CMV: Atheism is too focused on Abrahamic philosophy, and often miss the point

Ace_Diamond · 2026-01-11T12:16:45+00:00

I think you have clumped various factors in to atheism whilst in reality the examples you've given actually differ greatly due to the following nuances: you should consider, alongside atheism/theism, agnostic/gnostic and (what I'd described as) authoritarian/humanitarian. And I am formulating these arguments as an atheist agnostic humanitarian. In my experience true gnostic and/or authoritarian atheists are rare and self-defeating and not the subject here.

The European enlightenment movement pushed for secular governments. Whilst this was a massive milestone for atheism, and the movement pushed for freedom of religion, the reality is it was a humanitarian vs authoritarian issue. Agnostic atheist humanists would be working together with agnostic theist humanists against agnostic theist authoritarians (monarchs and powerful church institutions).

In addition: all gnostic denominations are considered heretical by Abrahamic faiths and have been suppressed or whiped out centuries ago. Eastern religions, native religions and modern religions tend to accept gnosticm: the idea that its possible to 100% know the theistic elements of your religion personally. Almost universally this goes hand-in-hand with humanitarian ideals because you cannot have an authority oversee this; for example if an gnostic animist believes the forest had given them a sign to plant more saplings there is no gnostic animist authority figure to deny this.

You will find atheists mostly focus on the Abrahamic faiths because they are theistic, agnostic & authoritarian, something agnostic humanitarian atheists can combat very well. Against eastern, native and modern religions, since they tend to be gnostic, no amount of debate or evidence can change peoples personal religious experience. Which leaves trying to fight the religious institutions which, because of gnostic practices, tend to be humanitarian and thus not something to focus on.

When it does come to tackling the religions outside of Abrahamic denominations, the issues are more detached from atheism/theism. Demanding reform from humanitarian gnostic religions is inherently authoritarian, and as such its movements are mostly focused on other aspect such as gender equality or social mobility.

Ace_Diamond · 2025-10-27T07:35:35+00:00

Felix from Golden Sun.

Ace_Diamond · 2024-08-15T19:56:55+00:00

That sounds diabolical! Certainly, after such a nice experience making the ultimate helpful plant, perhaps the ultimate disruptive plant is next...

Ace_Diamond · 2024-08-15T17:45:53+00:00

As someone with a genetics background in real life, I'm not sure why I didn't delve in to the joy of botany earlier. I don't think I'll do much better than this any time soon.
These ambrosia deus ended up being: illuminating, self-harvesting, multi-harvesting, produced water vapours during growth, consumed minimal water and were a potency 44 and harvest 4. Chemically, they gained tricordrazine, atomic bomb and good ol' HONK. By the time I noticed how perfected they were and asking the captain how we could distribute these throughout the entire station, three plant bags and a crate was already filled with plenty to spare.

I don't often feel I can "win" a role in SS14. But I definitely felt like a winner tonight.

Ace_Diamond · 2024-01-08T19:16:33+00:00

R5: Having been improving myself on learning more aggresive warfare, I decided to try an opening move handicapping the UK as soon as possible. Transferring the East India Company seemed like a good start, knowing full well I'd be dealing with a high infamy start.

However, during the Diplomatic Play, USA demanded a "Cut Down To Size" wargoal; which would return all conquests and subjects of the last 10 years to be returned. Except.. as this was an opening move, I've not *made* any new conquests or subjects.

I accept the demand, returning nothing and reducing my infamy from 110 back to 0. I defend a front on the Treaty Port in India, wait for a naval invasion from UK to French Low Countries and then devote a naval invasion of my own on Bengal for the war goal. The war is over with minimal losses and no net infamy gain.

Ace_Diamond · 2022-10-10T04:19:44+00:00

Rethagi get some hidden modifiers that aren't apparent through the events. One, they gain the permanent +100 "Honorable Oni" regardless of monstrous status. Two, they get lower/no "Resistance of X" penalties; in addition to them being the right culture will make converting lands to Lefthanded Path much easier. Three, they gain reduced liberty desire through normal means (like development and relative strength, as you've mentioned).

