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Author Topic:   Does anyone else get really bothered by this?
Pisces-Sweety
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posted July 27, 2013 04:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Pisces-Sweety     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Since when did it become okay to make fun of people who pray or believe in God? I've come across some really horrible people who tried shoving their ridiculous opinion down my throat by trying to convince me that believing in God is stupid, or pathetic etc.. They talk as if what they're saying is fact. I know people who make fun of me for believing in god. I also know people who have "lost respect" for me for the same reason. People are free to believe in anything they want, and NO ONE has the right to shove their opinion down someone's throat.

Ps. I am NOT talking about ANY specific religion so please do NOT compare religions together or accuse any religion of anything. Please be respectful. Thank You.

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jellyfishtry
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posted July 27, 2013 05:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jellyfishtry     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

Agreed.

That is why when someone asks what my religion is, i tell them that is my ********* business not theirs...if anything i ask them to seriously live and let live.

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somethingexcellent
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posted July 27, 2013 06:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for somethingexcellent     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You don't need idiots in your life - you might lose IQ points. Fill your life with beauty and intelligence instead.

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Lexxigramer
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posted July 27, 2013 07:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lexxigramer     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Pisces-Sweety:
Since when did it become okay to make fun of people who pray or believe in God? I've come across some really horrible people who tried shoving their ridiculous opinion down my throat by trying to convince me that believing in God is stupid, or pathetic etc.. They talk as if what they're saying is fact. I know people who make fun of me for believing in god. I also know people who have "lost respect" for me for the same reason. People are free to believe in anything they want, and NO ONE has the right to shove their opinion down someone's throat.

Ps. I am NOT talking about ANY specific religion so please do NOT compare religions together or accuse any religion of anything. Please be respectful. Thank You.



Since when is it OK for people to shove religion down the throats of others?
I feel in my life to date I have had more people mistreat me, even physical hurt me from child to adulthood for not being a believer, for not praying.
I do not make fun of people personally as long as they do not shove it in my face.
And please do not tell people who do not share your beliefs that you will pray to them.
That is very rude and in essence a kind of mockery or even a threat.
I hear Christians b!tching that non Christians laugh at them;
but geeez...these same ones are often shoving their ways at others, even politically.
I have experienced personally too much abuse by religious people.
I would ignore them if they could bother to ignore me. But nooooo.....too many feel they have the right to laugh at the likes of me or worse, abuse, assault me, and or my child when little, but then whine when anyone laughs at them. They pray often wherever they are and make a big point to be obvious everywhere, like at football games and in public every chance they can create;
WITHOUT RESPECT FOR NON BELIEVERS around them;
and you know what?
I IGNORE THEM!
BUT IF I HAPPEN TO BE IN THEIR SIGHT, NOT PRAYING WITH THEM, I GET CONDEMNED.
They do not laugh at NON praying folks;
they go straight to self righteous anger.
So no,
I am not talking about you but have seen way more religious people do far more than laugh at non religious folks.
I don't know where you are at that ANYONE would choose to laugh at you for praying.
Are you doing it in inappropriate places?
If so how would you feel if a Satanist sat down beside you and started praying?
If you are NOT out in public making a spectacle out of yourself praying anywhere you want to, without respect for people who do not share your belief or desire to pray;
then I do not see why anyone would laugh at you.

You believe what you want.
Just don't shove it at me or do your thing in front of me and I will not bother you, if you do not bother me.
Keep your public praying to yourself; no putting on a show, we who do not believe do not want to see that display, it is rude.
Be assured no one cares that you pray in private.
Live and let live.

If I have upset you I apologize ahead of time just in case you are offended.

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Lexxigramer
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posted July 27, 2013 07:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lexxigramer     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Moving this to Divine Diversities.

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Kerosene
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posted July 27, 2013 07:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kerosene     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yeah, I think it's obnoxious of them to say that to you PS.
I avoid self righteous fanatics, yes! However I don't ridicule people for worshipping god/s, goddesses, or even the sun and moon!

Some of my friends believe in god/religion and are able to accept my lifestyle without judging me.

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PixieJane
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posted July 27, 2013 07:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for PixieJane     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Only online (where EVERYONE does it, and the religious do it far more than the atheists, though that may be because of demographics more than because "religion inspires it"). It's often the reverse IRL, and atheists are even ranked below gays, generally speaking (according to one American poll). There was even a charity that refused a substantial donation because it was offered by an atheist.

