How is the FSM any more absurd than the Christian God?

Discussion in 'Religion Archives' started by wynn, May 7, 2012.

  1. wynn ˙ Valued Senior Member

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    Please discuss.
     
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  3. lightgigantic Banned Banned

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    Satire has a necessity to be more absurd than what it sets out to satirize
     
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  5. kx000 Valued Senior Member

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    Fraggle, f you don't believe in Spaghetti Monster then don't make a ass of yourself. It is easy to offend like that. My stance on FSM is he needs to be stopped at all costs!

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  7. Sarkus Hippomonstrosesquippedalo phobe Valued Senior Member

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    Rather depends on why one initially considers the FSM and/or the Christian God absurd.
    If the key points that one views as such are similar in both cases then it could be argued that they are similarly absurd, or similarly not absurd.
    Differences in absurdity can only come from the differences in concept or context, not their similarities.

    No it doesn't.
    Satire is merely the holding up of human shortcomings to ridicule.
    Exaggeration of the absurdity might be a tool employed by the satirist to do this, but it is not a necessity.
     
  8. lightgigantic Banned Banned

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    Perhaps that would make sense if satire was indistinguishable from that which it sets out to satirize.

    Of course the characterizing feature is what satire juxtaposes against in order to lend meaning to as a genre.

    In all cases what it juxtaposes against is something absurd.

    IF it was otherwise the FSM would be commonly understood as a pastiche as opposed to a parody

    :shrug:
     
  9. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    It's not satire, FSM is real. If you disobey, you will find yourself in the sea of hot tomato sauce for eternity.
     
  10. lightgigantic Banned Banned

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    Just imagine Sarkus's dilemma then of not only disobeying the FSM but also the standards of satire and parody
     
  11. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    I'm sure Sarkus would not dare to disobey his noodley master.
     
  12. Sarkus Hippomonstrosesquippedalo phobe Valued Senior Member

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    No, it makes sense if you know what satire is.
    You're conflating differing tools open to the satirist as though they are one.
    Juxtaposition is different to exaggeration, which is different to parody etc.
    And not all juxtaposition, exaggeration or parody is satirical.

    The point therefore remains that exaggerating/increasing the absurd is not a necessity of satire - as you stated previously with "necessity to be more absurd".
    Much of satire merely holds up a mirror to the pre-existing absurdity, with no need to exaggerate it.

    Given your assessment of necessary constituents of satire... :shrug:
     
  13. Sarkus Hippomonstrosesquippedalo phobe Valued Senior Member

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    He and I have an understanding.

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  14. lightgigantic Banned Banned

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    too late I'm afraid
     
  15. wynn ˙ Valued Senior Member

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    Absurdity is in the eye of the beholder.
     
  16. wynn ˙ Valued Senior Member

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    Well, I consider FSM a pastiche.

    I do not think that hostile/militant criticism or ridicule can actually lead to wholesome and lasting change, so I see no wholesome justification for satire or parody. They may surely be entertaining to some people / sometimes, a show of one's literary prowess, but beyond that, they are have no power to change people's lives for the better.
     
  17. lightgigantic Banned Banned

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    perhaps that would make sense if you could provide an example of satire that doesn't utilize juxtaposition

    all satire require juxtaposition - its what distinguishes it from the object it is satirizing ... or even a pastiche for that matter

    yet god can be a meat ball and hell can be tomato sauce, eh?



    correction

    None of it is

    Feel free to provide an example if you think otherwise.
     
  18. Jeeves Valued Senior Member

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    The Christian - and before that, Hebrew - god had its roots in a tribal identity and accompanied that tribe through its early history, its struggle toward nationhood, its cultural development. It had a deep and personal meaning for those people. Later, through many personality adjustments and additions that made it meaningful to a variety and succession of European congregations, the character of Jehovah accompanied Christians on their world-conquest. Such a character is not absurd at all. Terrifying, yes. Destructive and very often evil, yes. Not absurd.

    In contrast, the FSM is a cartoon; a figure invented all at once, entirely for satire, that has never been used to frighten or condemn or torch anyone. It this, it is perhaps a comforting idea, as well as a distorting mirror: its absurdity is used not only to deflate the Jehovah character, but to defang it.
     
  19. Robittybob1 Banned Banned

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    For the benefit of an innocent Christian what is the FSM? I assume the M stands for Monster.

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  20. wynn ˙ Valued Senior Member

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  21. GeoffP Caput gerat lupinum Valued Senior Member

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    Because it's a knowing, willful fabrication. It's not relevant.
     
  22. wynn ˙ Valued Senior Member

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    But do you agree that the Christian God is absurd?
     
  23. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    It is actually an argument against God. Since the evidence in favor of FSM is the same that is in favor of God, they can both be said to be equally true. It goes beyond mere parody.
     

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