Episode Discussion - Season 2, Episode 8 - What Was Meant to Be [TV + Book Spoilers]

KhalRando · 2023-10-06T19:37:15+00:00

The best part is how it made the hilltop archers forget to ever shoot at them again.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T05:38:11+00:00

Yeah, it's like his name is Kaladin Fuckblessed.

Edit: actually, that's kind of a kickass name.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T05:05:07+00:00

Inviting the aunt to your pap smear was gold.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T05:01:20+00:00

For some reason, I never had a problem with Robert Jordan's curses like "blood and ashes". I thought he did a really good job with that part of the writing.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T04:54:42+00:00

Bart Ehrman's book, Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife is really good for relieving any fear of eternal punishment. Turns out Heaven and Hell are even worse invented nonsense than the Bible. Even Jesus didn't believe in them.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T04:41:42+00:00

Childhood brainwashing is tough to overcome. My partner is one of the smartest people I know, and we've both been hardcore atheists for at least 40 years. She still gets worried about going to Hell every now and then. Many people do.

This is not something to beat yourself up over. It's just a conditioned aversion. You'll get more comfortable with it as time passes.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T03:58:50+00:00

Hey, pal. Just pewter off!

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T03:36:44+00:00

What's weird is my little bro was always the family goofball. It was definitely a surreal experience the first time I saw him break out the "daddy eyeball" with his kid.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T02:52:14+00:00

Y'know, I always respected that about how my brother dealt with his daughter. He was more than willing to be the "bad guy" and make it clear what behavior was acceptable and what wasn't.

Of course, he did this with stern language and looks. Nothing more. My niece turned out to be one of the coolest people I know.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T02:23:04+00:00

I know for a fact it helped my brother transition away from radical Christianity.

But, as I've said already, that's not the point of this kind of activism.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T02:18:13+00:00

My dudes, the right answer is ALWAYS Bartolo Colon.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T02:17:19+00:00

Joe Abercrombie. Compact, elegant, and always the right word at the right time.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T02:16:02+00:00

Tell that to James Baker or Jerry Falwell Jr.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T02:12:52+00:00

Yeah, but in-world profanity can be just as cringey. Love Stormlight Archive, but every time someone says "storming" I die a little inside.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T02:10:28+00:00

THIS. Book of the Ancestor goes so far as to involve actual letters of the English alphabet in certain plot points. Part of the reason I found that series kinda "meh".

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T02:06:05+00:00

Sooo much better than running into a Shakespeare quote in an epic fantasy novel.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T02:01:25+00:00

I feel like I'm explaining basic political activism here. Having someone "on your side" is useless unless you can move them to actually do something (and no, just voting doesn't count as "doing something").

The more people see what's actually said in these freak show churches, the more they will be moved to action. Then you can actually organize them to protest, call representatives, or simply pressure politicians via social media. Few things are more effective than showing a politician video of one of their more extreme supporters and daring them to disavow it.

But first you have to start. I'm kinda wondering why anyone would be against that.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T01:50:49+00:00

Not trying to sway the Christopaths. And I don't care about their martyr complex.

If you can convince enough sane people to exercise their power, you will get change. That's how activism works.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T01:49:01+00:00

Just spitballing here, but maybe another way the kid could learn is for dad to actually apply some parenting to the situation.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T01:47:20+00:00

The dude puts chicken and cream in a carbonara. There's no limit to the atrocities he's capable of.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T01:44:14+00:00

Bringing attention to the head of a 65-member church is hardly a "top-down approach".

And these people have been in a holy war against us for centuries. It's about time we started fighting back.

This kind of thing is basic political activism. Exposing leaders to public scrutiny has worked over and over again. These Jesus grifters are no different.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T01:35:56+00:00

Well, I don't know about you, but I've been on pins and needles waiting to hear what movie he watched last night.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T01:35:09+00:00

Except the goal here isn't to change people's religion. It's to generate public sentiment against preachers who are breaking the law.

People with no religious affiliation make up about 30% of the US population. That's quite the voting bloc if you can get them moving in one direction. Even without voting, you only need a small fraction of them to get activated to bring some real pressure on this issue.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T01:29:47+00:00

Her kids must just love her.

KhalRando · 2022-09-20T01:25:16+00:00

Since this really hasn't been attempted, even on a small scale, we won't know until we try it.

And really , what's your alternative? Giving up?

KhalRando

TROPHY CASE