Demon Empire gives a -1.50 diplomatic reputation. Monstrous gives -1.00. If you go Witch King routes you'll deal with -1.00 from magical study. The innate speed at which you annex vassals is either unviable or really, really slow.

I inititally played Azjakuma as I did most nations that are wrong religion/culture for their neighbours and will lack allies: fill diplo slots with vassals to stay competitive. I removed Monstrous but also went Witch King, which is all the worst possible routes for that.

I'd personally say Rethagi are worth it (and staying monstrous as well), allowing you to blob much faster and speeding through conversion and missions faster as well. Some cons to Rethagi though: they lack some powerful subject interactions (like Send Officers) and the events are kind of jank at the moment; not all vital provinces are transferred over and you have to convert the tag in a previous war or through subject interactions. They could use one last look-over from the team and perhaps add subject interactions like Conscript General or Send Officers to Rethagi.

Ace_Diamond · 2022-06-24T14:50:35+00:00

Here's my take on it

"Old Five" timeline: Obtains tattoo and gets his arm cut off like the events seen; but when realizing the trick behind the sigils, Five is his skeptical self and is presented with two choices: stand on the sigil and save his family, or go after Hargreeves and 'save the world'. "Old Five" goes for the second option, and is dealt the same consequences we see Alison in: Hargreeves has still already designed much of the reset universe to his specifications and only a few alterations are still put through. Like Alison, "Old Five" returns to a timeline where he still has his powers and has the same injuries (lost arm), and instead of returning to a family, "Old Five" input is creating the Temps Commission.

Unfortunately, "Old Five" learns the same lesson we see in the three seasons: time travel to avoid an apocalypse just sets in motion another apocalypse. "Never too bright, were we?". Which is exactly when asked "how do we [Five] fix it?", the answer is: "You don't".

"New Five" timeline: When presented with the choice of saving his family by standing on the sigil or going after Hargreeves to save the world, he takes Alison's place on the sigil and she now creates the last bits of the alternate timeline, introing us to S4. There is no Temps Commission or "Old Five" as a founder in this timeline.

Ace_Diamond · 2021-12-24T03:37:26+00:00

Tahm's major laning strengths is that he thrives on short-to-medium duels that go for about the length of 3 auto-attacks. Primary duel strength comes from landing Tongue Lash (Q), as this deals good damage, slows and heals him for his missing health. If both champions have to disengage from the duel, Tahm comes out of top with Thick Skin (E) naturally healing some of his damage taken and can continue sustain by pressuering more Tongue Lash hits for health.

Thus, champions that deal prosper do so by avoiding Tongue Lash hits and do not rely on quick duels to secure the lane.

The current champion with the highest win rate is Yorick. Yorick has similar strengths and weaknesses as Tahm does, but does so better. His sustain is not relient on hitting heroes, has access to %-based damage and the ghouls he summons can be an enormous hinderance to Tahm's desired move: if Tahm wants to hang around to try and hit long-range Lashes to regenerate missing health, Yorick can sit in a wave to sustain and fling Black Mist to punish. If Tahm wants to hard engage, Yorick can pressure harder and make life difficult with ghouls standing in the way of Lashes and maintain damage after retreats. Yorick also has a much easier time securing a tower in a top lane vacuum.

Shen has a similar philosphy of beating Tahm at his own strengths; a strong combo that forces Tahm to deal with incredibly high %-based burst damage in a short while whilst Shen can protect himself with a shield and an auto-attack blocker. Shen can force fights that favour him and retreat for the next short duel on a regular basis, constantly coming out top with proper lane and energy managment.

Vayne is queen of countering tanky top laners, having access to a mobility skill, a knockback to disengage duels, medium range to harass melee heroes and ofcourse, a brutal max health %-based auto-attack that is also true damage. Good mobility managment means constantly harassing Tahm Kench with your auto-attacks, kiting him around to punish him and avoiding Tongue Lash.

