The Big Picture: Nerd Gods

[dark-amon]

goodness presented presocratic.

What the hell does that even mean?

sorry, missed the -button. pre-socratic (that wich was before Socrates) there was three premises presented in the definition of divine perfection power, knowledge and goodnes. They have been used in presenting arguments on both sides of the god-argument since.

This presumes that God is divinely perfect. Plato's 'god' was more of an imperfect molder of matter.

however Platos god was not a relevant part of his philosophy. Like Aristotle the god was just an explanation in their philosophy. Religious philosophy was hardly a relevant part of philosophy before Augustine.
I do however when re-reading my first post see that I did a poor job writing it. It does seem like I say that the perception of gods where neverchanging. Tp be more precise: There was a lot of different views on how the world existed in pre-socratic times. They became more non-changing with Augustine and the ending of the ancient period. However Augustine and those after did take alot of inspiration from the greek philosophers, on one part the three parts of Gods perfection wich is highly relevant in Augustines defence of the free will

 

[k-ossuburb]

Atheist=/=Hating religion

Probably wasn't intentional, but the subtext was there.

Yeah, but there is an unfortunate correlation between the two since we've got to defend our position all the damn time even though we're not the ones trying to prove anything other than WYSIWYG.

 

[Aptspire]

Gundam shrines... Hell yes

I'd do many pilgrimages

 

[Kumomaru]

The problem with nerd gods is A) it's pretty well determined that they're total fiction B) if any of them are in the DC continuity you already have hundreds of interpretations before the 'church' even starts branching and C) if you allow one fictional comic-book or literary character to be worshipped, you have to allow all of them.

Imagine: A joker cult. (though a batman cult would be awesome)

I really like this idea.

Here begins the 1st national Church of Stan and Jack (working title)

And there's no shortage of religious texts with underlying moral themes.

1. The importance of family (Fantastic 4)

2. Responsibility and sacrifice (Spider Man)

3. Accepting people regardless their differences (X-Men)

4. Repentance for past wrongs (Iron Man)

5. Humility (Thor)


I'm also partial to the Trekkie Church. It's just like Secular Humanism, but using Star trek metaphors

Tony isn't so much making up for past wrongs as he is for wrongs he's committing now. =P

 

[Mr. Omega]

I'm already a devout member of the Church of Captain Falcon.

 

[The Great JT]

I'm a firm believer in Batmanism.

 

[Naheal]

gnostic church is a good one. too bad they are probably seen as heretics at this point

We are. We get nailed on both sides of the eisle.

 

[Caliostro]

[...] what we if we tried following without necessarily believing[...]

I have an even more revolutionary idea: Why don't we try not to follow at all.

We're constantly misguidedly claiming some sort of intellectual superiority to farm animals but we still can't get over the damn herd mentality.

Why follow? You know who's always following? People who are never leading. People who can't see past the leader because he's always in front, leading the way.

I know, I know. Following is comfortable. It's reassuring. It takes the weight of responsibility from off our shoulders, placing it in the reassuring figure of a, generally, charismatic leader. Following is easy. You don't have to think, you don't have to consider your options, you don't have to live with the decisions and choices knowing you, and you alone are to blame for whatever good or bad came from them, and you can just pull a blanket over your eyes and divert whatever issues arise to the guy in front.

But it's also a trap. You're letting someone else run your life. And these people don't have a magic 8-ball or the power of clairvoyance anymore than you do.

You know what happens when you follow? You never learn the way yourself. Any way.

My suggestion is to stop following entirely. Think for yourselves, and criticize everything. EVERYTHING. No exceptions.

 

[ZeppMan217]

Tom Cruse won't come out of closet. Ever.

 

[The Wykydtron]

Wait, the Church of Haruhi? Sign me up! it'd be interesting to see how people could fit Haruhi into religious sermons

 

[Orthon]

Great video, Bob. Enjoyed the bits about religion as practiced today and your personal feelings about it more than the bits about fictional characters as gods, though.