However, atheists have been accused of "shoving their opinions" down the throats of others for not allowing others to do the same, but that's just classic projection. Of course many who are religious also support a secular society, but dishonest people who wish to impose their religion try to make it sound like everyone opposed to them is an evil atheist out to destroy believers.

Finally, I've noticed that it's usually the religious who are more hostile to other religions (including denominations), though it could simply be that there's so many more of them than there are atheists & agnostics. One example would be the best selling Left Behind series that was never contested by any non-Christian group, but rather a Catholic one (who didn't like how the Pope was portrayed in it, IIRC), whereas atheists and every other religion left it alone as far as I know (meanwhile, plenty of those who loved Left Behind worked hard to remove Harry Potter from libraries, etc).

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Lexxigramer
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posted July 27, 2013 07:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lexxigramer     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Pisces-Sweety:
I've come across some really horrible people who tried shoving their ridiculous opinion down my throat


Interesting.
You are angry at non believers in your ways,
but then you see no issue with saying their opinions are ridiculous.
So here I am, one of the horrible people who does not believe as you do with "ridiculous opinions"..........
However, I will not "shove my RIDICULOUS OPINIONS" down your throat.
You dear have insulted my belief that your beliefs are false, that prayer is worthless.
And well geez,
had you not called non believer's in your god/praying as having "RIDICULOUS OPINIONS".....
I would not be offended.

Do your thing but don't bash people who do not believe as you do.
And if people who do not believe as you do, are really laughing at you, and you were not putting on a public display, then I would like to know when and where these horrible people laughed at you. I mean did they enter your private home?
Your church?
Or are you just talking about in conversations anywhere, off or online?
If anyone believer or non believer tries forcing their opinion out of the blue, no reason, personally directed at you,
that is wrong.

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Lexxigramer
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posted July 27, 2013 07:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lexxigramer     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by PixieJane:
Only online (where EVERYONE does it, and the religious do it far more than the atheists, though that may be because of demographics more than because "religion inspires it"). It's often the reverse IRL, and atheists are even ranked below gays, generally speaking (according to one American poll). There was even a charity that refused a substantial donation because it was offered by an atheist.

However, atheists have been accused of "shoving their opinions" down the throats of others for not allowing others to do the same, but that's just classic projection. Of course many who are religious also support a secular society, but dishonest people who wish to impose their religion try to make it sound like everyone opposed to them is an evil atheist out to destroy believers.

Finally, I've noticed that it's usually the religious who are more hostile to other religions (including denominations), though it could simply be that there's so many more of them than there are atheists & agnostics. One example would be the best selling Left Behind series that was never contested by any non-Christian group, but rather a Catholic one (who didn't like how the Pope was portrayed in it, IIRC), whereas atheists and every other religion left it alone as far as I know (meanwhile, plenty of those who loved Left Behind worked hard to remove Harry Potter from libraries, etc).




I get grief from both Christians and Atheists.

Christians because I point blank do not believe as they do.
Atheists because I fight with them about things like theory of "what ifs?"
Atheists say 100% absolutely no afterlife, no psychic abilities, no ESP, and so forth.
I say that is just as narrow minded as the Christians views; because even atheists cannot disprove such things. I prefer to keep a mind open to "what ifs"; to theories, and accept nothing nor reject nothing 100% without absolute proof.


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DepTaurus
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posted July 27, 2013 08:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DepTaurus     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
hey Pisces Sweety if you believe in god then you do.It's your right to believe in him and in your faith,you also have the choice to leave any conversation that goes against that.

Yes people have their own opinions and most will thrown them in your face but ultimately it's your choice to set your own boundaries, and at the end of the day if you don't like people who do this kind of thing to you then just walk away.

best advice i can give you because you don't have to take anything people say or act out.

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Lexxigramer
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posted July 27, 2013 08:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lexxigramer     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by DepTaurus:
hey Pisces Sweety if you believe in god then you do.It's your right to believe in him and in your faith,you also have the choice to leave any conversation that goes against that.

Yes people have their own opinions and most will thrown them in your face but ultimately it's your choice to set your own boundaries, and at the end of the day if you don't like people who do this kind of thing to you then just walk away.

best advice i can give you because you don't have to take anything people say or act out.


