Philosphy, free will, and the absence of Religious authority

[Cypress]

Thanks, Cypress.

I have read dozens of non-fiction books on the Roman Era..and most have delighted. The history of Rome is amazing...and considering the totality of its existence was more than double what America has existed...it give one pause before being too sure of ourselves.

I was luck enough to witness some excavations in Pompeii...and some Roman digs in southern England.

Even Roman fiction can enthrall. Good luck with it.

Outstanding.

I am studying Chinese history currently, but will pivot to Rome when I get a chance.

The western intellectual tradition owes a debt to ancient Greece, but evidently it would be inconceivable for modern western society to exist without the practices and traditions established by the Romans - from politics and governance, to law, to engineering. It all pretty much goes back to Rome. And I plan to get more up to speed on it!

 

[Truth Detector]

The opinion and feelings of an obscure rightwing message board poster are inconsequential, wholly without merit, and irrelevant.

But those of an obscure leftwing message board poster are? STFU!!

 

[Truth Detector]

Ah. Another believer of free speech I see.

He prefers an echo chamber.

 

[Truth Detector]

Sorry, Dickhead...

Horseshit fallacy...on your part.

You really are a jerkoff.

Stop with the bullshit.

You are not up to it...not nearly bright enough.

You truly are poor at this.

Wake up Jerkoff.

Signs you have lost an argument; but too stupid to comprehend the obvious.

 

[Into the Night]

Rome was a republic until Augustus became emperor.

Nope. Sulla was the first dictator of Rome.

Dictators were regularly elected in ancient Rome.

They were not dictators. They were officials elected for specific narrow purposes.

YOU do not know what you are talking about.

I do know what I'm talking about.

Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire in 323.

Irrelevant.

The fall of Rome is considered by historians to be about 400 AD...although the steep decline is dated to the mid 300 Ad.

Rome fell in 476 A.D.

It was decades.

476-323=153 years, dude. That is not decades, even by YOUR dates.

Rome fell because the taxes were too high, the government became ineffectual, and the armies couldn't win any wars anymore. All the result of the dictatorships of Rome.

Religion came to Rome at its founding, moron.

Not Christianity. Rome was founded 753 BC. That is BEFORE Christ, dude.

Christianity did not even exist until the reign of Tiberius AT THE VERY EARLIEST. Tiberius reigned from 14 to 37 AD. It came in the sewers to Rome...BUT was not the official religion until 323 AD.

I already made that point.

I never used the term...and I never inferred it.

Yes you did. You used a 'fact' as a Universal Truth. Facts are not Universal Truths.

Back to school, child. You are doing yourself no good here with adults.

Mantra 12. Normally I delete these.

 

[Into the Night]

Thanks, Cypress.

I have read dozens of non-fiction books on the Roman Era..and most have delighted. The history of Rome is amazing...and considering the totality of its existence was more than double what America has existed...it give one pause before being too sure of ourselves.

I was luck enough to witness some excavations in Pompeii...and some Roman digs in southern England.

Even Roman fiction can enthrall. Good luck with it.

Rome (as a nation) existed from 753 BC to 476 A.D. That's one thousand two hundred and twenty nine years, dude. That is SIX times longer than the United States has existed, not twice!

 

[Into the Night]

Outstanding.

I am studying Chinese history currently, but will pivot to Rome when I get a chance.

The western intellectual tradition owes a debt to ancient Greece, but evidently it would be inconceivable for modern western society to exist without the practices and traditions established by the Romans - from politics and governance, to law, to engineering. It all pretty much goes back to Rome. And I plan to get more up to speed on it!

Enjoy your studies. Both Greece and Rome are two of the three pillars of Western Culture (and two of the three pillars upon which the United States was founded).

 

[Ross Dolan]

Nope. Sulla was the first dictator of Rome.

They were not dictators. They were officials elected for specific narrow purposes.

I do know what I'm talking about.

Irrelevant.

Rome fell in 476 A.D.

476-323=153 years, dude. That is not decades, even by YOUR dates.

Rome fell because the taxes were too high, the government became ineffectual, and the armies couldn't win any wars anymore. All the result of the dictatorships of Rome.


Not Christianity. Rome was founded 753 BC. That is BEFORE Christ, dude.

I already made that point.

Yes you did. You used a 'fact' as a Universal Truth. Facts are not Universal Truths.

Mantra 12. Normally I delete these.

You sound like a guy somewhere between 18 and 24 years of age...a time when many think they know everything, but actually do not even know enough to realize they know almost nothing.

Rome's decline began at about the same time as Christianity become its official religion.

You will never be able to acknowledge that because you want to think you are smarter and more informed than you are.

Okay...I'll laugh at you and think of the day some years in the future when you look back at yourself as you are today and think, "Wow, I was a major league asshole back then."

Now...go polish an apple and give it to teacher. He or she will be laughing at you also...but will hide that from you in hopes that you will become more than you are right now...sooner rather than later.

Although I am hoping for "sooner"...I am betting on "later."

 

[Ross Dolan]

Rome (as a nation) existed from 753 BC to 476 A.D. That's one thousand two hundred and twenty nine years, dude. That is SIX times longer than the United States has existed, not twice!

Are you saying, Asshole, that the entirety of Rome's existence was NOT MORE THAN DOUBLE what America has existed.

Jesus H. Christ...you walk into more intellectual punches than most people throw.

