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1320

Really? Well thats a surprise. (fullpunch.com)

submitted ago by thisisamusing

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[–]notstacy 15 points16 points ago

The term atheism originated from the Greek ἄθεος (atheos), meaning "without god(s)", used as a pejorative term applied to those thought to reject the gods worshipped by the larger society.

[–]AtomAntEater 40 points41 points ago

Citation needed.

Also, Octopi have nine arms.

[–][deleted] 15 points16 points ago

Two authoritative books on usage say people who use the word "octopi" are pretentious and inaccurate.

See Fowler's Modern Usuage and Garner's Modern American Usage.

[–]FrisianDude 6 points7 points ago

Fairly sure Octopuses, Octopodes and Octopi are all valid.

[–]JakalDX 9 points10 points ago

Octopi is the least correct. Common usage doesn't make it correct. Octopodes is the most correct.

[–]hotrob 20 points21 points ago

Common usage does indeed make words correct, given enough time. Words are defined retrospectively by how they're used, not by dictionaries in advance, so if the world (went mad and) started using octopi most often then that would be the most correct.

[–]JakalDX 5 points6 points ago

I actually agree with you on that, because I believe language is very fluid, but from an etymological standpoint it is strictly incorrect. It's mixing Greek and Latin and doesn't make any sense.

[–]hotrob -2 points-1 points ago

And I fully agree with you too, it's a mongrel etymologically, but then even your 'standpoint' is a portmanteau of proto-germanic and old French (with latin background) words, just from long enough ago that we've forgotten how strange it must've sounded to begin with.

I love the fact that we have these rules which we try to follow, but basically as a group we go with what sounds good and is remembered. Luckily for us here that's unlikely to happen with octopi!

[–]Stop_Pun_Threads 4 points5 points ago

You guys are the worst arguers I have ever seen.

[–]hotrob 0 points1 point ago

I can't deny it, you're right.

[–]SOMETHING_POTATO 0 points1 point ago

Then we shouldn't get to say "sociology"

[–]RIP_Opus 0 points1 point ago

If you say popular usage has I say fuck popular usage. -George Carlin

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

Octopodes is the most correct in Greek; octopuses is the most correct in English.

[–]Barney21 0 points1 point ago

Octopodes is wrong. There's a joke in the Fellowship of the Rings I'm pretty sure is about this. Frodo thanks the Proudfoots and they correct him by saying Proudfeet.

The joke is that the Proudfoots are wrong about their name. If they were a type of foot, then they would be Proudfeet, but foot is only descriptive in their name. They aren't actually feet.

[–]stardonis 1 point2 points ago

Common usage does actually make it correct. It just has to cross that line in the vernacular. We are the ones that give words power.

[–]triviatuesday 0 points1 point ago

If saying octopi is pretentious, people who argue about octopi vs. octopodes are pretentious to the power of douche.

[–]rasputine 3 points4 points ago

The word "Octopus" is English, and pluralizes as "Octopuses"

It is based of Greek roots, and in Greek would pluralize as "Octopodes"

It has no relation to Latin. Pluralizing it as "Octopi" is senselessly pretentious and has no basis in any rules of grammar.

[–]FrisianDude 1 point2 points ago

Senselessly pretentious is a large claim to make when the majority of the people saying 'octopi' simply learnt that as being the correct one.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

I'm positive they are not.

(see above citations)

[–]FrisianDude 1 point2 points ago

Those aren't citations, those are just "I claim this is in these books you're unlikely to have anyway. " :P But seeing as my claim is based on "I think I read this in a different post on Reddit" you might be closer to the truth. :P

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

Sorry for assuming that those who are interested could find the entry for "octopus" in a usage guide. I forgot I was posting in r/atheism. For those of you who'd like to research a point of usage, but aren't familiar with alphabetical order, the pages presenting the information cited are 408 and 584, respectively.

You can also check Wilson Follett's guide to Modern American Usage on page 175,

[–]smallfried 1 point2 points ago

Thank you, but I'll just go with Kory Stamper, associate editor at Merriam-Webster

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

Henry Fowler wrote the Concise Oxford Dictionary and Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. The Times described him as as "a lexicographical genius." The Times described his Modern English Usage as a "formidable book." Winston Churchill demanded that all his officials read it. It is the undisputed king of usage books.