But when you call the opinions of others "ridiculous",
then you should not be surprised they feel the same about your opinions.
And I must ask;
how do these people you call horrible and accuse of having ridiculous opinions;
get a chance to go at you;
where are they and you at when they try shoving their "ridiculous opinions" down your throat?
I highly doubt they are breaking into your private home or bedroom to insult or shove anything at you.
I really want to know the events surrounding your being laughed at by horrible people shoving what you see as their "ridiculous opinions" down your throat.


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Lexxigramer
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posted July 27, 2013 08:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lexxigramer     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by DepTaurus:
hey Pisces Sweety if you believe in god then you do.It's your right to believe in him and in your faith,you also have the choice to leave any conversation that goes against that.

Yes people have their own opinions and most will thrown them in your face but ultimately it's your choice to set your own boundaries, and at the end of the day if you don't like people who do this kind of thing to you then just walk away.

best advice i can give you because you don't have to take anything people say or act out.


My experiences have been it is usually Christians shoving at me; and some times a few other faiths, even Pagan.
But Christians and JW's have been the worse for me personally.
They come trespassing to people's doors and see nothing wrong with that.
We could not get married at the court house because they would not do it unless we took Christian ceremony and vows.
Well anyhow, don't come into my real life with preaching and I will not tell you to get lost.
I don't care what you believe, just don't shove it at me.
Seems one cannot go anywhere in public these days without Christian themes etc. all over the place.
I don't see other beliefs or non beliefs publicly pushing their messages on billboards and more in great spamming profusion.
It's very disrespectful to non Christians to say the least.
And don't dare say no religion at a hospital or ER here on their forms;
because you will be mistreated.
Rant over.


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Faith
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posted July 27, 2013 09:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Faith     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Lexxigramer:
And well geez,
had you not called non believer's in your god/praying as having "RIDICULOUS OPINIONS".....
I would not be offended.

She wasn't talking about all non-believers, Lexx, she was talking specifically about some people she's met. Those people, she says, have ridiculous opinions. That does not mean that all people who are non-believers like them will have "ridiculous opinions" like they do.

One can be a non-believer in many ways.

To say it's "pathetic" or "stupid" to believe in God is insulting and of course she would be offended by that.

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Lexxigramer
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posted July 27, 2013 09:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lexxigramer     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Faith:
She wasn't talking about all non-believers, Lexx, she was talking specifically about some people she's met. Those people, she says, have ridiculous opinions. That does not mean that all people who are non-believers like them will have "ridiculous opinions" like they do.

One can be a non-believer in many ways.

To say it's "pathetic" or "stupid" to believe in God is insulting and of course she would be offended by that.


I did not feel she explained clearly as you have tried to do.
However it is her opinion that their opinions are ridiculous.
And again;
where on Earth did such a rude thing happen?
I cannot imagine the scene of such a thing happening to a believer.
To unbelievers, yeah too often.

I honestly want to know who these people were and where did it happen.
Because if they just came out of the blue and starting insulting her then that is rude.

Edit to add:
Pisces-Sweety;
if you were mistreated out of the blue that is wrong.
However based on what you posted I have no idea where you were when this happened.
And yes dear that makes a difference.
Were you going door to door preaching
and or handing out religious material unasked for anywhere?
That would be invading the space of others and you would be wrong.
See, I am having trouble understanding how and where this assault of your beliefs happened.
Kindly explain please.

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juniperb
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posted July 27, 2013 10:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for juniperb     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
P-S

You must be feeling 10 exclamation marks to your complaint right now.

I would say there are religious zealots and athiest/agnostic zealots and both are exasperating.

There is room for all and DepTaurus is right. Set your boundries. Do remember, your boundries for another is the same for you . Don`t try to convert another, don`t wear your Faith like a badge and always know your God loves the athiest as much as S/he loves you.

There is always a graceful exit from a conversion conversation aka disagreement .

We each by example.

------------------
Christian, Jew, Muslim, Shaman, Zoroastrian, stone, ground, mountain, river, each has a secret way of being with the Mystery, unique and not to be judged.
Rumi

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Faith
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posted July 27, 2013 11:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Faith     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Lexxigramer:

where on Earth did such a rude thing happen?
I cannot imagine the scene of such a thing happening to a believer.
To unbelievers, yeah too often.

