But an important motivation of leaders is needed. At this time, the statu quo satisfies all parts, Jews, Christians and Muslims to maintain their power, to motive people, etc …
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People believed in gods long before the Hebrews invented Yahweh. Their originality was not “the invention of God” but monotheism. Judaism is alive and well and highly unlikely to disappear anytime soon. It is an … illusion to imagine that were it to disappear, people would stop believing in God. Even transhumanism is scarcely a threat to the permanence of religious belief. The best we can do is to get individual non-atheists to realize how ridiculous religion is and invite them to the lucidity and liberty only atheism offers. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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There is a hierarchy in credulity problems
The fact that the French peasant wait for the “saint de glaces” to sow ? bof
The fact that lot of people hope to become rich thanks to the loto which is in fact a tax is a little more annoying
But at this time the fact that so many people read the koran without being horrified is far more intolerable. To say that some former religion, before the monotheism, were worst is quite useless.
The recognition by Jews that their story is an invention, is not the only way I hope to progress.
I suggested long ago to replace “God” by “Humanity” what you found stupid. However it helps to be less egoist, to have a higher point of view, not far from the need of marvellous which is I the human nature.
I ask myself what leaders of the 3 monotheist religions can speak of during their ecunemical meetings ! details? Common parts as love of each other ?
I wait with attention the Trump’s speech about Islam but I fear than once more, oïl will soften advices
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With Saudi Arabian contracts worth 350,000,000,000 dollars in his pocket, Trump is unlikely to say anything to offend hypocritical America’s “ally”. He will have written not a single word of his speech, but may ad-lib and put his foot in it, as is his wont. He is brainless and totally ignorant of geopolitics. He would do well to read even a novel on the subject, like that of J.R. dos Santos, “Furie Divine” (Pocket), in French translation. We underestimate the Islamic threat of nuclear kamikaze terrorists . . . We ignore the threat of Pakistan at our peril.
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I quite agree !
My tiny hope with Trump was a dream
I have more confidence in Jews, but I know you disagree (lol)
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I am far from sure that the statement, “I have … confidence in Jews” makes any sense. Generalizations are generally not only absurd but unjust : “Germans have no sense of humor”, “Mexicans are lazy”, “the French are arrogant”, “Australians are rednecks”. I have confidence in some Jews, in some Arabs and even in some American politicians. You must have missed a central message of my seminars to Managers. Moreover, you seem to think that because I disagree that destroying the Jewish religion would make the world atheist, I am somehow anti-semitic. My problem is that I am so prosemitic that I have to remind myself of my own principle about generalization.
The book reference in French, by the way, was meant for you. Trump does not read books, even in English.
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When I wrote “Jews”, I did not think at all of Jews in general, but of Jewish leaders, specially religious one. Progress can not come, nor been spread, by followers.
You said once that Muslims are able to listen Muslims only when they speak of religion.
For the same reason, I think that jewish religious are the best placed to confess that they never “see” God either
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Catholics and Protestants believe they were obliged by Christ to teach the Gospel to, and convert, the whole world. Muslims proselytize the young; some even radicalize them to become “martyrs”. Judaism has nothing like the Roman Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. Jehovah Witnesses come to my door; Jews, leaders or followers, don’t.
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Of course, they are the elected people ! their superiority can come from mother only isn’it ?
But that is not the subject. Leaders are quite allowed to confess the trick. Some tried …
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You are right, my friend : that is not the subject, which, in fact, you seem to have entirely forgotten. The post talks about intelligence and its relation to belief. Remember ?
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