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Gaiman's American Gods Wins Hugo
H.I. McDonnough writes "Neil Gaiman won this year's Hugo for his novel American Gods.
A much better choice than last year. " If you are a curious, check out the review I did on it.
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Sci Fi is NOT fantasy. Fantasy is stuff that will never happen or if it does we are in deep crap. Fantasy is or can be considered withcraft. I have a problem with that. I am a Christian and when you see people doing things that are god like it's considered blasphemy. Although Jedi can be considered witch like, you don't see the things like lightning bolts shooting from their hands and the like unless they are evil (usually). Not preaching or anything, but some people have a problem with Fantasy being called Sci Fi. Sci fi usually involves science. Fantasy usually doesn't. I agree with Hemos opinion. While I have not, and will not read Harry Potter books due to the witchcraft connotations, I agree that it does not deserve a Hugo. Harry Potter is a true fad and nothing that will ever last near as long as Star Trek or Star Wars. I mean here we are nearly a year since the film has ben out and do you hear anything in any media (mass media or other forms) about Harry Potter? Nope. Some may say that it's because a new book has not been written or something to that effect. But I think the fad's about over. I am aware of the bnlip about the false Rowling book being found in asia, but other then that nada. IT'S A FAD! Just like Britney Spears. Now I'll have to check out that book.
Gorkman
I do love the sinnner. Where on earth in my post did I say I did not? I just said there's NOTHING good about Witches. My heart aches that they don't know the truth.
Also, those two web pages had some interesting articles with facts without an accompanying link where I can verify the source of their supposed facts. The one article with references to Samhain and him not being a form of Satan (or that in Wicca there is no Satan....)....he made statetments but there was nothing there to back him up.
I have read many translations of the bible and they almost all say the same things. I have never seen a translation that confuses the meaning of the scriptures. As for there being no Devil, that's an opinion of the Wiccans. I have news for you. Ne is VERY real. He's on thie planet right now. I am sick of everyone telling me I must be open to others. Being opne is this crappy Political Correctness that prvents people from trying to be themselves. If you don't want to hear someone preach the gospel, you can walk down the street or never go to church. Or CHANGE THE CHANNEL TOO! Just the same, I suggest that Christians do the same if the see something that offends them. This is how I excercise why I see Harry Potter books as just wrong. That's my opinion. You don't have to bash me for it.
All I am trying to do is be myself. Christianity certainly does not try to change the way people are other then getting them to try to get rid of destructive habits. Being open to others (as in religion) is the way satan corrupts the unsuspecting. I am not saying we should go bash in Muslim, Pagan's or wiccans because of what they believe. That would be wrong. Trying to be open is why we aren't doing something we as a country should be doing right now....disposing of Saddam Hussein. Some say what does this have to do with religion...I say it has EVERYTHING to do with it. Being all touchy feely about all of the innocents that would be hurt because of the bombing we'd do. Well, you know what? ANYONE can improve their own position even if it comes at great risk. If they don't agree with Saddam they can find a way to leave. While I don't want them hurt, I am afraid I see no other way to fix things. I, for one, am in total agreement with the president on this one.
Gorkman
See, FUD isn't just limited to software!
;)
:) So, let's dialgoue.)
And, on a more personal note, just some points I like to make when painted in the light *you* just shed...
1) Paganism (Not specifically modern Wicca) has been around as long as there has been agriculture. They were our Holidays first.
"Paganism" is a rather lousy word that, in modern English, means "not Christian." I hate neo-pagans 's attempts to try and reinvent the language...
But in any case, it's a misnomer. There *is* no unified Paganism, just as there's no unififed "Monotheism." What you have is modern-day traditions that are mostly wicca, and are based on a few dozen attempts to revive "the old ways."
I have respesct for my pagan friends, but that doesn't mean I don't think they're as historically wrong as if I were to say that the offspring of Jesus Christ are the reason Europe conquered the world.
2) Pagans, as a general rule, do not try to convert others, nor force any way of thinking on anyone. We prefer you think for yourself.
(as for myself, I am just impressed when some people *think* at all)
I've heard this line before, and I don't buy it. Sure, there aren't any 'Pagan' televangelist, but a pagan acts the exact same way most Christians do when asked about matters of faith. Not once have I heard a pagan ask "well, what do you think?" in this discussion. In a lot of ways, they're a closeminded as us "unthinking" Christians.