I know you aren't addressing me, but I did come up against hostile opinions when I was religious. Of course, people can be deliberately insulting on purpose about anything that comes to mind. But if you honestly don't see how religious people are mocked nowadays (?)...then here is just one short example:

Richard Dawkins: Militant Atheism

^ At around the 5:05 mark, where he first introduces the concept of militant atheism, the crowd seems delighted.

His whole speech takes on a mocking, derisive attitude towards believers in God, and that attitude is actually pretty common in the US (which is why he was so warmly received.)

Just the same as a mocking attitude towards non-believers is common amongst Christians.

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DepTaurus
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posted July 27, 2013 11:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DepTaurus     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by DepTaurus:
hey Pisces Sweety if you believe in god then you do.It's your right to believe in him and in your faith,you also have the choice to leave any conversation that goes against that.

Yes people have their own opinions and most will thrown them in your face but ultimately it's your choice to set your own boundaries, and at the end of the day if you don't like people who do this kind of thing to you then just walk away.

best advice i can give you because you don't have to take anything people say or act out.


quote:
Originally posted by Lexxigramer:
But when you call the opinions of others "ridiculous",
then you should not be surprised they feel the same about your opinions.
[b]And I must ask;
how do these people you call horrible and accuse of having ridiculous opinions;
get a chance to go at you;
where are they and you at when they try shoving their "ridiculous opinions" down your throat?
I highly doubt they are breaking into your private home or bedroom to insult or shove anything at you.
I really want to know the events surrounding your being laughed at by horrible people shoving what you see as their "ridiculous opinions" down your throat.

[/B]


I'm only giving her another option do you know what i mean lexx.I hope you do and i hope i can call you that by the way.Although i think i always have.Anyways Because their are tons of people out there in this world who do attack those who are religious and who attack those who also attack non believers. Whatever side your on i say if you can't agree with somebody else's beliefs than at least agree to disagree and press on.

I think it would be helpful to her if she just do that.

Whatever she has said about other's opinions being ridiculous well then that is something she needs to correct.

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doommlord
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posted July 28, 2013 12:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for doommlord     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To a degree, it happens.

Its often a strange sight to see since its often the reverse, but also educates us that being a zealot depends more on the person and not the religion/lack of religion.

I dont think most people should be asked to keep their minds open anymore...only to stop shoving opinions while believing they found all truths and realities.

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Padre35
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posted July 28, 2013 12:09 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Padre35     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

You speak the truth PS, if I feel like I hit back, if not merely smile and say "Benedictus".

What is funnier to me is they also usually require a support group who'll chime in.

Shows weakness in that pov.

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Pisces-Sweety
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posted July 28, 2013 02:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Pisces-Sweety     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Lexxigramer:
[QUOTE][b]Originally posted by Pisces-Sweety:
I've come across some really horrible people who tried shoving their ridiculous opinion down my throat


Interesting.
You are angry at non believers in your ways,
but then you see no issue with saying their opinions are ridiculous.
So here I am, one of the horrible people who does not believe as you do with "ridiculous opinions"..........
However, I will not "shove my RIDICULOUS OPINIONS" down your throat.
You dear have insulted my belief that your beliefs are false, that prayer is worthless.
And well geez,
had you not called non believer's in your god/praying as having "RIDICULOUS OPINIONS".....
I would not be offended.

Do your thing but don't bash people who do not believe as you do.
And if people who do not believe as you do, are really laughing at you, and you were not putting on a public display, then I would like to know when and where these horrible people laughed at you. I mean did they enter your private home?
Your church?
Or are you just talking about in conversations anywhere, off or online?
If anyone believer or non believer tries forcing their opinion out of the blue, no reason, personally directed at you,
that is wrong.

[/B][/QUOTE]


^^^^^^
First of all, I only REACTED to their comment and yes, they had it coming. There's a line. Don't insult my religion and I won't insult you. (I NEVER attack a person's religion).

Lexi, It's okay if you dont share my beliefs. I dont expect anyone to. And honestly, so what of a person prays in public places?? That person has the right to do what they want just like anyone else.