Next I cited Garner's Modern American Usage, perhaps the best-known contemporary work on usage. David Foster Wallace wrote: "The fact of the matter is that Garner's dictionary is extremely good ... Its format ... includes entries on individual words and phrases and expostulative small-cap MINI-ESSAYS." Garrison Keillor said the book was one of the 5 most useful in his library.

The other book I cited is similarly bad ass, in my opinion.

But Kory Stamper on the other hand, oh wait, what's this? She's just PARAPHRASING THE FACTUAL INFO FROM GARNERS, YET IGNORING THE USAGE ADVICE HE GIVES. Like I said, octopi is incorrect and octopodes is pedantic.

[–]rasputine 0 points1 point ago

there's one problem: octopus isn't latin. It's in fact ultimately from Greek, but that's OK: some smarter grammarians figured this out and gave the plural of octopus the Greek ending it needed and hence we have octopodes.

[–]FrisianDude 0 points1 point ago

I'm not even natively Anglophone; I don't know how to find American usage guides. :P

[–]AtomAntEater 0 points1 point ago

I also happen to hang my toilet paper in the under position.

[–]Gr1pp717 1 point2 points ago

to actually answer the question:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination_against_atheists#Ancient_times

see the last sentence in that section for real citations.

[–]Jsiw1017 -1 points0 points ago

Here! Citation of the accurate plurality. http://i.imgur.com/Bhnvk.png

[–]desenagrator -1 points0 points ago

Who needs citations when there's text on a picture?

[–]NGeX 51 points52 points ago

Ok completely unrelated to topic, but that videogame from which you pulled this artwork is my favourite strategy game ever :3

[–]thetokenginger 16 points17 points ago

I used to play the hell out of that game, but I've since lost it. Could you tell me what it was called, I've been wanting to play it again for ages.

[–]NGeX 30 points31 points ago

Zeus: Master of Olympus by Sierra Games

[–]thetokenginger 4 points5 points ago

Cheers bud, much appreciated

[–]DinosaurHelmet 13 points14 points ago

There is also an expansion called Poseidon.

Both are available on GOG.com for 5 dollars (DRM-free).

[–]bayareaguy26 4 points5 points ago

What?? There's an expansion? Shut up and take my money GOG!

[–]DinosaurHelmet 1 point2 points ago

Entirely new set of buildings/gods.

You play in the lost society of Atlantis in the middle of the Atlantic ocean.

[–]readyno 6 points7 points ago

Fucking centaurs ruined shit every time!

[–]FrisianDude 1 point2 points ago

Nah man, I ruined their shit.

[–]TyBegs 1 point2 points ago

Word. I'm so happy others here have played and enjoyed this game. :D *im not the only one, yay!

[–]stone_solid 1 point2 points ago

new buildings, gods, resources, and they fixed some of the stupid bugs from the first game (can't rotate horse ranch, spamable sheep placement instead of having to click a clear square)

[–]Gnippots 1 point2 points ago

There is also an Egyptian version called Pharoah and a bunch of Roman empire games (Caesar series) They're all good little time-sinks.

[–]foolfromhell 0 points1 point ago

I tried CaesarIV when it came out and it was bugged to hell. Did it get any better?

[–]TheActualAWdeV 0 points1 point ago

Yes. And it kicks ass. New faction with new buildings and troops, two new gods, a bunch of new campaigns and it's aaawesome.

[–]Vulturas 0 points1 point ago

Fuck it, I know what I'm doing this week-end!

[–]flamingsnot 0 points1 point ago

Also try Pharaoh and Pharaoh: Cleopatra also by Sierra. Same deal, only older and set in Egypt, obviously.

[–]NGeX 0 points1 point ago

Wasnt there a China one too?

[–]flamingsnot 0 points1 point ago

not sure, there was Caesar though.

[–]stone_solid 6 points7 points ago

dude came here to say this... I still have this game installed and play it pretty regularly.