(Yes, there are the few notable exceptions--just like there are Christians who think rather well, and have shaped the world into the way it is today.)
3) Sorry, no devil here. Thats *your* religions creation. You deal with him.
So, the things that we deal with in our religion are all made up, and not real? Then you're are @!#$ing atheist, you bastard!
Seriously, though--"If I don't believe in you, will you go away?" (The same thing applies to Christians vs. Pagan Gods as Pagas vs. Satan. The spirits in question do exist, even if their exact makeup is unclear.)
4) Well, I could go on for pages about this, but it's pretty redundant. check out *my* page for more information.
5) Oh, well.. There is *one* bad thing about being Pagan/Wiccan. We've never had those wholesale "convert or die" parties like y'all had, so Mel Brooks has never had a chance to make up snazzy songs about our past..
(Humming.. "The Inquisition... here it comes...")
Wiccans have been around since about the 1960s, fella. You haven't been around LONG enough to have an Inquistion. (Oh, and there's this matter of the human sacrafices we found in Europe...)
Oh, by the way, by *your* religions rules, You're supposed to love the sinner,
I love my enemy as if he were my self. That doesn't perclude me from hating my self and railing against my sins--and it certainly doesn't gag Christians from speaking out agianst what they see as evil.
(The proper response is to engage in a dialogue, not rant.
Praise god someone gets it. I loved the line on that page that says that the Bible is full of myths. I supposed the tomb of Jesus Christ is empty because someone robbed it and not because he rose? I suppose the tomb existing at all is a myth eh? So many people get fooled into thinking in one way or another. So many people assume since Catholics call themselves Christians and use the same bible as I that they are Christians too. Well, some may be. The whole way Catholics consider the pope being on the same place as Jesus feels just weird to me. Also, I bet I could not be comfortable and rock out to Ancient of Days or some other songs while I dance in church and praise the lord if I was in a Catholic church. Also a couple others on here say that there are many gods. One foe the jews one for the islamics one for the christians....etc etc. Got news for them...they are most likely all the same god. First off, the god the Jews pray to is the same as the Christians. Jews simply do not believe the messiah has come already. They believe Jesus was a very spirtual man. Jesus in the bible is referred to many times as King of the Jews (he also was a jew). Islamics actually have a link back to Judaism and Christianity as well. All of the big three have links to Abraham pointing to my opinion that all three of these religions probably spring forth from the same roots. Only Christianity has scriptures that come right out and tell you exactly what to do to get to heaven...so I have been told and I believe. Also Mohammad has also been reported being written about in Hindu scriptures as well. Buddhism and Taoists also may even have links as well. This is where I think alot of folks mess up with paganism and stuff like that. If you don't believe in god, what do you believe? Darwin? We evolved from the primordial ooze and conditions were just right for life to exist and there was no god or outside help? What if the tinfoil types are right and we get proof we were dropped here by aliens? Will that change my opinion of God and Jesus??? Somehow I don't think so. There would still be many questions that we'd need answered. Did the aliens bring us here because god commanded it? I know I am skewing offtopic alot here, but still, it makes a point that alot of the Hard Sci Fi fans would not read something like Harry Potter myself included. Lots of Sci Fi conventions also forget this and have things there thatI don't appreciate. Marcon is one of those here in Columbus. I wanted to like and feel good about some of these people that worked at the con and I wanted to increase the amount of hard sci fi there. It was not meant to be. That and I was asked to take care of other (insensitive) fans kids while they attended forums and the like and the whole environment of the con was just....well, it felt WRONG. I never felt confortable at the parties and meetings and was looked at incredulously when I said I did not watch the X-files. If the X files stuck to aliens and things like that I would have watched it more. Sci Fi fandom claims they love Star Trek yet they never give it accolades. Sure, the Berman era is not as good but it's better than no Star Trek at all. That and Enterprise is turning out to be better then I expected. The Hugo's have always gone to these weird soft sci fi things. Anyway, to get to the point, NOT all Christians are tied by dogma and can't think for themselves. A great many have seen the err of the Catholics and others and do not insist on all of the legalism.
Oh by the way...I am dialoging here....not arguing...:)
Gorkman