oddish4
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posted on November 27, 2000 10:12:52 PM new
Lately I have seen a disturbing trend everywhere I go. From chatboards to the news to the grocery store. It's the almost demonizing of the so called "religious right". I have to kind of wonder if people even realize they are doing it. This idea that anyone that is religious is some kind of nut out to stomp on everyone or shove things down their throats and are really just hate mongers hiding under the guise of religion. Certainly there are people like that just like there are bad people in any group of people but somehow it has almost become politically correct to bash religions or the religious. It is just as unfair as lumping all democrats or repulicans or rich or poor or what have you into one category.
Just something that bugs me. I'm not trying to start any kind of religious discussion just getting something off my chest.
Oddish~ The Odd One
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FrannyS
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posted on November 27, 2000 10:18:06 PM new
Maybe its just how one has been approached, Oddish. Lots of people make fun of Jehovah Witnesses because they bang on doors and wont take NO for an answer (no, Im not one, nor have I made fun of them, but do I have an example I could share. I wont, though ).
Yes, I agree that religious people do get bashed. But I also have to back off when I, myself, am approached with fire and brimstone if I dont acknowledge THEIR beliefs immediately, you know? Like my husband says "whatevere tickles your ear, you believe", and that goes for ALL ticklers.
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oddish4
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posted on November 27, 2000 10:27:50 PM new
I hear you Franny. I know there are many obnoxious religious people...but there are many obnoxious people of other groups too.
But if I were to name obnoxious qualities in another group and then feel free to bash the whole group people would be upset and rightly so.
Oddish~ The Odd One
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jamesoblivion
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posted on November 27, 2000 10:32:31 PM new
Religion mixed with politics always equals disaster (which is exactly what those pilgrim guys were escaping when they came here). The problem isn't "Religous" but the word "right" added to it. Religion is harmful if it is politicized, not so if it isn't. Religion is supposed to transcend politics. No one truthfully can claim that their deity is a registered Democrat or Republican, and the disgust is directed at those that seek to legitimize political positions that have nothing to do with ethics or morality by portraying them as synonymous with God's will. It is unseemly and a perversion of true reigous piety to falsely claim that God endorses any one candidate or party.
Another thing, beyond the politicizing of religion, the leaders of the "Religous Right" see fit to demonize those that are not like them, and in a sense the favor is simply returned.
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FrannyS
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posted on November 27, 2000 10:33:32 PM new
This is similar to dems and rep's, lol. But now that we are all US (humans with choices on what tickles OUR ears), thats now a moot point. Religion is a touchy subject, even in RL, as well as boards. Yes, you are correct. Lumping people in with a group is unfair. But humans tend to do that, dont they?
Anyway...I get the honor..YES, the HONOR of going to the dentist tomorrow for a cleaning, so I have to get to bed. Im sure he will scrape the one I baby and wake it up again (thought I would have to have a root canal on it, but it settled down. Bet he unsettles it again).
Have a nice night Oddish4.
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jamesoblivion
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posted on November 27, 2000 10:34:27 PM new
Just to clarify, it is entirely possible to be left leaning and religous, but you would not know that if you were to believe those politicians masquerading as men of God.
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oddish4
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posted on November 27, 2000 10:38:06 PM new
James
You make some excellent points. I think that is what I was trying to get at. We hear alot about "the religious right" and it is spilling into all religions and all people in them. You said it much better than I did. What I was trying to convey is these few are not indicative of the whole of the religious community.
Oddish~ The Odd One
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shar9
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posted on November 27, 2000 10:45:11 PM new
Oddish,
Aw shoot! I did it but I didn't come up with the phrase. Don't ask me who did and you are right. I shouldn't use it.
IF, I am thinking correctly it became a terminology phrase during the Newt days with the freshmen Reps.
I mentioned somewhere that I listened to AM station the other day and there were the ""religious right" people talking.
There was nothing religious about their show. The religious people that I know don't speak or act in this way. That is what baffled me. It was mean spirited talk by mean spirited people and although "they" meaning the group/person that was on labeled themselves that way doesn't mean I should.
I don't usually label people so why was I doing it? Good question and I will THINK before inserting that big foot of mine from now on.