But you ARE fun to mock...so forgive me for doing so with such gusto.

 

[Into the Night]

You sound like a guy somewhere between 18 and 24 years of age...a time when many think they know everything, but actually do not even know enough to realize they know almost nothing.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You really think so??

Rome's decline began at about the same time as Christianity become its official religion.
...deleted Mantra 12...

Rome's decline began BEFORE Christianity even came to Rome.

 

[Into the Night]

Are you saying, Asshole, that the entirety of Rome's existence was NOT MORE THAN DOUBLE what America has existed.
...deleted Mantras 7...1...1...

Go and read the post again, stupid. Six is larger than two, isn't it?

 

[Ross Dolan]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You really think so??

Yeah...I really think so. Since I cannot see you on-line...that is an estimate based on the intellectual maturity of your posts. (I was giving you the benefit of the doubt.)

Rome's decline began BEFORE Christianity even came to Rome.

Actually...it didn't. But since I have been talking about when Christianity became the official religion of Rome...NOT JUST CHRISTIANITY...I'll agree that the decline of Rome began before Christianity became the official religion.

Christianity came to Rome during the reign of Tiberius.

Jesus H. Christ, man...THAT WAS BEFORE THE DECLINE OF ROME.

C'mon. Keep up.

 

[Ross Dolan]

Go and read the post again, stupid. Six is larger than two, isn't it?

MORE THAN DOUBLE...IS LARGER THAN TWO.

C'mon. I do not want to be accused of picking on a stupid person...although in your case, I may allow it.

 

[Into the Night]

Yeah...I really think so. Since I cannot see you on-line...that is an estimate based on the intellectual maturity of your posts. (I was giving you the benefit of the doubt.)

HAHAHAHAHA! I started my first successful company when I was 20! My son started his (and he is also successful) when he was 23! You consider that age 'immature'??? That's just bigotry, that is.

Actually...it didn't. But since I have been talking about when Christianity became the official religion of Rome...NOT JUST CHRISTIANITY...I'll agree that the decline of Rome began before Christianity became the official religion.

Then you just nullified your own argument.

Christianity came to Rome during the reign of Tiberius.

Jesus H. Christ, man...THAT WAS BEFORE THE DECLINE OF ROME.

Wait...what? You have now created a paradox. Which is it, Frank?

C'mon. Keep up.

Hey...YOU built the paradox.

 

[Into the Night]

Are you saying, Asshole, that the entirety of Rome's existence was NOT MORE THAN DOUBLE what America has existed.

Already answered. Six is larger than two.

MORE THAN DOUBLE...IS LARGER THAN TWO.

Here you are ignoring your own question.

C'mon. I do not want to be accused of picking on a stupid person...although in your case, I may allow it.

Since you are reducing yourself to insulting people, that only indicates you are running out of arguments.

 

[Ross Dolan]

HAHAHAHAHA! I started my first successful company when I was 20! My son started his (and he is also successful) when he was 23! You consider that age 'immature'??? That's just bigotry, that is.

You sound very immature to me. Very immature.

Did your father "lend you a million" to start out?

Then you just nullified your own argument.

No I did not!

Wait...what? You have now created a paradox. Which is it, Frank?

Play with it as you will.

I have been correct...and you incorrect on this issue.

Now, if only you had the spine to acknowledge it.

Hey...YOU built the paradox.

There is no paradox.

Christianity became the official religion of Rome...and within decades Rome essentially was out of business as an empire. That is what I said right from the beginning.

You realize I am correct. Grow the spine to acknowledge it.

C'mon. It won't hurt!

 

[Into the Night]

You sound very immature to me. Very immature.

People that start and run successful companies are not immature, Frank.

Did your father "lend you a million" to start out?

No! He didn't have it at the time!

...deleted irrational portion...

You must clear your paradox. Arguing both sides of a paradox is irrational.

 

[Ross Dolan]

People that start and run successful companies are not immature, Frank.

Really?

Is that written in stone somewhere? On some tablets that were brought from a mountain?

If in fact you started and ran a successful company (something I have no way of verifying because you are too chicken to post under your real name)...apparently they can sound very immature.

Under any circumstances...YOU sound very immature to me.

No! He didn't have it at the time!

Okay.

Neither did mine.

You must clear your paradox. Arguing both sides of a paradox is irrational.

I did not argue both sides, Mr. Night.

 

[Ross Dolan]

Lecturing me on logic!

A guy who essentially presented a syllogism that goes:

P1: People who start and run successful businesses are not immature. (Gratuitous P1...totally unsubstantiated or established.)

P2: I am a person who started and ran a successful business. (Unsubtantiated P2)

C: Therefore I am not immature.

Holy shit...if the C has been, therefore I am full of shit...even I would have bought it.

 

[Into the Night]

Really?
Is that written in stone somewhere? On some tablets that were brought from a mountain?

Well, obviously, YOU think that immature people are capable of starting and running successful businesses!

If in fact you started and ran a successful company (something I have no way of verifying because you are too chicken to post under your real name)

That's the problem with any claim of credential or personal history on any forum. Deal with it. I really don't care if you believe me or not.

...apparently they can sound very immature.

So you said.

Under any circumstances...YOU sound very immature to me.

You really seem to want to make this particular insult. Did you know insults are a fallacy?

I did not argue both sides, Mr. Night.

Yes you did. You can't clear your paradox by denying it.