[–]NGeX 0 points1 point ago

Gah! I lost the CD too :( Lucky!

[–]stone_solid 0 points1 point ago

http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/zeus_poseidon

[–]Grindstone50k 2 points3 points ago

FUCK YOU ARES FOR SMASHING DOWN MY WALL DO YOU KNOW HOW FUCKING LONG THAT TOOK TO BUILD AND NOW YOU WANT A FUCKING TEMPLE FUCK YOU.

I never got along with the gods very well.

[–]Bekenel 0 points1 point ago

i lent my copy to a friend and have never got it back :/ i miss it. it was very satisfying

[–]NGeX 1 point2 points ago

It made so much more sense in terms of mechanics to Pharaoh/Cleopatra and Caesar II

[–]Bekenel 0 points1 point ago

i'll agree there, but not to say that those weren't any good as well, i thoroughly enjoyed both of those - i played caesar III, not II though, not sure of the big differences between them. Zeus made more sense but i loved all of them.

[–]henryhillfiger34 0 points1 point ago

I played that game when I was young. I just recently bought it and WOW. i fucking love this game. so relaxing

[–]Alexcameron89 0 points1 point ago

Agreed, I really wish they'd make another strategy game like it. That and Pharaoh were amazing!

[–]foolfromhell 0 points1 point ago

The entire series is some of the best I've ever played.

I particularly liked Pharoah and Cleopatra.

[–]flamingsnot 1 point2 points ago

Definitely. I played the Hades out of this when I was 14. Pretty much shaped the way I like complex strategy-centric games than flashy fluff games.

[–]Zogindax 0 points1 point ago

Go here for player made adventures!!

[–]RandomExcess 5 points6 points ago

Did the Romans really use the word atheists or did they use a word that we translate today as atheists?

[–]Tuna-Fish2 4 points5 points ago

Well, Latin (and Greek) for atheist is atheos. Close enough?

[–]regalph 2 points3 points ago

TIL Romans were bad at counting.

[–]buncle 4 points5 points ago

Well they didn't have a numeral for zero, so '1' was as close as they could get.

[–]chocomator 1 point2 points ago

Well, if you can call that a god...

[–]DancesWithPugs 3 points4 points ago

^ New poster for the Hobbit?

[–]kohula 2 points3 points ago

This picture is based on the Greek mythology game Zeus; thankfully, the Roman Empire adopted these same gods (however naming them differently based on the planets). Still relevant, but slightly incorrect usage of the picture since Roman Empire =/= Greece.

[–]Xeonneo 1 point2 points ago

I.. I thought we named the planets after the Roman gods, not the other way around...

[–]kohula 1 point2 points ago

Well yes technically, those who discovered the planets used the Roman named gods to name them i.e.: "Venus, the planet that appears the brightest, was named after the Roman goddess of beauty, while the reddish Mars was named after the god of war."

I should have worded it that the planets were based on the Roman gods' names, not the other way around (my mistake). credit - http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=372

[–]FriendlyCommie 3 points4 points ago

I've been sitting on this for a while, but is anyone else pissed off that "new user" is a category? Like the most important thing about this post is that the person who posted it is new?

[–]wakMrow 11 points12 points ago

Its meant to warn of possible troll user accounts.

[–]carbonsabre 1 point2 points ago

those damn atheists

[–]pettylarceny 1 point2 points ago

I visited some Roman catacombs in France last year, and was surprised to discover that Christianity was referred to in documents from the area as a "cult". The word became integrated into French, and is still used now as a translation for "organized religion" in general.

[–]FrisianDude 6 points7 points ago

? Of course Christianity started as a cult in the Roman empire. This shouldn't be news.

[–]pettylarceny 0 points1 point ago

No need to be a dick about it...I just hadn't assumed that the origin of the word "cult" was a) that old, or b) used to refer to Christianity.

[–]religion_is_a_lack 5 points6 points ago

All religions start as cults.

[–]crutcher 6 points7 points ago

All religions ARE cults.

