Little things that annoy the hell out of you

[xbl0x180]

This isn't annoying at all, just baffling, but I cannot wrap my mind around the thought that there are people who believe in ghosts. And I mean people who've graduated from college, have had a long and varied life experience, and who can think critically - they actually believe there are transparent, invisible people who talk and think and float and who wear clothing and such. I engage these peeps in conversation once in a while just to see how their convoluted rationalising allows for believing in ghosts while, at the same time, they wouldn't believe me if I told them... I was a ghost too!

I mean, these people come off as plain kooky

[Skykid]

With Hitchens this sentiment is less forward, but it's still there. And his arguements surrounding the affects of religion on society are far from bulletproof, often focusing on the extremes, rather than on the subtle influences inherent in any organised group (relgious or not).

I can't argue with that. He did spend most of his time going straight for the jugular.

[Randorama]

This isn't annoying at all, just baffling, but I cannot wrap my mind around the thought that there are people who believe in ghosts, like Pc Engine Fan X!

I mean, these people come off as plain kooky

I fixed this post, I daresay.

Also: people who discuss religion in a thread about random shit.

[xbl0x180]

Religion IS random shit!

[O. Van Bruce]

Does japanese really despise christianism that much? Most of the references I receive through manga and anime are quite negative...

No - Difficult to think of anything that Japanese universally "despise", other than Aum, crows, and earthquakes. I think religion is seen in the same vein as fashion or sports teams. Possibly even less serious.

yeah, but look at this manga... besides, it's from Kohji Kumeta, same author as Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, so I assume that it has some amount of social criticism.

In this escene, they are trying to discover who of then have won the lottery and it's not telling anyone about it.

http://mangafox.me/manga/joshiraku/v01/c003/11.html

look at what happens in the next 3 pages...

It's this kind of things that really makes me think that there is a problem with Christianism and Japan...

Also: people who discuss religion in a thread about random shit.

Well... it really annoys me how the japanese portrait Christianism...

[trap15]

Japan's "issue" with Christianity is that it's horse shit and easy to make fun of.

[Randorama]

Well... it really annoys me how the japanese portrait Christianism...

truthfully?

[Illyrian]

With Hitchens this sentiment is less forward, but it's still there. And his arguements surrounding the affects of religion on society are far from bulletproof, often focusing on the extremes, rather than on the subtle influences inherent in any organised group (relgious or not).

I can't argue with that. He did spend most of his time going straight for the jugular.

This certainly was never an issue for me. If you can see gaps in someone's argument wide enough to drive a truck through, to the point it's obvious they don't know what they're doing, you should actively go after them and point out how derpy they're being.

I've always thought that Hitchens eventually got bored of getting the same flawed arguments thrown at him and eventually he just decided to cut people's heads off.

It helps that he was one of the greatest people to live in the last 2000 years as well.

[O. Van Bruce]

Well... it really annoys me how the japanese portrait Christianism...

truthfully?

not on the level of Rage but it's certainly unconfortable for me how they use christianism (as well as a lot more things) in manga in a negative way just because "it's a gaijin thing"...

I'm from the school that, if you want to talk about a theme or an issue, you at least should have minimal knowledge and respect to it.

[trap15]

not on the level of Rage but it's certainly unconfortable for me how they use christianism (as well as a lot more things) in manga in a negative way just because "it's a gaijin thing"...

That's not why they do it, they do it because it's a load of crock and they know it because they haven't been brainwashed into believing it for the past thousand or so years.

[dunpeal2064]

trap, you crack me up.

[Illyrian]

not on the level of Rage but it's certainly unconfortable for me how they use christianism (as well as a lot more things) in manga in a negative way just because "it's a gaijin thing"...

That's not why they do it, they do it because it's a load of crock and they know it because they haven't been brainwashed into believing it for the past thousand or so years.

Aren't many japanese buddhist? Or am I completely wrong?

[Randorama]

I'm from the school that, if you want to talk about a theme or an issue, you at least should have minimal knowledge and respect to it.

Manga/Anime-wise, I gave up this assumption a long time ago. Authors who bother, and can afford, to do some research into their topic materials are statistically insignificant.