I never said that people who dont share my views are horrible people. I only said that the way some people behave towards those who pray or those who say they are religious is absurd. Im not saying non believers dont have the right to voice their opinions, im saying thats Its not okay to offend the other party. And yea,i know that religious people who shove their opinion down your throat are annoying as hell.( i grew up in a very religious country before i moved to mine). I never excused their behaviour either. And what makes you think that I'll include non believers in my prayers in the first place? They chose not to believe. It was their choice after all. Ill only pray if they're in trouble+ try to help them out(practically).

(Please note that, I do NOT mean this in an offensive way. I don't pray for these people because first, im sure they don't need me to "pray for them" and two, they've thought their choice through and if they're convinced, that's great. To each his own. But don't cross a line between voicing your opinion and insulting.)

Understand one thing, NO ONE can mke you do anything you dont want( in most cases). So no matter of how much "praying for you" that other person does, it probably wont help you believe you are convinced by your own beliefs. I have tons of athiest friends and im very respectful towards them and I LOVE them so much but they all know that I have 1 rule and this applies to everything in my life. ( Its okay for you to state your opinion and try to convince me but its NOT okay to shove your opinion down my throat or keep bringing it up or else ill drop you).

(It was a disgusting comment on a picture of people from a specific religion praying.)

Ps: im not directing my words at you personally. So excuse all the (you's) ive written.

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Pisces-Sweety
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posted July 28, 2013 02:44 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Pisces-Sweety     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by DepTaurus:
hey Pisces Sweety if you believe in god then you do.It's your right to believe in him and in your faith,you also have the choice to leave any conversation that goes against that.

Yes people have their own opinions and most will thrown them in your face but ultimately it's your choice to set your own boundaries, and at the end of the day if you don't like people who do this kind of thing to you then just walk away.

best advice i can give you because you don't have to take anything people say or act out.


DepTaurus: I know many athiests who are my friends, and I know many VERY Religious people who are also my friends and i'm very open minded when it comes to religion(I grew up around different religions). It's okay to state your opinion, but it's not okay to offend others because you believe that what you're saying is correct. Just like in everything in life, there's a LINE that they are not allowed to cross. You can't expect to fight fire with fire and not end up with ashes.

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Pisces-Sweety
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posted July 28, 2013 02:45 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Pisces-Sweety     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Faith:
She wasn't talking about all non-believers, Lexx, she was talking specifically about some people she's met. Those people, she says, have ridiculous opinions. That does not mean that all people who are non-believers like them will have "ridiculous opinions" like they do.

One can be a non-believer in many ways.

To say it's "pathetic" or "stupid" to believe in God is insulting and of course she would be offended by that.


Thank you! <3

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Pisces-Sweety
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posted July 28, 2013 02:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Pisces-Sweety     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Edit to add:
Pisces-Sweety;
if you were mistreated out of the blue that is wrong.
However based on what you posted I have no idea where you were when this happened.
And yes dear that makes a difference.
Were you going door to door preaching
and or handing out religious material unasked for anywhere?
That would be invading the space of others and you would be wrong.
See, I am having trouble understanding how and where this assault of your beliefs happened.
Kindly explain please.

[/B][/QUOTE]

Look, it started with a comment on a particular religious group of people praying then it escalated mocking them. I told that person was " Insulting other people's religion's is NOT funny."

I was definitely not preaching and I will never preach. I barely talk about religion with people because I live in a very sectarian country. I was referring to specific people who go around insulting your beliefs or your religion.

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PixieJane
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posted July 28, 2013 03:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for PixieJane     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Faith:
I know you aren't addressing me, but I did come up against hostile opinions when I was religious. Of course, people can be deliberately insulting on purpose about anything that comes to mind. But if you honestly don't see how religious people are mocked nowadays (?)...then here is just one short example:

Richard Dawkins: Militant Atheism

^ At around the 5:05 mark, where he first introduces the concept of militant atheism, the crowd seems delighted.

His whole speech takes on a mocking, derisive attitude towards believers in God, and that attitude is actually pretty common in the US (which is why he was so warmly received.)

Just the same as a mocking attitude towards non-believers is common amongst Christians.


It's much rarer for religious people to be mocked by atheists than the other way around. The religious are much more likely to be mocked by other religious people.

