If I'm Critical of Religion, Does That Make Me A Bigot?

[really annoyed]

It seems like everytime somebody is critical of religion around here (not in this area, but specifically in GD), they get labeled as a "bigot" or "closed-minded" by another poster.

There is difference between showing criticism toward religion or a hateful attitude toward another poster.

[trotsky]

1. Many of us have been through the same exact thing.

In fact, religionists succeeded in getting the DU rules changed to specifically forbid anything they deem as mocking their beliefs.

Go back through old posts in the Religion & Theology forum. You'll see many instances where criticizing the pope, for instance, gets you labeled a "Catholic basher." And so on.

Despite there being a very large freethinking population on DU, we are still subject to some of the same stifling of our opinions that we face in real life.

[beam me up scottie]

2. We are also in the

majority, according to some.
Still waiting for one to get me the stats on that little theory.

[Bzzzz]

6. Yet...

they are the first to critize abortion and chastise gays.

[Arianrhod]

23. Christians, maybe.

We Pagans don't.

[beam me up scottie]

3. Why, yes.

Of course it does.
We're xtian bashers, don't you know?
Just like we constantly discriminate against "people of faith", according to our fearless leader.
This is something I run into constantly in the real world.
Anytime we refuse to allow the government to shove religion down our throats, we are preventing people from worshipping their deity.
Religion gets a special pass, we are not allowed to question or criticize it or it's leaders.
And boy oh boy, just try mentioning that by exempting churches from taxes, the government is indeed promoting religion.
You're a fiend and a cad for even bringing this up.
:evilgrin:

[leftofthedial]

4. only in GD

hence the creation of this group

[Solly Mack]

5. It's all they have as a defense

which doesn't say very much for them does it?

[fshrink]

7. That doesn't make you a "bigot", but

that makes you very lonely in most places. Over the last few years, religious activists have integrated the political discourse (to the point that even an idiot can successfully handle it.) When the opponent can rightly qualify you as X, you qualify him as X, therefore neutralizing "being X" as a usable argument. As politics abundantly shows there's just no end or limit to such spectacular tactics (there are others). You cannot win or score any substantial gain on these grounds.

[libodem]

8. NO

religion needs to be explored. The more I study the more I am conceptualizing a theory that Feminism, is such a bug-a-boo, to everyone because our foremothers questioned the Bible and the doctrines which enslave women. Those questions lead to the first American settlements using secular foundations for government. Prior to that the courts were just hatchet men for the churches. Separation of Church and State is the most important idea of our time. And it's under fire like it hasn't been ever before. People have lost sight of history. Esp. Repugs who think it ought to be jumbled up together again. That doesn't mean I disrespect anyone's right to believe whatever they want to.

[onager]

9. True. Religion needs to be explored...

...the same way disease needs to be explored. In hopes that we can find a vaccine against it!

BTW, R&T is a target-rich environment right now (as we say in the aerospace biz). Along with all the usual Xian threads about the Resurrection and such, the New Agers are honking about that st00pid movie "What The Bleep Do We Know?"

Watch that POS and you'll know a whole lot less.

And the people who believe THIS call Fundie Xians "gullible:"

:rofl:

Ramtha, like Christ, ascended into heaven, after his many conquests, including the conquest of himself. He said he'd be back and he kept his promise by coming to Knight in 1977 while she was in her pyramidiot phase. She put a toy pyramid on her head and lo and behold if that wasn't a signal for Ramtha to return to the land of the living dead...

Contains a review of "What The Bleep Do We Know" that appeared in SKEPTIC magazine. ("Ramtha’s School of Quantum Flapdoodle" by John Olmsted.)

http://skepdic.com/channel.html

[beam me up scottie]

10. Actually,

There are two new threads there today that I nominated.

One is by globalvillage and the other is by our own incorrigible YankeeMCC.

If you guys get a chance, check them out.