Also, every time the Pope says something, he shows to be 100 times more clueless than the last of the Mangaka, so I'd worry more about his inability to say something which is not downright outrageous, irrational, fascist and downright disgusting, rather than any chance manga.

[O. Van Bruce]

Well, Christianity it's not only Catholicism...

There are a lot of good points for christians believers out there... just because the hierarchy acts like they were 100 years ago doesn't mean that all of the christians out there are retarded... in fact the majority are quite cultured and tolerant.

And Trap15, I'm not in America, I'm in Europe... the kind of believers we have here doesn't even compare to the bunch of bigots that are in the USA... you don't watch politicians here mixing religion and politics, only the hardcore right-wing political parties do that.

[trap15]

And Trap15, I'm not in America, I'm in Europe... the kind of believers we have here doesn't even compare to the bunch of bigots that are in the USA... you don't watch politicians here mixing religion and politics, only the hardcore right-wing political parties do that.

America has only been exposed to Christianity since settlers from, say, 1500 on? That's not 1000+ years Christianity started in Europe, and how people react to it today doesn't really matter.

The fact is, Christianity is insane (like most other religions), and because Japan wasn't exposed to it until fairly recently and was never forced to convert to it, they can see it for what it really is.

[O. Van Bruce]

And Trap15, I'm not in America, I'm in Europe... the kind of believers we have here doesn't even compare to the bunch of bigots that are in the USA... you don't watch politicians here mixing religion and politics, only the hardcore right-wing political parties do that.

America has only been exposed to Christianity since settlers from, say, 1500 on? That's not 1000+ years Christianity started in Europe, and how people react to it today doesn't really matter.

The fact is, Christianity is insane (like most other religions), and because Japan wasn't exposed to it until fairly recently and was never forced to convert to it, they can see it for what it really is.

So... Christianism it's like how the author of Hellsing depicts it?

[xbl0x180]

Well, Christianity it's not only Catholicism...

There are a lot of good points for christians believers out there... just because the hierarchy acts like they were 100 years ago doesn't mean that all of the christians out there are retarded... in fact the majority are quite cultured and tolerant.

And Trap15, I'm not in America, I'm in Europe... the kind of believers we have here doesn't even compare to the bunch of bigots that are in the USA... you don't watch politicians here mixing religion and politics, only the hardcore right-wing political parties do that.

Coincidentally, the worst kind of racism I have seen towards Latin Americans comes from Spain. Anyway, I would never want to associate with the religion brought here by a bunch of imperialist/colonialist thieves, rapists, and murderers, which was just another excuse to control other people and justify their criminal actions

[Ex-Cyber]

So... Christianism it's like how the author of Hellsing depicts it?

Obviously not, but try to understand that the whole concept of a religion, including at least one massive global church hierarchy, trying to convert people of all nations is a distinctly Christian invention. It can potentially strike people not raised in a Christian context as deeply alien and somewhat threatening, in stark contrast to a foreigner merely adhering personally to the religion of his own nation. Then add in that the leaders of the aforementioned hierarchy (and a few emulators) insist that its followers are literally consuming the flesh and blood of the physical incarnation of a god resurrected from the dead. From that perspective it's like they're begging to be the inspiration for horror manga.

Incidentally, it's not like this is exclusive to Japanese or even non-Christian people. Here, help yourself to some late 1980s vintage Christian-authored horror manga about the Catholic Church being a demonic conspiracy (Hellsing-quality artwork and storytelling not guaranteed, but it's apparently good enough for a non-trivial number of American Christians to buy/make copies and leave them laying around in hopes that someone will find them and see the light; I have personally seen such tracts, though not that specific one, left on city buses)

[O. Van Bruce]

Well, Christianity it's not only Catholicism...

There are a lot of good points for christians believers out there... just because the hierarchy acts like they were 100 years ago doesn't mean that all of the christians out there are retarded... in fact the majority are quite cultured and tolerant.

And Trap15, I'm not in America, I'm in Europe... the kind of believers we have here doesn't even compare to the bunch of bigots that are in the USA... you don't watch politicians here mixing religion and politics, only the hardcore right-wing political parties do that.