[–]brainiac1515 0 points1 point ago

Solid snake Mars

[–]YodaManJenkins 1 point2 points ago

Zeus must masturbate alot.

[–]Natchil 0 points1 point ago

UHHH i loved this game as a kid....fuck it was so god.

[–]tinkyXIII 0 points1 point ago

Zeus looks like he's gonna have to choke a bitch.

[–]herpaderp53 1 point2 points ago

I would've liked to be Greek. At least I would've gotten badasses that throw lightning. But NO, I get the talking bush.

[–]Seth_S 0 points1 point ago

So that means we can finally forget our differences and all get along!

[–]tahninial 0 points1 point ago

Is that Gordon Ramsey and The Ghost of Christmas Present?

[–]deRoyLight 0 points1 point ago

This picture really makes me want to play Age of Mythology. I know someone said this is Zeus: MOS. I don't care. I want to play AOS.

[–]SRKDranz3rr 0 points1 point ago

omfg master of olympus is my favourite game ever. i still have it except i cant play it on my mac. they should remake it because i probably spent months playing that game

[–]Benthos 0 points1 point ago

Is she holding a bowl of pickles?

[–]pokemon_rocks 0 points1 point ago

greatest games ever poseidon and zeus

[–]wpd121 0 points1 point ago

Checkmate Athiests?

[–]ichigo2862 -1 points0 points ago

damn, that pic almost makes me want to convert to greek polytheism now.

[–]xorfivesix 0 points1 point ago

Empires have disliked monotheism in the past. A Roman citizen, for example, was encouraged to worship whatever they liked as long as they asked their Deity to approve of the State, and they paid their tax on time. It was also preferred that you also worship your neighbor's god, or at least respect them- keeps the Empire strong and unified.

Some of the biggest mass murderers in history- Alexander, Caesar, Genghis Khan, have used religious toleration as a weapon to pit rulers against their people, and better facilitate their conquering or assimilation.

[–]El_Draque 0 points1 point ago

On the flip side, the Romans did not refer to themselves as pagans. "Believers in Jupiter, Minerva, and Mars did not think of themselves as “pagans”: the word, which appeared in the late fourth century, is etymologically related to the word “peasant.” It is an insult, then, a sign that the laughter at rustic ignorance had decisively reversed direction" (Greenblatt, The Swerve).

The Romans considered the Christians unsophisticated rubes and mocked their religion while studying atheist Greek philosophers like Epicurus.

[–]Wedhro 1 point2 points ago

According to Ottorino Pianigiani's "Etymologic Vocabulary of the Italian Language" the term pagàno ("pagan") comes from the latin pagus, the hill around which many villages or towns were built in order to have a place to hide and defend against invaders.

According to Pianigiani the inhabitants of such rural towns were called pagani by the new christian ruling class because they used the pagus to worship their "false" gods and to resist forced conversion.

[–]Jakeinspace 0 points1 point ago

Fucking loved that game as a kid! Now i'm training to be an architect...

[–]NiallJR 0 points1 point ago

Zeus: Master of Olympus

[–]KangarooLemonade 0 points1 point ago

According to data extrapolation, we'll one day worship -1 gods.

[–]hcumberdale1 0 points1 point ago

Hipster Ancient Christians : Atheists before it was cool.

[–]strangebill -1 points0 points ago

Thumbs up for Zeus: Master of Olympus photo.

[–]fromwithinitrises 0 points1 point ago

Well, no, I'm afraid this can't be true. I'm sure the Romans did attack Christians for not believing in THEIR gods but 'atheist' is very strictly construed as lacking any belief in a deity.

You are rather unintelligent if you can't work that out

[–]figsnake19 0 points1 point ago

Obviously an analogy; 5 guys eating ms piggy.

[–]CaptainJester42 0 points1 point ago

Zeus's beefy left arm makes me think he masturbates constantly...Just saying

[–]sygede -1 points0 points ago

i love this game. it was called zeus or something

[–]cwinters15 0 points1 point ago

Christianity is a polytheistic religion. Read Genesis, god talks to the COUNCIL OF THE GODS. It's only till later did Christians embrace monotheism. Give me one minute and I'll cite this. Edit GN 1:26 (God says 'let us make humans in our image GN 3:22 talks to other gods. There was another line but i can't find it.

