fucking terrifying

[Haunted]

Actually Stoker made a whole witches brew of vampiric lore to created the character, Dracula. I think his main source was probably from Romania and was probably not Vlad Tsepes himself. I read, while doing a research paper on Lord Byron that Polidori's, "The Vampyre" did play a key role in the formation of Dracula.

However, as ___V___ stated, he was not lovely in the books. It was his charisma...more of a magical/other worldly power than social that drew the likes of Lucy and Mina. In the Romanian myths vampires had foul breath, big bushy eyebrows, thick red lips, disgusting dirty finger nails, dry, thin, and whispy hair. Stoker captured that with his character.

Where we really start to see Polidori's Byronic vampires is in the likes of Anne Rice's novels (she bores the piss out of me). I have to admit that I borrow from that style as well. Shit, who doesn't anymore?

If you haven't read Polidori's novella and you like vampires, read it. It's sort of boring, but it's worth it for the history of vampire stories. Also, check out Varney the Vampire. (I know that was made into a play, but was it ever made into a movie)?

Thanks for answering my questions guys. :D You've officially relieved some of my shyness.:D

Sorry about what happened to your thread, S.:( The Scientology topic was really interesting, but it just ran over an skunk so we had to change the subject.

[Miss Olivia]

Those damn skunks.
At least the air smells way better in here, now.
The little woodland creatures are daring to poke their heads out of their holes as we speak....
It's a beautiful day, guys:)

[Elvis_Christ]

Religious Vomit

All religions make me wanna throw up
All religions make me sick
All religions make me wanna throw up
All religions suck
They all claim that they have the truth
That'll set you free
Just give 'em all your money and they'll set you free
Free for a fee

They all claim that they have 'the Answer'
When they don't even know the Question
They're just a bunch of liars
They just want your money
They just want your consciousness

All religions suck
All religions make me wanna throw up
All religions suck
All religions make me wanna BLEAH

They really make me sick
They really make me sick
They really make me sick
They really make me sick
They really make me sick
They really make me ILL

[The STE]

Originally posted by PR3SSUR3
Now perhaps we can get down to the nitty gritty.

Faith, or the reliance or trust in oneself, is natural and is refined with upbringing. Taking religion as its meaning of a system of faith and worship - even removing the familiar supernatural elements entirely for a moment - does not mean one should be labelled 'religious' or 'following a religion' simply because one can operate successfully from day to day and efficiently pursue love and ambition. The 'faith' is individuality and survival instinct, the 'religion' that is borne from this daily repetition is merely straightforward common sense - to not persist with aims and purpose is to stay still, or regress. Humanity is the culmination of these things, plus compassion, and it is also not a 'religion' - to practice social relations and act on instincts while supressing others are traits we have learned over millions of years.

So your broadening of the term religion is seeping into biology, science and mathematics and being used somewhat incorrectly.

Incidentally I would not consider myself to be an 'atheist', either. Must I 'become' a type of person for not believing in the fanciful concept of a God or Gods? I think not - I'll leave it to the nutters to create their own labels for their strange lifestyles, though they're perfectly entitled to call me an atheist or anything else from the other side of the fence.

STE: the religions that are producing so many negative people commiting so many negative acts are obviously severely flawed, or this would not be happening. Even if those people are not remotely interested in the religion itself and only wish to exploit it in order to gain control of others, the religion cannot remain blameless as its pompous and superior stance is just asking for exploitation and its dangerous persuasive power to be used for ill gains. If a film or book caused so much trouble it would be shut down or banned as a serious threat. Come to think of it, that's just what they should do with The Bible, The Qur'an, The Mahabharata, and The Granth Sahib and definately The DaVinci Code (whoops apocalypse!). Not all religions are tainted with the bad reputations of their preachers (Catholics) and followers (Islam), but it goes to show they can be all open to criminal misuse once they are given significance.

I guess you're also clinging on to the 'you can't prove God does not exist' angle. I can prove that the text in The Bible about when and how the earth and its creatures were created is a load of nonsense (I don't actually own any fossils, but there are plenty about), and since this tome is The Man's bestseller one would think it to accurately interpret his work. Not looking good for The Jewish or Christian God then, unless someone made some incredibly huge typos of course, which is possible ("Six BILLENIA!? I thought you said six DAYS!!". Maybe he meant six cosmic days?).

Of course I'm concentrating on the religion I am most familiar with - just like I'll concentrate on horror films instead of Westerns yet discuss films in general. It's hardly ignorant. Fundamentally, the core principles of loyalty, respect and commitment are all the the same, whatever the individual rules of each religion.

A shame Haunted has left the conversation, perhaps to prepare some more fascinating cinematic allergories she believes far too deep for the rest of us to have to put up with. Yet nobody called her a hippy or non-watcher of horror films. Come on Haunted, we can all go through the old film school/media course notebooks and furrow our worthless brows a little - so let's hear your thoughts.

Again, you're taking the bible literally. Not even everybody who believes in the bible does that. And I'm not 'clinging' to anything. I'm stating a fact: that there is no proof of something means just that: no proof. Not that it doesn't exist, just that there is no proof. And since there's no proof on EITHER side, it's pointless to bring it up. Look, if some religious nut came in here 'tarding the board up about how we should all convert (wouldn't be the first time), I'd be making the same point against them: no proof, so it's useless to bring it up.

And the fact that people use religion to commit atrocities only proves that PEOPLE are flawed. Example: Islamic religion says that if so much as a tree dies for your cause then it's not a true holy war. Yet, here's a bunch of nuts flying various airbourne vehicles into buildings in the name of Islam. Now, in what way is that Islam's fault? It isn't. It's the people's fault, NOTHING else's. The people who do these things are terrible people who would kill anyways, just under the guise of something else.