Coincidentally, the worst kind of racism I have seen towards Latin Americans comes from Spain. Anyway, I would never want to associate with the religion brought here by a bunch of imperialist/colonialist thieves, rapists, and murderers, which was just another excuse to control other people and justify their criminal actions

You don't know real racism Xblox, not the one that treats you even worst than an animal. thankfully, I haven't experienced it myself, but guess where it's practiced toward negroes? In my country, In Colombia (and it could be extended to almost all of latin-america), white "elite" people treat negroes that way.

Compared to how people treat latin americans here in Spain, it's like a game.

And about the whole "spanish conquest" thing, it wasn't a new thing... every european did the same thing anywhere it went... even in europe. What was really bad for the spanish america was the "Encomienda" system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encomienda

That was what really destroyed native american population and civilization.

[Randorama]

You don't know real racism Randorama, not the one that treats you even worst than an animal. thankfully, I haven't experienced it myself, but guess where it's practiced toward negroes?

Typo! You quote someone else but address me. No prob, as it is obvious that you made a typo, I just wanted to pin-point it to be sure that people could keep ranting without getting too confused.

[O. Van Bruce]

You don't know real racism Randorama, not the one that treats you even worst than an animal. thankfully, I haven't experienced it myself, but guess where it's practiced toward negroes?

Typo! You quote someone else but address me. No prob, as it is obvious that you made a typo, I just wanted to pin-point it to be sure that people could keep ranting without getting too confused.

Yeah... gonna correct it right now.

[xbl0x180]

Well, Christianity it's not only Catholicism...

There are a lot of good points for christians believers out there... just because the hierarchy acts like they were 100 years ago doesn't mean that all of the christians out there are retarded... in fact the majority are quite cultured and tolerant.

And Trap15, I'm not in America, I'm in Europe... the kind of believers we have here doesn't even compare to the bunch of bigots that are in the USA... you don't watch politicians here mixing religion and politics, only the hardcore right-wing political parties do that.

Coincidentally, the worst kind of racism I have seen towards Latin Americans comes from Spain. Anyway, I would never want to associate with the religion brought here by a bunch of imperialist/colonialist thieves, rapists, and murderers, which was just another excuse to control other people and justify their criminal actions

You don't know real racism Xblox, not the one that treats you even worst than an animal. thankfully, I haven't experienced it myself, but guess where it's practiced toward negroes? In my country, In Colombia (and it could be extended to almost all of latin-america), white "elite" people treat negroes that way.

Compared to how people treat latin americans here in Spain, it's like a game.

And about the whole "spanish conquest" thing, it wasn't a new thing... every european did the same thing anywhere it went... even in europe. What was really bad for the spanish america was the "Encomienda" system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encomienda

That was what really destroyed native american population and civilization.

I know real racism and it makes me reeeeeeal wary about Europe when it comes to foreigners

[Skykid]

late 1980s vintage Christian-authored horror manga about the Catholic Church being a demonic conspiracy

That was very good.

[Casey120]

Christianity started in Europe, and how people react to it today doesn't really matter.

YEH remember Jesus, that Crazy Frenchman !

[moh]

i think people need to understand the difference between discussion and discrimination...

[drauch]

When your roommate's fucking girlfriend has been living in your (my) house for like 3 months and is always there and is annoying as shit. Doesn't matter if he's here or not--'cause she will be. No fucking peace and quiet ever. Never home by myself. Hurry up and die.

[xbl0x180]

Sharing household costs (i.e., utilities), period. I really hate that. God damn roommate has the A/C on 24 hours a day and that fucking thing is the size of a B-52 engine! The bill for electricity will probably be $400 just for this month... and I have to pay an "equal" share even though I never use the A/C. Some people really are better off dead

[moh]

Sharing household costs (i.e., utilities), period. I really hate that. God damn roommate has the A/C on 24 hours a day and that fucking thing is the size of a B-52 engine! The bill for electricity will probably be $400 just for this month... and I have to pay an "equal" share even though I never use the A/C. Some people really are better off dead

relax...breathe.....in, out, in, out.

[xbl0x180]

I'm afraid that if I breathe too much or too slow, there will be a jump in the electric bill and it will now be $500!

[O. Van Bruce]

I'm afraid that if I breathe too much or too slow, there will be a jump in the electric bill and it will now be $500!

Maan, that sucks... that's why I've allways lived on apartments which include services like electricity and water on the rent.