[dwckabal]

13. "Pyramidiot phase"

ROTFLMAO!
:rofl:

[Warpy]

11. Nothing looks stupider than somebody else's religion

Even though somebody else's fight comes pretty close, and don't forget somebody else's great love affair. There are just some things about other people that you're never going to understand, no matter how hard you try. Understanding isn't required. Acceptance is.

However, the critiques in GD should focus on what those religions are doing, not their core beliefs. If a church puts out a sign saying Korans should be flushed, hey, that's worthy of criticism. The fact that their members profess to believe in the Jesus story is not. If a preacher excommunicates Democrats, that is worthy of more then criticism, excoriation is in order. However, the fact that their members believe god wrote the bible is not.

That's how to stay out of trouble in GD, even though the exceptionally thinskinned believers may complain to management about even that well founded criticism.

[morgan2]

12. I've said this in GD before..

the entire idea of being Atheist is an afront to many religious people. You can't say you believe someone's religion is just a myth without affending someone, even if thats what your belief is. I mean thats basically what atheist is, to believe that religions are just myths. As an atheist I could never get away with saying that someone saying a magical man up in the sky is controlling our lives is offensive to me, but the reverse is true.

[BiggJawn]

14. So it is.

"So what does an Atheist believe anyway?"

"I personally believe that there is NO evidence proving the existence of a "god" beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, "god" is a myth, a made-up story in an attempt to explain things that defy explanation..."

"You saying I believe in FAIRY TALES!!! You BIGOT!!!"

And thus, the rule that we have to treat people with "respect", even though I personally think they believe in a lot of malarky. But-doesn't mean that I have to DENY my own belief?

"Oh, you believe in God (thinking "invisible sky-daddy with a bad attitude") Nice, I'm happy for you..." (thinking "poor deluded fool")

I aske one once "So, if I were to start a religion that believed in the divinity of Winnie the Pooh, and in 2,000 years, it had 6,000,00 followers, would that make it legitimate?"

"That's BLASPEMY! You can't claim that a FICTIONAL character is GAWD!!!"

What Irony....

[beam me up scottie]

15. A plague on your house !

:evilgrin:

[BiggJawn]

16. A plague on my house, and plaque on my teeth!

Actally, I *AM* having a plague of sorts this weekend...

ANTS!

Luckily, they just LOVE to suck up that TERRO....

[beam me up scottie]

17. See?

You never should have pissed off The Great, um... what the f*ck was his name again?

I suggest you repent.

:rofl:

[BiggJawn]

18. THIIS guy?

The Great BOOBAH!

[beam me up scottie]

19. Oh am I ever

going to use that!!!
:rofl:

I don't go out of my way to antagonize people (well, okay, sometimes I do) but when I trip over attitude like that, I can't help myself.

[really annoyed]

20. Thank You All!

Thank you for your responses.

I'm actually quite fond of different religions. But I'm not fond of religion being used as a tool of bigotry. I don't really see that coming from anybody here - it's more from the "religious right," as they are labeled. My criticism of religion stems from that point of view.

And I find it funny that I can have really open conversations about religion in person, but it kinda comes out muddled on the message boards. I am working on being tolerant - but I don't call myself "really annoyed" for nothing!

Despite all that, I still love being here at DU.

[trotsky]

22. We are glad to have you here.

Religion has been used as a tool of bigotry since its inception, really. Control of a group to get them to do your bidding. That bidding can be good (rarely) or bad (typically).

The most frustrating part, at least on DU, is the believers who acknowledge that maybe religion, and even their particular church, may not be all that progressive, but that THEIR local priest or voodoo doctor or whatever is different and quite liberal, blah blah blah. Never realizing that supporting their local church means that money goes to the large organization that fights against progressive, liberal, and secular issues.

But when you point that out for them, you're "bashing" their religion.

[NMMNG]

21. Of course you are!

Isn't it interesting how if a Fundie Christian says "My God is the one true God. If you don't believe in him you are going to Hell!" he is exercising his Constitutional right to practice his religion, not being a bigot.

However if you politely say "I don't believe in your God" you are being a bigot. (You are practicing Anti-Christian Bigotry) :evilfrown: