Black Metal and Hipsters

[General Zod]

here are some of their current top stories as of 14:35 swedish time

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/12/17/goldman.brazil.custody/index.html
""Hopefully the rule of law, God, nature, human decency, will be followed and Sean will come home to reunite with me, his only parent.""

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/12/16/mideast.ancient.shroud/index.html
jesus jesus jesus

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/16/florida.dna.exoneration/index.html
Bain's mother said that while her son was in prison he "turned away from God, because he thought God abandoned him."

In the first story, the father is simply stating that he hopes that whatever authority the Brazilians follow will end in a desirable result... not professing to any god of his own. And the second story is about an archeological find, that if anything, disproves another Christian claim. That said, referencing "god" and being "christian" are often two separate things.

Ultimately, if your point is that Sweden is less religious than the U.S., I'm not going to debate that. I'm sure it is, though I'm not sure how it matters. The point I was trying to make is, that I read in your statements a lack of insight into American culture, specifically the regional and political nature of religion here. That's not meant to be insulting or dismissive, it's just the reality of having never lived here. If you ever lived on the east coast and then traveled down south, you'd see that it's not merely like it's two different countries, it's like it's two different worlds.

Zod

 

[einride]

In the first story, the father is simply stating that he hopes that whatever authority the Brazilians follow will end in a desirable result... not professing to any god of his own. And the second story is about an archeological find, that if anything, disproves another Christian claim. That said, referencing "god" and being "christian" are often two separate things.

Ultimately, if your point is that Sweden is less religious than the U.S., I'm not going to debate that. I'm sure it is, though I'm not sure how it matters. The point I was trying to make is, that I read in your statements a lack of insight into American culture, specifically the regional and political nature of religion here. That's not meant to be insulting or dismissive, it's just the reality of having never lived here. If you ever lived on the east coast and then traveled down south, you'd see that it's not merely like it's two different countries, it's like it's two different worlds.

Zod

certainly i don't have the insight into american culture that an american would have but i am exposed to a lot of american media and culture and i'm just talking from the experience i have. anecdotal evidence, no more. and that anecdotal evidence really points to even the most liberal and progressive american states being a bit more god-fearing than sweden and some other european countries are generally

as for how it matters, it doesn't, but what else am i supposed to do while at work? work?

 

[grisvald]

my conclusion is that the next big thing will be christianity and hipsters then?

oh, and also, we have this guy at work who is christian and everytime he opens his mouth everyone hopes for him to say something stupid about jesus or whatever. i guess thats where we are right now in sweden. he is kind of a retard so basically anything he says is stupid of course...

 

[General Zod]

as for how it matters, it doesn't, but what else am i supposed to do while at work? work?

A fair question. And you may be right, our most liberal political figures likely have stronger ties (or at least ties they offer the pretense of holding) than those in Sweden. As an atheist, I hope we soon evolve beyond this silliness contained in all books of faith.

Zod

 

[lurch70]

for non-believers you guys are sure preoccupied with religious topics

 

[skeptik]

While it may be true that it's damn near impossible for an atheist to be elected to public office here, at least we can't be arrested for blasphemy.

 

[dorian gray]

It's all Sunn O)))'s fault.

Seriously.

This. There was a recent article about them in the Nashville Scene which is a gay, liberal, hipster piece of shit "newspaper"............that I read because it included a fashion shoot taken near my old house

 

[dorian gray]

Here's the link for all you guys who like shitty "music": http://www.nashvillescene.com/2009-09-24/music/the-crushingly-strange-world-of-sunn-o

 

[Krilons Resa]

"music" is right.

 

[Conspicuously Absent]

what it is, is i notice a general air of christianity surrounding american media and pop culture that isn't there in countries where it's not as deeply rooted.
it's hard to explain to you maybe but in sweden religion is private. you do not talk about god in a public space lest people think you're a fool.

Honestly, this is pretty spot on. I'm not even saying these people are religious, but they're expected to be! Its not THAT much different in canada, though its less so only because we're a giant multicultural country and not an assimilator.

GOod night and god bless. Thank god. blahblahblah. And having watched american TV for about 10 years of my life... theres an awful lot of god name dropping that just doesn't exist.

Not true. If one thing can be said about our media, is that it's biased. Half leans one way, the other half the other. So, it would completely depend on whether you were reading a Right leaning publication or a Left.

Just to drag this conversation ont he path and beat it with a stick... I still find it crazy how in the US there is LEFT and RIGHT. PERIOD.

As far as most people understand it in europe (as evidenced by conversations with people from england, austria, germany and poland).

LEFT means communist
RIGHT means nazi's and racists.

But the remaining MIDDLE is where all the serious parties lie. America lacks that middle, and honestly, the american left is placed somewhere around on the righthand side of germany's most "right-leaning" mainstream party.

 

[einride]

for non-believers you guys are sure preoccupied with religious topics

philosophically, socially and mythologically, religion is pretty interesting stuff. christianity is one of the least interesting ones from a philosophical perspective, it's simplistic and stupid. it's very interesting to try and figure out how it has affected western society, though

 

[einride]

While it may be true that it's damn near impossible for an atheist to be elected to public office here, at least we can't be arrested for blasphemy.

who can? poles i guess? poland is a terrible country

 

[einride]

germany's most "right-leaning" mainstream party.

nsdap?

 

[Demilich]

Wow, this thread is becoming a monumental headache-incuder

 

[Ellestin]

But the remaining MIDDLE is where all the serious parties lie. America lacks that middle, and honestly, the american left is placed somewhere around on the righthand side of germany's most "right-leaning" mainstream party.

That's it mostly. I've never been able to grasp where Democrats and Republicans differ FUNDAMENTALLY.

Also how about dissing Islam for a change? Anyone cares for a nasty death at the hands of bearded morons?

 

[Plastic Nathrakh]

LEFT means communist
RIGHT means nazi's and racists.

But the remaining MIDDLE is where all the serious parties lie. America lacks that middle, and honestly, the american left is placed somewhere around on the righthand side of germany's most "right-leaning" mainstream party.

Serious? Completely false. Those are extremes. Most of the country represents that middle ground dummy. No idea WTF you're talking about.

///panthers are leopards.

 

[einride]

Also how about dissing Islam for a change? Anyone cares for a nasty death at the hands of bearded morons?

islam has never been a serious threat to europe so we haven't had to dis it

until



now



...



...

 

[General Zod]

Just to drag this conversation ont he path and beat it with a stick... I still find it crazy how in the US there is LEFT and RIGHT. PERIOD.

As far as most people understand it in europe (as evidenced by conversations with people from england, austria, germany and poland).

LEFT means communist
RIGHT means nazi's and racists.

It is pretty bizarre. But what would you expect from a country who adopted the metric system for a week and then said, "No thanks"?

philosophically, socially and mythologically, religion is pretty interesting stuff. christianity is one of the least interesting ones from a philosophical perspective, it's simplistic and stupid. it's very interesting to try and figure out how it has affected western society, though

Agreed.

That's it mostly. I've never been able to grasp where Democrats and Republicans differ FUNDAMENTALLY.

It's a truly fucked system.

The Republican party has been hijacked by Christianity, the military-industrial complex and the Chicago School of Economics. As someone whose not a Republican, I'd like to see the Republican party return to its roots.

The Democratic party has a less cohesive nature. It's like herding cats. Consequently, they govern less effectively.

Zod

 

[skeptik]

who can? poles i guess? poland is a terrible country

Brits.

That's it mostly. I've never been able to grasp where Democrats and Republicans differ FUNDAMENTALLY.

Well, in terms of the mainstream in the US, left and right generally refer to social issues like abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, etc.

 

[grisvald]

abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, etc.

so essentially shit that doesn't matter and that have nothing to do with the ability to govern a country effectively or well /e