The Right to be Offended

[Mythsaje]

I'm offended. In general. About a lot of things. I'm offended by the fact that our "leaders" are all too willing to ignore the wishes of the American people by ending this fucking debacle of a war by whatever means necessary. I'm offended that idiots like Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, and the rest of their ilk can slander us en masse and feel completely comfortable doing it. Sure, they have to the right to free speech, but we also have the right to scream "shut the fuck up!"

I'm offended that teachers think they have the right to preach to their classes and the "larger community" seems to support this mental and emotional abuse of those who may not believe as they do. I'm offended by the fact that too many people feel like religious belief should be beyond criticism, or analysis. I'm offended that they can attack science and silence researchers who may learn something that goes against their assumptions.

I'm sick and tired of having to bend my neck for believers in absolutes--as if just by saying it, by believing it, it makes it true. There are VERY few things that are absolutely true, with no caveats. And nearly all of them have been quantified not by religion, but by science.

I have not made a habit of referring to belief in God as belief in fairy tales, nor have I referred to God as an "imaginary friend," though I myself can sympathize with this point of view. It seems ridiculous to me that someone can point at a book and say "here's your proof." That's not proof, and I can't believe anyone seriously takes it as such. I simply cannot comprehend this point of view. And am not sure why I should.

Religious sentiment SHOULD be between a believer and his/her deity of choice. The louder people are as they try to get others to respect their beliefs, the less I'm inclined to accept their belief itself. If religion can be said to be a personal connection between human and deity, why are the beliefs or non-beliefs of others in any way germaine to the question?

Why should anyone care what I do or do not believe, or even be offended when I say I don't really need to hear about Jesus anymore?

I'll let everyone in on a little secret. If by the age of forty I haven't found any reason to believe that one religion is any more accurate than another, I most likely never will.

And I'm offended that others are offended by that.

[seabeyond]

1. i am offended by so many people being so d*mn offended about

everything, wink.....

was in the store and said merry christmas.... i would say happy holidays to you ot knowing if you are christian, but in this area i am more afraid you will think i am starting a war on christmas....

the gal then let me know that she is into the war on christmas, hates this time of the year, so i said, then... "bah humbug" to you

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. the heart of most faiths

directs an individual to look at themselves, to improve themselves, to themselves get closer to God. This means, really, that believers should not worry about what other people are doing. Personally, I think it is nice when someone does something I like and I don't hear about how "their religion made them do it." I have always felt uncomfortable when another person intruded on what I deem to be my inner space-my personal relationship with Whatever It Is that makes up the whole. I recall, when I was a teacher, a minister's wife coming up and quizzing me on whether I was "born again". You could tell from the tone of her voice that it was a judgement call, and I'd better pass muster or else! But I also recall when I quit teaching having a parent come by and say, "I always liked having my children in your class, because I could tell by your actions that you knew the Holy Spirit." It didn't bother me in the least-we were using different words to talk about the same thing. This parent had never talked to me about spirituality before, and I'm sure she never would have except for the fact I was leaving the town forever. I have a feeling, like me, she looked at her particular faith as directing her to do an "inside" job rather than worrying about what others were doing.

[Mythsaje]

3. I think that's the core of a person's spirituality

how it affects THEM and the way they deal with other people. I believe there's way too much focus on how other people live.

We can ask people to be more considerate of others...in fact, I think that's a perfectly justifiable thing. But not based upon one set of beliefs or another, but just that we all have to live together in something resembling a civilized fashion.

If a person's religious beliefs gives them the inner strength to love others, all the better. But I don't see what purpose is served by trying to force people to accept one set of beliefs over another. I don't need to believe in Christ to treat other people with the respect they deserve. I wish more people could muster some simple respect for others, by whatever means they have at their disposal.

Judging others for the way they live, assuming that what they do doesn't hurt anyone, is completely unproductive. It doesn't bring them around to your way of thinking--it simply alienates them and gives them a reason to distrust your motives. People do a LOT of things that bother me...mostly in the way of showing a lack of civil behavior. It's not that hard to show respect to others.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. When I was a kid

I lived in my grandmother's apartment house on the campus of a major university. Grandma always liked to have foreign students stay at her place-they were usually very nice and kept things clean, and didn't have wild parties. Because of that, I was introduced to many different cultures and belief systems early on. But one's faith was never a big deal with Grandma or anyone in my family--it was more how you treated everyone. But then, to Grandma, to ask anyone if they had been saved or such like would have been the height of rudeness.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. most homophobes are not closeted...most people who preach their crap at me are not atheists

[Bake]

5. Whether or not "God" is a human construct, "religion" most certainly is.

I have come to several conclusions, as a Christian, recovering Southern Baptist, and graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (back when it was "liberal").

First, whether or not God exists or the Bible contains the Word of God is a matter of faith. It can be neither proved nor disproved.

Second, even if Jesus was in fact the Son of God, and died on the cross for my sins, rose from the dead on the third day (and I happen to believe that, although I certainly understand those who don't), I'm pretty sure he had no interest in starting a religion complete with a patriarch who wears a funny hat and carries a shepherd's staff. I think he probably shakes his head with sadness at the gazillion dollar business that his "followers" built in his name. I don't think he cares about fancy buildings with stained glass and choirs and pulpits and TV shows ... you get the picture. I'm pretty sure that he is sickened by all the strife and killing throughout history done "in the name of God." Religions of all kinds are human constructs. Plain and simple.

I think, the more I reflect on it, that the whole reason Jesus came was to try to get through our thick, stupid, human heads one simple principle: love your neighbor (that means everybody) and stop killing. Just stop it. Right now. If I have to die to get the message through to you people, so be it. Just stop killing and get along. Treat people with respect. Try to make the world a better place.

That really simplifies things for me.

Bake

[Mythsaje]

6. I see it that way too...

There have been a LOT of spiritual leaders throughout history (and probably before recorded history) who taught basically the same message, boiling down to "don't be a jerk."

Unfortunately, jerks seem to be drawn to religion, and quickly claim it for their own. So the underlying message is lost in the maelstrom.

[Cleita]

9. Well, I do believe in fairies or elementals but

I don't talk about it much, well you know why. However, it's to my advantage because invoking them for a favor gets better results than Christian prayers do.

So flame away.

[GeorgeGist]

10. This is a non-starter...

"If religion can be said to be a personal connection between human and deity, why are the beliefs or non-beliefs of others in any way germaine to the question?"

There's nothing personal about religion; which is why religion fails to answer your question.

[BoneDaddy]

11. You don't have a "right" to be offended

you just are offended, but it aint a right.

Life is offensive, wonderful, beautiful, unfair, just, good, bad etc. The world is what the world is, our "offense" is just a way that we feel like we are really important.

But good rant none the less.

[seabeyond]

13. it is a privilige not a right. lol. i hate that saying. my brother told

me he has a right to be a bigot.

k.... whatever. then i have the right to be disgusted

[BoneDaddy]

14. both are wrong

I think we get a wee bit carried away with what we think are "our rights", especially when it becomes ridiculous.

[Toots]

12. It would appear America is a very offensive nation

People here seem to revel in being offensive. Whether it is an in your face radio hate jock or a cigarette puffin Liberal. It seems to be a me me me country and screw anyone who doesn't like it...