[–]Logic_is_Gump 1 point2 points ago

He could have been referring to the holy trinity (father, son, holy spirit).

[–]cwinters15 0 points1 point ago

Well that wouldn't work because Jesus wasn't in the old testament considering it was written almost 2000 years before his birth. The bible itself is derived from other mythologies, such as the Babylonian texts and some Egyptian texts. Plus the idea of the holy spirit wasn't introduced till I believe Ezekiel. Also if I remember correctly, there is an allusion to the "council of gods" in genesis somewhere. If I find it, I'll quote it, I just have to read through again.

[–]Whosyourmomma 0 points1 point ago

Which is three different things, ergo POLY.

[–]Outofmany 0 points1 point ago

Not to me, I've often felt that Christians are the atheists of religion because they don't have any form of mysticism left. If you aren't trying to talk with spirits or what have you, you can't be that serious about your religion.

[–]IAMTHEMARIO 0 points1 point ago

This is from the game Zues: Master of Olympus... Such a good game

[–]ComradeSnuggles 0 points1 point ago

The original page this is from seems to be a bunch of random facts taken from /r/todayilearned slapped over vaguely related photos. No sources or supporting info.

[–]Mozen 0 points1 point ago

This is the art to the Sierra game Zues: Master of Olympus.

[–]KDIZZLL2 0 points1 point ago

And those gods the romans were worshiping are the same gods satanists worship today.

[–]SubtleMockery 0 points1 point ago

I find it hard to believe that the terminology was the same.

[–]Logic_is_Gump 0 points1 point ago

To be precise, they were called atheists because they believed in an invisible God (by the Romans' logic, their gods weren't invisible because there were statues of them).

[–]Haplo12345 0 points1 point ago

Oh god I miss Impression Studios

[–]xcgirl95 0 points1 point ago

Not really, atheist means "without god." technically they would be monotheists

[–]sdawsey 0 points1 point ago

I'm going to need a source on this.

[–]badnote 0 points1 point ago

Ummm no. they are monotheists

[–]PullOutBoy 0 points1 point ago

these gods are bad ass, the abrahamic gods are douches and weak pussies

[–]tametu 0 points1 point ago

That depiction of Bacchus bothers the fuck out of me.

[–]petzl20 0 points1 point ago

God has some guns.

[–]Sokonomi 0 points1 point ago

Scumbag christians,

Oppress people into believing in less gods because roman gods are silly, bitch about being oppressed by people who believe in one less god.

[–]SnakeMan448 0 points1 point ago

I didn't know that Brian Blessed was a deity once.

[–]RedTheDraken 0 points1 point ago

Well of course, think about it. Greeks had, like, the coolest gods EVER, and then these guys show up and they only believe in one, obscure, boring god?

[–]saydbar -1 points0 points ago

I don't think that's true...

[–]Tuna-Fish2 2 points3 points ago

I've certainly come across it in a couple of old Roman sources. They also used it for Jews. Generally, in Roman society you could worship any god you wanted so long as you acknowledged that the Roman gods were also true. If you didn't, well, the Roman state and the Roman religion were rather intertwined (the treasury of the Temple of Jupiter was the treasury of the state...), so denying the gods was seen as attacking the state itself. This worked well for many polytheists, not so well for monotheists.

[–]Anq 0 points1 point ago

Those would be the Greek ones.

[–]antonarn1991 -1 points0 points ago

You are aware that Romans had the same gods as the Greeks right?

[–]Anq 0 points1 point ago

Yes, I am well aware that Romans borrowed from the Greeks. To say that they were the same is a severe oversimplification, however, and since the picture is one taken from a game created around the Greek pantheon, I merely felt like pointing it out. Sir.

[–]chocomator 0 points1 point ago

?

[–]BearCutsBody -3 points-2 points ago

Yeah, Christians have been persecuted over the years. More affirming to me. A lot of that persecution came from dirty governments. O_O

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