> Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.

> Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.

> Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?

> Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

> - Epicurus

Given the vastness and complexity of the universe, I don't think I'd ever settle for something short of an omniscient and omnipotent god. If there is one, it sure as shit isn't benevolent or ethical by nature, let alone those traits. My professor in college worded his belief on that pretty concisely: I refuse to believe in a god less ethical than myself.

It annoys me so much when people say that shit. Like too THEM it's "profound" or something but in reality they have no facts or answers its just a cheap ass cop out excuse.

Indistinguishable from the Great Old Ones of Lovecraftian literature.

But his goal is faith, and faith can only be achieved by maintaining the mystery.

There's always some crazy answer.

That fucking “plan for everyone” bullshit conditioned me to be passive instead of proactively going after what I need or want. Religious people shouldn’t raise children.

They say that, then something terrible happens to someone they know (wait what if that was God's plan them?) Then they ask for PRAYERS to the God they say has a plan for everyone. Oh and to donate to their gofundme because God doesn't have any other plan to pay for their bills.

So, if it actually happens, it was god’s plan, right? How could you ever think abortions and queer people are an affront to god when he’s the one who panned it that way? If it’s all god’s plan, then what is morality, even? Why punish criminals if they are carrying out god’s plan?

Their answer is often “the devil.” Okay, but…the devil is subordinate to god. He must be, or he’d be god. He’s not a human with “free will,” if that even exists. *He’s carrying out god’s plan.*

Sorry, that kind of got away from me.

"Look there's good blacks and I like home renovation shows as much as the next guy."

I saw some in geology class get up and leave, even though the prof used a Christian perspective.

Exactly, which is why it’s a terrible idea to go along with someone like Elon Musk when they say they want a mars colony. You’d be crazy to think he wouldn’t straight up enslave you if you went. What are you gonna do, leave?

Psh, you have to apply and pay a couple thousand dollars to renounce your US citizenship *now*, they'll make you pay triple from a Mars colony.

Easy there, Duster.

>I can theoretically renounce my US citizenship if a Mars colony exists.

Mars colony wouldn't do much without resources from the homeworld--at least until 2100 (and that is assuming we start today).

“You’d best start believing in dystopian cyberpunk stories Miss Swan - yer in one!”

The relative utopia of Star Trek didn't happen in that story until after humanity suffered a nuclear war. So...it could still happen.

There’s a recent strategy game, Terra Invicta, based around this kind of concept. The arrival of an extraterrestrial power leads to humanity dividing into various factions with different ideas on how to respond to the threat including “exploit the crisis to make as much money possible, consequences be dammed.”

Reagans villainization of the poor was legendary. His office created the proto memes of "welfare moms" in limos. the crack epidemic, blaming HIV on the victims etc

He was a massive union buster and that was the start of poverty wages as the norm for the working class.

He was a world class piece of shit and it's no wonder he is still a hero to MAGA chuds everywhere.

The election of Reagan in 1980 was the 'camel's nose under the tent' moment so far as the rise of the right-wing in the US and primed the pump for the MAGA shit-show we see around us today.

You all can say this or that about the past, but the dumbing down, the conspiracy theories, the racism, bigotry, hate and domestic terrorism still mostly had a lid on it until Chubby Cheeto blew it wide open and let it spew forth all over the country. And Fox didn’t hurt either.

Agreed, but now that I think about it, I'd love to hear their reasoning for hoarding when the "Rapture" takes place.

As I understand it, they're to be instantly beamed to heaven, first class even. Then... like, why hoard shit for when you aren't even supposed to be home at *"the compound"* anymore?

Is that for other poor souls to use? Probably not, since they hate everyone else.