What are you doing for Lent?

[Apatheist]

It's curious, but not surprising, that you see evidence that undermines your stance is irrelevant or unimportant, when in fact (IMHO) it is entirely the point. It shows that what you're citing as evidence is unreliable.

As it happens, I don't see religion as entirely anti-science: for example, I know that it was the astronomy of the Vatican that showed that the length of a year was slightly more than 365 days, hence the leap year and switch to the Gregorian calendar in 1582. Religions, however, tend to fit their "science" into how it meshes with their religion - if you like, how god does things. I suppose, if you want to consider my view as narrow because it's not complicated (or driven) by a need to fit it into a religious framework, then that's true.

As for the fasting and stuff - no, never done it for any reason. I did once reduce what I was eating to lose a bit of weight, but just reduced, not fasted.
Prayers being responded to at different speeds to teach patience - sorry, but that's just a cop out. As with astrology, to show that it's true, one needs cause and effect. You need the same reaction or response every time you do something. The alternative to "god has a plan and we don't know what it is, but it's all for our benefit" is that no-one's listening, and for me, it's just as credible. Does praying for the right dice on CC ever help? Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.

[HitRed]

Ben-Hur is now now in limited release in theaters.

[Pack Rat]

Ben-Hur is now now in limited release in theaters.

I'm back to drinking the blood of Christian children.

[HitRed]

Palm Sunday

[jusplay4fun]

If Apatheist is refering to this topic:

AND, as far as
the mistranslations in the bible (including today's discovery about the much-touted nephilim).

this matter is NOT IMPORTANT.

I never brought it up and it is NOT important. What does it mean? NOT worthy of my speculation.

Here is what I am responding to, since it is NOT clear what Apatheist is posting about, NOR is it clear to whom he is responding:

Post by Apatheist » Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:22 am

It's curious, but not surprising, that you see evidence that undermines your stance is irrelevant or unimportant, when in fact (IMHO) it is entirely the point. It shows that what you're citing as evidence is unreliable.

Let's continue to examine what Apatheist posted:

As it happens, I don't see religion as entirely anti-science: for example, I know that it was the astronomy of the Vatican that showed that the length of a year was slightly more than 365 days, hence the leap year and switch to the Gregorian calendar in 1582. Religions, however, tend to fit their "science" into how it meshes with their religion - if you like, how god does things. I suppose, if you want to consider my view as narrow because it's not complicated (or driven) by a need to fit it into a religious framework, then that's true.

It is true the Vatican does not view Science as hostile to religion; I think that the opposite is true: Atheist oppose Religion, and often vehemently so.

Yes, Pope Gregory led the Calendar reform that led to the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar, that improved upon the Julian Calendar. And opposition to that "papal" Calendar meant many nations delayed in their adoption of it. See my note below:

Many Protestant countries initially objected to adopting a Catholic innovation; some Protestants feared the new calendar was part of a plot to return them to the Catholic fold. For example, the British could not bring themselves to adopt the Catholic system explicitly: the Annexe to their Calendar (New Style) Act 1750 established a computation for the date of Easter that achieved the same result as Gregory's rules, without actually referring to him.[26]

Britain and the British Empire (including the eastern part of what is now the United States) adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752. Sweden followed in 1753.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar

ALSO, The Vatican has on official Observatory:

AI Summary:
To learn about the Vatican-owned observatory in Arizona, consider these key points:

The Vatican Observatory is located in Tucson, Arizona.
It is one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world, established in 1891.
The observatory focuses on scientific research and education in astronomy.
It operates the Mount Graham International Observatory, which houses advanced telescopes.
The facility aims to promote dialogue between science and faith.
It hosts visiting astronomers and offers public outreach programs.

I doubt the Vatican would OWN and run an observatory if it WERE opposed to Science.

and MORE:

The Alice P. Lennon Telescope and its Thomas J. Bannan Astrophysics Facility, known together as the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT), is a Gregorian telescope observing in the optical and infrared situated on Mount Graham in southeast Arizona, United States. Measuring 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) primary diameter, the telescope achieved its first light in 1993.

VATT is part of the Mount Graham International Observatory and is operated by the Vatican Observatory, one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world, in partnership with The University of Arizona. (...)

The unusual optical design and novel mirror fabrication techniques mean that both the primary and secondary mirrors are among the most exact surfaces ever made for a ground-based telescope. In addition, the skies above Mount Graham are among the most clear, steady, and dark in the continental North America. Seeing of better than one arc-second even without adaptive optics can be achieved on a regular basis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_A ... _Telescope

We have discussed fasting already; I will reiterate that in my view you are not open-minded enough to give it a chance to do anything spiritually for you.

Prayer is too complex to reduce it to you analysis. I will say that I do not PRAY to God to intervene in any games of Entertainment: Risk, Football, any sporting event, actually. Those matters by God I suspect are the same as I view topics such as the nephilim: NOT important. For me, the nephilim are NOT

much-touted

I think I responded to everything that Apatheist mentioned in his previous post. Let me go look to his response to me elsewhere (in our other thread).

And I see Lionz added something to his (that same) thread, too. I need to read that again, before responding.

[HitRed]

Wow, Ben-Hur is a Jesus movie.

[ConfederateSS]

------YES..........CHUCKIE IS AWESOME......The best Line, from the movie is always on my wall...I have to re-post it,on my wall,like I do from time to time...Or delete the last 3 wall posts...Right now it's on the next wall page...
--------------------When Quintus Arrius , is talking to Judah Ben-Hur...,"We keep you alive to serve this ship..."......I'll put the rest later....or look at the next page on my wall,till I fix it...... ConfederateSS.out!(The Blue and Silver Rebellion)...

-----------------Quintus Arrius to Judah BEN-HUR,"You have The Spirit to fight back..But the good sense to control it..Your eyes are full of HATE"41"..THAT'S GOOD..HATE KEEPS A MAN ALIVE!!!..It gives him strength..Now listen to me all of you..You are all condemned men!..We keep you alive to serve this ship..SO ROW WELL AND LIVE!!!!!"...
----------------I like the sea battle with the pirates...Better than the chariot race,the world loves... ...