And the government endorses Christianity over all other religions and definitely over atheism, even referring to atheists in political speeches as murderous nihilists and the like (on public record) as well as harassing people like Dawkins. So it seems absurd to me to hear Christians gripe about their so-called "persecution," about as much as when rich white men do the same (sure, it happens, but it doesn't compare).

I know the attitude exists, but I get the sense that it's being greatly exaggerated here. If nothing else demographics would make it relatively rare, and even Christianity Today did an article on the fake war on Christmas, and interesting enough the end revealed how it had become so profitable to evangelists that they were going to expand to Easter and a few months later, sure enough, it was suddenly a big deal that a town had changed something about the Easter celebration even though it had happened years ago (that is, no one cared until evangelicals made them care, and suddenly they felt persecuted by evil atheists).

And to a point Christians are to blame for just how much (which is little) hostility they receive. I know one girl who embraced Dawkins militancy after Christians about destroyed her entire life and even threatened her with homelessness, but once she'd made an even better life for herself free of her old one she lost her hostility toward Christians (though she'll never be one herself). But much more importantly Christians have run over too many people, taken over too many school boards, their politicians have insulted too many people, their stations spread too much hatred, and they're also popular enough to get measures passed and affect elections with politicians catering to them in insane ways that are sometimes incredibly hostile to gays and women especially, that OF COURSE plenty of people get sick of it.

I realize people are going to say that even though they have so much power, votes, give the prayers at inaugurations (including Obama) and money (even if they lost major ground in 2012 due to going way overboard and losing the independent vote) that they're "just a minority." No, they're not, if they were then they'd not only lack the money, votes, best sellers, and rampant popularity, they'd also be publicly condemned as Westboro is.

And btw, Westboro was active for like a decade without condemnation back when they limited themselves to crashing the funerals of dead gays (but otherwise exactly the same as they are now), including murdered gays as Matthew Shepard, and it was ONLY after they took to crashing soldier funerals and thanking God for 9/11 that Christendom stood up and said, "They're not with us." And now most people don't associate Westboro with them, and that proves two things: One, the "majority Christians" CAN show the ones who give them a bad rep are a minority (that is, when they actually are), and two, if they just stand up to them as they have Westboro then they won't be associated with these other obnoxious Christians either (and the politicians will stop being so obnoxious, etc). So if they don't want to be associated with the hate mongers and misogynists and homophobes and extreme authoritarians trying to turn American into a theocracy then do the same thing that was done to Westboro and collectively say, "They're not with us." If not, then they shouldn't be surprised when they get associated with them (just as many bigots say "don't blame me I don't actually burn any crosses"), especially since Christendom has already proven they CAN dissociate themselves...when they want to. But as long as these obnoxious jerks have so much power over people's lives (and are extremely insulting) then yeah, what comes around will go around (ie, karma).

Though I see secular humanists shooting themselves in the foot, too. I've met enough Christians (even Behind the Pine Curtain) who believes the Christian Right and all too many churches are the "Pharisees and hypocrites" Jesus condemned in Matthew 23, and if secular humanists could take that into account in how they go about fighting the Christian Right then they'd gain some powerful allies for change...and I think it would be a major blow to the Christian Right when many other Christians don't feel like they have to rely on the toxic Christians to represent them politically.

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PixieJane
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posted July 28, 2013 04:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for PixieJane     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
And it bears repeating: most religious people are going to receive a lot more hostility from other religious people (at least socially speaking). The Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Church have a long animosity (though Catholics seem to believe they're going to somehow assimilate the Eastern Orthodox which isn't going to happen), and Catholics are still thought of as "idol worshipers" by many other denominations. The Baptists and Pentecostals tend to hold each other in contempt while also sharing a contempt for both Catholics and Jehovah's Witnesses as unpatriotic scum (while the Witnesses believe they alone are saved, all other denominations are false). And the only group I know of to try to ban Left Behind was the Catholic Church (who didn't like how the pope was portrayed, IIRC).

And then there are the other religions, and not just Judaism and Islam which can sometimes pop an attitude of their own, but various neo-pagans as Wiccans (I've even seen the rare article by neo-pagans that basically said to prepare for the war against the Christians, as in be prepared to kill them, not that such an attitude is normal for them, and actually I think plenty of neo-pagans would rather hate on each other than join together against Christianity anyway).

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