Lover of Life
by Zeus

Comment by weegi70:
This is in the top of my images. Very well done. the writing is spot on, good Job.

Oh Porcelain God, I Pray to Thee!
by Zeus

Comment by Zeus:

Originally posted by Blackbox: If you look back in history, the record of the ancient egyptians is one of the most preserved. We all know about the different astrological symbols - constellations - they are sometimes called 'Houses' or 'Ages'. It takes approximately 2160 years for the earth to travel from one 'age' to the next. Right now, we are approaching the 'Dawn of Aquarius' - nobody is exactly sure of the date. If you subtract today's year, you will find that is roughly when 'Paganism' fell to christianity (in popular belief). Looking back further, into popular ancient egyptian symbols, you can find that the 'Ram' which represents the 'Age' of Aries dominated the ancient egyptian culture. Prior to that (roughly 2160 years earlier), it was the Bull of Taurus. So, naturally, when the early christians in trying to find the easiest way to convert people to their faith, used familiar and similar beliefs of the former Pagan culture to make the transition not so diffucult for people. The christian 'age' started in the 'House of Pisces' - the fish. That's the 'fish' I'm talking about.

VERY GOOD!, Blackbox! I've heard this before. ALSO, the "Age of Aquarius" also represents a discarding of the spitirual influence, replacing it with intellectual influences. I'm looking forward to that! Trouble is, at 49, I won't see as much of it as I'd like to.

Carl

Oh Porcelain God, I Pray to Thee!
by Zeus

Comment by Blackbox:
'HOLY SHIRT' - too funny! Yes, I've seen that 'Darwin' modification to the the christian 'fish' (which I think is also funny [to me] refering to the 'creationism vs. evolution' theories) but 'no', not the DARWIN fish.

If you look back in history, the record of the ancient egyptians is one of the most preserved. We all know about the different astrological symbols - constellations - they are sometimes called 'Houses' or 'Ages'. It takes approximately 2160 years for the earth to travel from one 'age' to the next. Right now, we are approaching the 'Dawn of Aquarius' - nobody is exactly sure of the date. If you subtract today's year, you will find that is roughly when 'Paganism' fell to christianity (in popular belief). Looking back further, into popular ancient egyptian symbols, you can find that the 'Ram' which represents the 'Age' of Aries dominated the ancient egyptian culture. Prior to that (roughly 2160 years earlier), it was the Bull of Taurus. So, naturally, when the early christians in trying to find the easiest way to convert people to their faith, used familiar and similar beliefs of the former Pagan culture to make the transition not so diffucult for people. The christian 'age' started in the 'House of Pisces' - the fish. That's the 'fish' I'm talking about.

Anyway, this is fun but sorry it's not really about your photo or photography which is what I guess we should be disgusting. I mean discussing. I personally can respect whatever anybody wants to believe in - it's nothing to go to war over.

Oh Porcelain God, I Pray to Thee!
by Zeus

Comment by Zeus:

Originally posted by Blackbox: I wonder if anybody noticed the subtle 'religious' symbols strategically placed on the shower curtain? There is that 'fish' that looks curiously like a christian symbol I've seen on the backs of cars in the form of bumper stickers or magnetic signs and also the 'star' which very much resembles an ancient egyptian symbol called a 'Duat' that represented the place where the Sun God Ra travelled thru the heavens.

You mean the ones with feet and the name DARWIN in it? Another sign of divinity is that HOLY SHIRT! It's of the "fishnet" style designed to harvest those religious symbols.

Oh Porcelain God, I Pray to Thee!
by Zeus

Comment by Nuzzer:
This is a great image that did not deserve it's placing. I didn't vote in this challenge but it would have got a 6 or higher from me. It is technically better than many that scored higher. I can see how those with "traditional" religious beliefs would be offended by the material and thus score this low. The topic description was however "What do you believe in?" so the image fits...the person being depicted clearly belives in drinking too much :)

I wonder if changing the title would have made a big difference to the score. "God help me for I have lost my way" may have appealed to the masses more as the message in the image would have turned from one of a godless person after too much drink to someone who understands they need help but feel powerless at present. Just my thoughts.

In any case, well done on an image that provokes discussion.

Oh Porcelain God, I Pray to Thee!
by Zeus

Comment by Zeus:

Originally posted by samanwar: In my opinion, this is a nasty and disgusting photo that has no artisitic value whatsoever. I didn't vote on this challenge but I would given it a 1. Disagree with me all you want, but respect my right to comment on the damn shot.

Sure. Actually, in this forum, comments are expected. At Burning Man, not necessarily. So comment away! You're on a roll!

Oh Porcelain God, I Pray to Thee!
by Zeus

Comment by samanwar:

Originally posted by Zeuss: alanfreed, samanwar, smardaz, you guys need to go there. You'll learn that if you don't like something you see, look the other way. Your way is OK for you, and some other way is OK for others.

Umm, wrong.. If I don't like something I see, I express my opinion about it, then I look the other way. I don't see anything wrong with that.
In my opinion, this is a nasty and disgusting photo that has no artisitic value whatsoever. I didn't vote on this challenge but I would given it a 1.
Disagree with me all you want, but respect my right to comment on the damn shot.

Oh Porcelain God, I Pray to Thee!
by Zeus

Comment by Blackbox:
I wonder if anybody noticed the subtle 'religious' symbols strategically placed on the shower curtain? There is that 'fish' that looks curiously like a christian symbol I've seen on the backs of cars in the form of bumper stickers or magnetic signs and also the 'star' which very much resembles an ancient egyptian symbol called a 'Duat' that represented the place where the Sun God Ra travelled thru the heavens.

Oh Porcelain God, I Pray to Thee!
by Zeus

Comment by Zeus:

Originally posted by SandyP: ...And that is that the only thing that shocks me about the whole thing is the statement that there is no evidence that there is a God.

Hi SandyP. Thanks for the comment.

You've probably given all the reasons you believe there is a god or a creator, and I'm sure you get a great overwhelming emotional responce from it, such as viewing the beauty of the snow capped mountains on a clear day, but if you look closely, you haven't given any evidence that points outside of the mind.

Because of that you have to rely on faith. Dictionary.com reports "FAITH" as: Belief that is not based on proof. That's a lot different than saying "There he is, behind that bush!"

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful."
- Seneca the Younger (circa 4 B.C.E - 65 C.E)

Oh Porcelain God, I Pray to Thee!
by Zeus

Comment by SandyP:
Whoah! There are quite some passionate opinions on this topic and photo aren't there. I guess I have one too :)

And that is that the only thing that shocks me about the whole thing is the statement that there is no evidence that there is a God. Wow! Looking at the amazing intricacies of science and nature, the life formations inside wombs that make survival possible in each species' own very particular environments, the position, orbit synchronization of the planets. The very beginning of the first anything. . .to think it all happened by accident, and even if it did. . .where did the conditions causing the "accident" come from. And that's not even to mention lives that have been completely transformed by surrendering their life to something bigger than themselves.

Sure. . .man has screwed it up royally. . .but that doesn't negate the reality of all the evidence that it was created by something MUCH more sovereign than us.

Well. . . .all that to say it just blows my mind that anyone could seriously not believe there is a God, but that's just me, and I totally respect others' right to feel differently.

The photo. . .aside from any religious statement whatsoever is just not an appealing photo. There's way too much red tones in it, and it just takes people to a place that not a soul on earth finds touching or moving or artistic or anything except to bad memories. Sorry.