Also, it made me ponder whether or not I'm agnostic or an "atheist with commitment issues". My belief that God doesn't exist(nor any other deity, for that matter) is conflicting with the knowledge that there's no proof of it.

Therefore, because religion is after all a matter of belief, I'm inclined to call myself atheist. But it's my opinion that it's more logical to be agnostic.

...

Bleh.

Thanks for the existentialist dilemma, Bob.

 

[hermes]

The thing with that is that we have to stop thinking about religion as if it were serious business.

I mean, religion study and discussion would be lowered a few notches if it were George Lucas vs Stan Lee.

 

[wammnebu]

most of your later pagan intellectuals did practice your follow not believe theory. You probably have already read these but if you get a chance take a peak at Celsus, Porphyry, Lucian of Samosta, and Plutarch

 

[Dice Warwick]

I already though out a hole deity and the story around it. But the problem is not with the deity itself, but the people in power because of it. Yes a nerd can start a new god, but you know the jocks will move right in, kick out the nerds, and declare the the new god has chosen them as the champions of humanity, so all the women must now have sex with them.

Religion is like politics, it is used to control people in acting a particular way, and when it comes across another religion they will fight over that control, to the point of even turning their back on their core beliefs and people so to just retain that control. (look at the GOP, and the Taliban)

 

[Crazy_Bird]

Aren't Superheroes like Batman or Spider-man already some kind of modern heroic folklore. Like Odysseus and Perseus for example? i mean it is not such a big leap.

 

[ProjectTrinity]

Objection!

Well, not a strong one, I just wanted to throw that reference out there. Anyways, the major problem with getting something like Spiderman or Star Wars turned into a religion is that every other mainstream religion have believers that firmly believe in the God/god as well as the rules. I'd like~ to think that no one truly believes Spiderman exists in modern day New York, saving lives against crazy villains.

Even so, thank you for breaking the entire crappy argument over the origin of this world into "there's no proof either way" - because that couldn't be any closer to the truth. All the religion bashing in the world won't change that. It just makes good agnostics and Atheists look bad. Like an overly intrusive Christian kind of bad. So yay!

 

[Rainboq]

Haarooohee, Bob? Haarooheee?

You just lost all nerd credibility with me. Stop your preaching now. Right now goddam.

It's Haruhi ffs.

Oh be quiet, he can pronounce it however he pleases.

OT: I was laughing so hard at the end, good one Bob!

He sure can but that doesn't make it right. I don't care one way or the other, just throwing my 2 cents.

*dodges the thrown coins*

Watch it!

 

[Jenx]

Ah, a wonderful video in which Bob shows he has no idea how the hell religion and mythology works. Aside from that, it was a pretty fun watch.

Actually that was a pretty accurate take on religion... Just because it's not yours doesn't mean it's not right.
Multiple people coming together to 'worship' and follow the ideals of a figure, be it believed fictional or real, is the basic cornerstone of religious thinking.

Here's the thing though - There will never be a "Church of Spider Man" or stuff like that. Wonna know why? Because nobody will ever actually believe in Spider Man's divinity. Yeah, this is something of a major point in religion - gods actually having something divine in them. Sure sure, Bob suggests the whole super-heroes thing as closer to gnosticism, but it's still just a laughable concept. One thing that really bugs me is when people say "Man religion is just X". No it's not just X. It's a lot more, it's an absurdly complex concept like a lot of things in human culture.

 

[Ardenon]

what does Godzillaism teach?

 

[angel85]

I think I'm already a member of the Church of Sonic the Hedgehog, its tenants include living your life without regret, always looking to the future and the possibilities it holds, and being a good friend to everyone. Of course I also seek guidance from other pillars of fiction, including Doctor Who, Captain Picard, tons of others. Some may call me silly for living my life like that, but at least I don't clasp my hands together and pretend to talk to them.