Thank you, Sean. I appreciate the info. I sometimes miss the early part of a discussion and end up embarrassed by saying something dumb. :-) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sean Breheny" To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 1:10 AM Subject: Re: [OT]: Unbelievable and a bit scary! > Hi Rich, > > Dave tried to draw an analogy between virtual worlds and religion. His > argument was, as I understand it, something like "both of them offer > you something imaginary in exchange for real money or goods". He was > saying, for example, that in the ancient world, priests often were > allowed to eat part of the animals which they were given to sacrifice > - thus the sacrificial animal being, in part, a payment for the > priest's services. > > I was disagreeing because a) not all religions demand payment for > services and b) not everyone would agree that the spiritual realm is > imaginary. > > Sean > > > On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 12:37 AM, Rich wrote: >> I am having difficulty following the principle argument, Sean. Is it >> that >> religions are bad because they rely on money to operate and they get the >> money unjustly? Forgive my inability to grasp ideas. >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Sean Breheny" >> To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." >> >> Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 11:06 PM >> Subject: Re: [OT]: Unbelievable and a bit scary! >> >> >> >> >> > Hi Dave, >> > >> > On Sun, Mar 30, 2008 at 9:29 PM, David VanHorn >> > wrote: >> >> I'm sorry you find it offensive, but I think it's entirely in >> context. >> >> Religions take in money and other valuables in exchange for >> >> preferential treatment in their imaginary realm. The catholic >> church >> >> sold indulgences, essentially the same IMHO as buying Neocash with >> >> real cash, then to buy a fairy paintbrush for your scorchio. >> >> >> >> Of course with neopets you at least get to have some manifestation >> of >> >> what you're buying. >> >> >> >> >> > >> > I think there are two problems with what you said: >> > >> > 1) There are plenty of religions where you do not have to provide a >> > single penny (although there is usually an injunction to donate what >> > you can) to the religious leaders and can still benefit fully from >> > what they are offering. >> > >> > 2) It assumes that the "realm" of religion is in fact imaginary. You >> > believe that, but many others do not. >> > >> > Sean >> >> >> > -- >> > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >> > View/change your membership options at >> > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >> >> -- >> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >> View/change your membership options at >> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >> > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist