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This defunct webzine was dedicated to exploring this:

https://web.archive.org/web/20170131065733/http://ropeculture.org/

But what say you?

A post I made about a week ago. This idea deserves more development.

https://www.upgoat.net/viewpost?postid=67e8bb9a233e3&commentid=67e9d40643a0f

The homeless come in all kinds. Lots of mentally ill. I've been told up to 40%. But I suspect much of that is just mistaken drug addiction. The stereotype is basically three sorts or a combo - criminals that can't get a job or housing, drug addicts, or crazy. Some are just old a/o disabled and can't work.

Even the worst of them are better than the housed though usually. The housed work more, and thus prop up the system, pay more taxes, and thus prop up the system, and are less likely to be on relief, so don't bleed the system as much. Transients also leave less of a carbon footprint so are doing less to destroy the environment.

More:

https://www.upgoat.net/viewpost?postid=67ec31a21d007

This is already too easy actually.

Yes, the vast majority of historians, including those who are not religious, agree that Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish man who lived in the 1st century AD, existed as a historical figure, and Christianity was later built upon his life and teachings.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

Historical Consensus:

The question of Jesus' historicity was generally settled in scholarship in the early 20th century, with most scholars now agreeing that he existed.

Distinction between "Jesus of History" and "Christ of Faith":

Scholars make a distinction between the historical Jesus and the figure of Christ as portrayed in religious texts and beliefs.

Evidence for Existence:

Extrabiblical Sources:
Jewish and Roman historians, such as Josephus and Tacitus, mention Jesus, providing evidence beyond the New Testament.

Early Christian Writings:

The letters of Paul, some of the earliest surviving Christian writings, reference Jesus and his followers, including eyewitnesses like Jesus' brother James.

Lack of Debate in Antiquity:

There's no indication that writers in antiquity who opposed Christianity questioned the existence of Jesus.

Specific Events:

While there's no consensus on all elements of the biblical story, two events are widely accepted as historical: Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist and his crucifixion by the order of the Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate.

Guy Debord's "The Society of the Spectacle" argues that modern society is dominated by a "spectacle" – a pervasive system of images and representations that obscure real social relations and lead to alienation and passivity, ultimately serving as a tool of capitalist control.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of Debord's theory:

The Spectacle as a Dominant Force:

Debord argues that the "spectacle" has become the dominant force in modern society, replacing direct lived experience with mediated representations.

Commodity Fetishism and Alienation:

The spectacle is rooted in Marxist concepts of commodity fetishism and alienation, where commodities and their relations take on a life of their own, obscuring the real social relations that underpin them.

Passive Consumption and Conformity:

The spectacle encourages passive consumption and conformity, as individuals become increasingly focused on images and appearances rather than engaging in meaningful social action.

The Decline of Being into Having into Appearing:

Debord argues that the history of social life can be understood as "the decline of being into having, and having into merely appearing".

The Spectacle as a Form of Social Control:

The spectacle serves as a primary mechanism of social control, pacifying the masses and reinforcing the status quo.

Détournement and Culture Jamming:

In response to the power of the spectacle, Debord and the Situationist International advocated for détournement (or culture jamming), a tactic of turning the spectacle's own tools against itself.

Examples of the Spectacle:

Debord identifies various forms of the spectacle, including mass media, advertising, entertainment, and consumer culture.

The Society of the Spectacle as a Revolutionary Critique:

Debord's work is a radical critique of modern capitalism and a call for a revolutionary transformation of society.

The Spectacle as a Social Relation:

Debord emphasizes that the spectacle is not simply a collection of images, but rather a social relation among people, mediated by images.

The Spectacle as a Tool of Domination:

Debord argues that the spectacle is a tool of domination, used by the ruling class to maintain control over the masses.
The Spectacle as a "concrete inversion of life"
Debord argues that the spectacle is a "concrete inversion of life, an autonomous movement of the non living".

Incoming.

Yes, according to the New Testament, Saul (later known as Paul) had a transformative encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, where he heard a voice identifying Jesus and experienced a blinding light.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

The Encounter:

As Saul was traveling to Damascus to persecute Christians, he experienced a sudden, blinding light and heard a voice asking, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?".

Jesus's Revelation:

The voice identified itself as Jesus, whom Saul was persecuting.

Conversion and Ministry:

This encounter led to Saul's conversion and a profound transformation, ultimately resulting in his becoming a prominent figure in the early church, known as Paul the Apostle.

Biblical Accounts:

The story of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus is recounted in the Book of Acts, specifically in Acts 9:1-19, Acts 22:6-16, and Acts 26:12-19.
Not a physical encounter with Jesus during his earthly ministry
Paul did not physically encounter Jesus during his earthly ministry, but rather experienced the risen Christ in a transformative way on the road to Damascus