[monalisa]

Originally posted by The STE
Fuck hippies.

Will ya??? I'm not a hippie, but I used to see a lot of Grateful Dead concerts (but I've always had a full time job and I bathe daily). Hehe, just kidding Sam! HUMOR is a good thing, even if we don't share the same sense of humor!!!!!

Lighten up people!

And yes, I am deliberately going back to a less serious post because frankly, you're all making my brain hurt. And yes, I know that's my problem. blah blah blah....

[Elvis_Christ]

Originally posted by monalisa
I'm not a hippie

[Dante'sInferno]

Originally posted by Elvis_Christ

I guess i'm a new generation hippie...or something.:confused:









:D ,hehehehehe

[monalisa]

Originally posted by Elvis_Christ

Now, if I could have a toy that did that, minus the cricket and splinters, I'd be set!!!! :D

[PR3SSUR3]

Again, you're taking the bible literally. Not even everybody who believes in the bible does that. And I'm not 'clinging' to anything. I'm stating a fact: that there is no proof of something means just that: no proof. Not that it doesn't exist, just that there is no proof. And since there's no proof on EITHER side, it's pointless to bring it up. Look, if some religious nut came in here 'tarding the board up about how we should all convert (wouldn't be the first time), I'd be making the same point against them: no proof, so it's useless to bring it up.

And the fact that people use religion to commit atrocities only proves that PEOPLE are flawed. Example: Islamic religion says that if so much as a tree dies for your cause then it's not a true holy war. Yet, here's a bunch of nuts flying various airbourne vehicles into buildings in the name of Islam. Now, in what way is that Islam's fault? It isn't. It's the people's fault, NOTHING else's. The people who do these things are terrible people who would kill anyways, just under the guise of something else

I've already given you an angle on all of these elements.

I cannot possibly cover the ins and outs of every single person's ideal version of a religion, but you highlight yet another flimsy aspect to it when it comes to people choosing which bits of an order they will not subscribe to or convince themselves not to understand because they are difficult or do not fit in with their way of life. Yet religion is supposed to be a way of life - if you're going to doctor the doctrines to suit, the power of the principles is weakened and lost. So not taking The Bible literally is very convenient indeed, and quite self serving - God will be turning in his massive grave upon hearing about all these half-hearted children of his 'kind of' listening to him, filtering bits out. I would prefer God's hatred to his indifference, and I'm betting he'd really prefer the same the other way around - at least He'd know where He stood. God set his commandments in stone - things do not come much more literal or specific than that. 'The Lord Works In Mysterious Ways," they say... a statement as meaningful as 'The Dog Ate My Homework'.

A preacher comes up to a paleontologist with news of a 'thing'. The paleontologist asks him to prove it. "Er...no," he says, "you must prove I have not got it!". "But," the paleontologist reples, "why must I have the responsibility to prove your non-'thing'? Can you bring it to me and show me it?". The preacher looks worried. "Tell you what," the paleontologist concludes, "I've just done it - there, it has no validity, it is as insubstantial as an idea, it does not exist. I laugh at the absurdity of your 'thing'! Back to the drawingboard!". As the man walks away, the preacher persists in shouting after him; "But... but you proved nothing!" "Whatever you say," the man replies, tossing him a fossil, "...have a nice day!".

I've already given you reasons why religion is to blame for world atrocities in my previous post. If we are to consider in the case of Islam that Muhammad decided its followers must surrender to the will of Allah, this placed an enormous and growing ball of power at the feet of its subsequent preachers. No wonder such a collosal, and dangerously repressive ideology is being abused by nutters who know how to talk the talk.

Religion does not create itself. It is created, embraced, transformed, exploited and spat out by people. The concept is unnecessary and a bane on modern human life.

[Haunted]

Originally posted by monalisa
Will ya??? I'm not a hippie, but I used to see a lot of Grateful Dead concerts (but I've always had a full time job and I bathe daily). Hehe, just kidding Sam! HUMOR is a good thing, even if we don't share the same sense of humor!!!!!

Lighten up people!

And yes, I am deliberately going back to a less serious post because frankly, you're all making my brain hurt. And yes, I know that's my problem. blah blah blah....

I too bathe and shave my legs, arm pits, etc. I wear Degree Ultra Clear Pure Satin Deoderant, and sometimes a light perfume. (I like to smell nice.:p ) I might also go so far as to wear a little mascara and lip gloss.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not prissy, but I do celebrate womanhood. It comes with being a modern Priestess of the Goddess. (There's pie in your eye for all the naysayers and bullshit spewers! My spirituality affects me and me alone... The Goddess doesn't want my money, other people to follow Her, or any other such stupid material crap. She just wants me to keep everything in perspective and love myself as much as She loves me, so the rest of you jokers can bugger off)!

Look, I honestly have a major problem with censorship. So, you're free to think and say what you like whether you can back up your claims or not, which a few of you haven't been able to do so.

Here's the twist. Many of you have claimed that certain religious groups have demanded the power to think for you. In many ways, and in many traditions, you couldn't be more correct. As a matter of fact, the topic of this thread was about that subject to begin with, right?

The thing is, though, I see you as allowing either science (which is a sort of religion itself if you get down to brass tacks of what religion really is...that being an explanation of how things work, why, and where we fit in with all of this) or you allow the cynicism of pop culture make those dicisions for you (i.e., It is radically uncool to have any other paradigm than nihilism). It's all the same.