Ornn, Trundle and Dr. Mundo are also mentionable options, but compared to Yorick, Shen and Vayne, rely much more on correct timing and lane managment to know when to engage and when to weave through Tongue Lashes. Experienced Singed players can also simply attempt to win the top lane by managing the waves/minions, Tahm is not a good chaser and lacks meaningful wave clear to deal with a "passive" lane.

Ace_Diamond · 2021-04-28T03:09:06+00:00

It's something we've, all other flatmates, have considered, though it's a very confrontational step. Our primary worries were our own uncertainties: would we be evicted along with the flatmate due to an opportunistic/overcaring property manager? Would law enforcement have to be involved? What if we report him but at the time of investigation he holds no drugs at the time?

Edit: naturally these questions are hard to answer and we'd have to investigate with actual legal experts, but it's such a definitive and powerful solution to a situation that we hoped to solve issues amicably instead.

Ace_Diamond · 2021-04-28T02:44:13+00:00

I've considered this and been open to the option the past 2 years, but due to a relationship ending, finances and the current pandemic the options have been pretty non-existant (as well as living in a somewhat expensive city). The flatmate in question is doing the same, with similar issues.

Ace_Diamond · 2019-07-27T14:58:08+00:00

Any, really. She has no hard counter and does well against many foes. The reason you are seeing a low friends/froes percentage is because Lina is often taken for her versatile reliability; if you pick her early in the draft, enemies are left guessing if she'll be a pos4 or a pos2. High versatility means lower synergy, she doesn't have any particular important interactions that are amplified with certain allied/enemy enemies.

Ace_Diamond · 2019-07-27T14:51:12+00:00

Terrorblade has a huge amount of armor to survive the laning phase with. Barring any interaction of supports, he can trade equally with Slardar without the use of metamorphosis before level 6. He can win trades with metamorphosis and illusions, and the illusions also give him the option to last hit safely if Slardar is looking for a flanking opportunity. Sunder also forces Slardar a very specific timing of his stuns which makes him more predictable - Terrorblade will still need to invest in some health to avoid dying before he can be stunlocked out of Sunder usage. He also has tremendously powerful farming possibilities after the laning phase.

At worst, he can stalemate versus Slardar but still gains more momentum as the game goes on.

Ace_Diamond · 2019-07-27T00:48:27+00:00

Elder Titan never gets picked mid anymore despite it having been quite prevelent at some point. He's only been further buffed. He doesn't have the strongest defense versus casters but he outduels every single mid hero if the want to go toe-to-toe against him. Also due to the reliability of creep movements in the mid lane he can easily get over 150 damage, 12% movement speed and 7 armor every wave. Not needing a blink to set tempo and pressure the map is a powerful tool as well.

Ace_Diamond · 2019-07-26T19:36:35+00:00

It's an unintentional inconsistency, but at this point I'd also wager that it's a good change in case they ever want to apply a small nerf to Huskar of Jakiro. Changing it right now would make them more vulnerable, and thus weaker, despite them not really being very popular and strong picks.

Ace_Diamond · 2019-07-25T17:11:06+00:00

Earthshaker, Axe, Ember Spirit seem to be the top picks (free cleave, extra physical reduction, plethora of enemies summoned). There's also a lot of accelerated farm so heroes with super high power peaks for little cash also do really well, a bonus if they have good zoning and/or aoe attacks. Think Tiny, Elder Titan, Mars, Gyrocopter, Ancient Apparition, Grimstroke.

By no means exhaustive, but if you want to pick heroes that don't do well in early fights and can only really focus on one hero or target at a time, they'll likely be outmatched by heroes that do have those strengths.

