From: J Corbally (icorb@indigo.ie)
Date: Sun Jan 05 2003 - 06:43:51 MST
>Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 00:34:49 -0800
>From: "Olga Bourlin" <fauxever@sprynet.com>
>Subject: Re: Memes.org: Transhumanism: The New Master Race?
>From: "Samantha Atkins" <samantha@objectent.com>
> >> Olga Bourlin wrote:
> > > ... Transhumanism is not a religion. No rituals, no
> > > supernaturalism, and no (isn't that special?) religious tax
> > > exemptions.
> >
> > Personally I wouldn't mind the tax exemptions. :)
>I don't mind taxes or tax exemptions, but tax exemptions to perpetuate
>beliefs in one or more Invisible Friends and other kinds of woo woo is like
>... supporting fraud. There are educational tax exemptions that secular
>organizations can receive, but educational exemptions are not as deep as the
>"special" religious organizations get, unfortunately. Of course, there are
>secular organizations that call themselves a religion (e.g., the American
>Humanist Association) and so are able to take advantage of religious tax
>exemptions, but where's the integrity in that?
A recent issue of Free Inquiry indicates that the AHA may change that soon.
> > And I happen to like rituals.
>We all do things that could be considered rituals (reading the Sunday paper
>or taking warm baths), but as we were talking of religion I meant rituals
>like ... groveling.
>Olga
My main ritual would be a fresh copy of New Scientist late on Friday
afternoon and then Robot Wars at 6:45pm. Beats being on one's knees, for
sure. Also, preparing to travel on a motorcycle/scooter can be something
of a ritual (esp. in these winter months).
Does changing gasoline into burning rubber count as a form of
Transubstantiation?
James....
"If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and
crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wondrous, with treasures
to satiate desires both subtle and gross. But it's not for the timid."
-Q, Star Trek:TNG episode 'Q Who'
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