I didn’t make any “jibes at some extreme forms of YEC”. It’s been nice talking to you.
You didn’t? What was that remark concerning things a few thousand years old then? About my faith? It sounded like it. I would be glad to learn that it isn’t so, if you have a good explanation. If you don’t have a good explanation then an apology would be in order.
Not that an apology or lack of apology would CHANGE my faith, of course. But it could change your relationship to God.
By the way Mr. “Sunken Civ” ... our America has no guarantee it will not sink too. Part of what was good (nothing was perfect, but there was much that was good) about old Americana has sunk, and badly. Maybe looking at more recent times WOULD be fruitful. Ancient arcanity is curious, but it’s already gone, usually with too few clues as to exactly why. America’s here and most of us are living in it, and its faiths of record are well known.
And yes, I’m irritated.
Maybe some of the insights of archeology could apply to trying to head off problems in the present day USA, but we have to be careful that what we call insights aren’t just circular reasonings.
We get ourselves all occupied with bread and circuses, of our own making if not the government’s, and forget what we need is a good moral rebuild job right now. Mock present day faiths all you want, but even an agnostic if honest would say this is it, doo-wop, as far as the spirituality we have available for all practical purposes.
And. About the beer. I think it reminds us of something great. That heaven is a joyful place. That was believed in during a time of great misery and pain! Now you might think that is mere escapism, but look at how many modern “Christians” wallow in thoughts of a grim, hateful God. No “beer” happiness in heaven for them! And they often only barely dare to think of wine (because it’s in the bible, after all), while not actually being willing to use it here. Seems that escapism isn’t necessarily the norm, and/or escapism can also be into regions that are grim, not just those that are happy.
Relativize heaven away all you want, but then don’t complain you are left with what was once considered man’s main ally, now all relativized away. You did it to yourself.