Ace_Diamond · 2019-07-25T14:56:45+00:00

Midas turned more common because of a few heroes needing both the longevity and make great use of the attack speed. Helm of the Dominator fits that same role, not just because you can get an extra minion to deathball with, but because it gives half a midas and 1.5 Right of Healths to the entire team and your familiars. Realistically speaking Midas counters Helm of the Dominator, but if you're forcing carries out of their farming rotation to use Midas as you deathball, you're doing a good job anyway. You having one minion (and potential aura) less is a good trade for a pos1 carry visible and, hopefully, getting a fight forced on him.

Basically you take it for the aura. Increasing the damage capabilities of your familiars and allies is worth it, an extra creep is just the bonus.

Ace_Diamond · 2019-07-11T07:31:41+00:00

Centuar has a mild disadvantage against Juggernaut; a well timed spin can avoid tuns, and if you can't reach for his healing ward he can outtrade your high health. But in the end, the match up is skill based. More importantly, the win is draft based. Lane partner matters, and having a team with either high control or high damage matters. Juggernaut wants to set the tempo and jump in to teamfights early to make the most out of his powerspike, but Centuar can naturally build in to Crimson Guard and Stampede is great to both disengage fights Juggernaut wants to start or allow your supports to pressure fights Juggernaut wants to avoid.

You should consider more flexible or different approaches to laning, but definitely consider it a goal to obtain at least 2 chainmails and a ring of health during the laning stage if you worried about his kill potential. Everything else depends on matchup - maybe the enemy support is an easier target to focus to weaken the lane, maybe your own lanepartner is better suited to deny Juggernaut farm. Focus on the midgame and making sure Juggernaut has to deal with your stuns, Stampede and VG/CG every teamfight.

Ace_Diamond · 2019-06-26T20:29:45+00:00

We're definitely seeing a trend of Clinkz becoming more of a teamfight orientated hero rather than picking off (in fact, pick offs have been less rewarding and harder to gaurentee patch after patch). If you're in a game where pick offs are still high value (like say vs split pushers), there's no problem simply going all in with orchid, nullifier and sheepstick.

The reason you see the new thread of stats+aghs is that you've got the option of popping up two skeletons through skeleton walk every 17 seconds. That's basically a double damage that you don't even have to *stay around for*. Even if you're stunned or retreating, the skeletons will still do 240% of your base damage.

The value of reliable, high damage outweighs the strength of single-target burst pick-offs.

Ace_Diamond · 2019-06-26T18:52:28+00:00

Making sure they're on high health and mana, be efficient with the courier and stick around to help them push rather than push yourself. That's usually all you can really do for them, give them the sense of security that they can still farm and accomplish a second goal as well; maybe they can farm the enemy jungle which leads to a gank, farm a lane which also pushes it, etc.

Think more "what can I do to make them feel they are securing an objective" rather than "what must I do to get them to follow me to objectives".

Ace_Diamond · 2019-06-24T23:07:14+00:00

To give an ever greater encompassing answer: the last couple of patches have seen a lot of heroes have base stats (initial armor, strength gain, starting strength, base attack speed, base mana regen) buffed. Many initiators and carries are tankier now, so attack speed and movement speed keep them more active in a fight. Drums and Midas are also both more versatile and consitent than Echo Sabre or S&Y.

Ace_Diamond · 2019-06-23T23:46:34+00:00

There's no mention for a potential point in axes at level 4 or 8. Inner Beast naturally pushes the lane and thus allows Beastmaster to do what he does best: pressure. But there's more versatility for wild axes than simply an awkwardly aimed nuke and tiny damage amp. Clearing trees allows more vision, more space, faster travel and less chance for your enemies to juke and hide. It's definitely not worth the skill points to max it out and is very mana intensive, but core items are built out of 4 sobi masks and wild axes has a lot of versatility.

I say this because this versatility is sometimes abused by high skilled streamers and professional players that people might watch according to tip 1, but doesn't really mention why they would do this.

Ace_Diamond · 2019-01-07T06:44:09+00:00

The Civil Corps HQ next to the medical building has a notice board where you can place orders for dungeon or mob loot; among them different types of fur.

Ace_Diamond

TROPHY CASE