It must be my bedtime because I have just read this for the third time and it made sense and I know it doesn't so I will just say I am sorry.
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shar9
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posted on November 27, 2000 10:50:27 PM new
Gees James,
Why didn't I just wait until you made your post? Thank you.
That is exactly what I was trying to say in my own tortured way.
Sorry Oddish
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oddish4
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posted on November 27, 2000 10:51:34 PM new
Shar
you always make sense
He did put it quite nicely didn't he?
I should have just asked him to say it in the first place LOL
Oddish~ The Odd One
[ edited by oddish4 on Nov 27, 2000 10:53 PM ]
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shar9
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posted on November 27, 2000 10:57:03 PM new
Oddish,
Is this where we tell everyone that you are a Rep and I am a Dem and we only agreed to disagree at first and had a great time discussing our differences and that lately find that we are agreeing entirely too much?
Let's just blame it all on JamesO.
James,
Meaning no disrespect but I torture lots of names so try for the shorter to keep people from knowing that I can't remember worth anything.
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bunnicula
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posted on November 27, 2000 10:58:33 PM new
Oddish4: the fact is that the more rabid members of the "religious right" are incredibly vocal and make no secret of their agenda. That alone makes people very wary of them. Then, there's the fact that they take proselytizing *very* seriously & encounters with them can and do further influence attitudes of others.
When I was in college (Long Beach State & UCLA) we were bombarded on a daily basis by the Christian "right." It is oh so thrilling to be followed, as I was on several occasions, around campus by someone repeatedly shouting "do you believe in Jesus?" Or to pass by another Christian haranguing passersby with: "you may not know you're whores, you may not know you're whoremongers, GOD knows you're whores & whoremongers!" This got me so mad I complained to the Dean.
As a librarian I have had encounters with the "religious right"--they believe that if *they* don't like a book no one should be able to read it. And schools are influenced by them--many textbooks have been and are changed because *they* don't like what's in them. Not to mention entire classes of kids denied the right to read something because *one* parent objected to a particular book.
Perhaps more moderate Christians (because face it, that is what the "religious right" is made up of) should try being more vocal and pull in the leash on their extremist brothers & sisters.
edited because "mad" just isn't the same with an "e"
[ edited by bunnicula on Nov 27, 2000 11:00 PM ]
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tegan
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posted on November 27, 2000 11:05:49 PM new
It's the religious (everything I say and do is)right that bothers me. 
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oddish4
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posted on November 27, 2000 11:16:00 PM new
Hi Bunnicula
I am most aware of what some people claiming to be christians do. I say claim because I just don't see how hate can be justified.
But I have no more control over them than you do and I must say it sounds rather unfair.
There are also many vocal members of other groups. Vocal people who have enacted change that does impede on me and what I believe. I could say the same thing about the very vocal people who like pornography and see no reason why they should keep it a certain distance away from neighborhoods or schools where you can clearly see the wares in the window. I could say it's those darn liberals again and make rude jokes about them and their way of life but that would be wrong. I could say if more moderate liberals would try to reign these people in maybe it wouldn't be so hard for me to not bash them all. This would be terribly unfair. I can't control another person as no one can control me. But I can ask to be judged and seen for my own behavior and not that of others. I know that like Franny said it's human nature for people to lump people together. I used to myself at times. But I found the best way for me to not lump people into groups is to get to know some of the "other" side. You know since I have tried doing that I have found most to be simply delightful people who happen to have different views than I do. But I wouldn't feel comfortable at all in making rude comments about liberals anymore because I know and like way to many of them.
I have encountered alot of hate simply because I am religious which is no better than hate of any other kind.
By the way what you descibed is awful I would have a hard time not being pissed as heck myself.
Oddish~ The Odd One
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shar9
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posted on November 27, 2000 11:33:34 PM new
Oddish,
Lumping. That's it and an area lots of us fall short in. It is easier to see the person than the group but unfortunately that person that is speaking is trying to say it in your name.
I am Southern Baptist but I don't believe in everything that they do at their conventions. I certainly wouldn't want Jerry Falwell (sp) to speak for me in fact I would cheerfully put a piece of gray tape over his mouth. I don't believe in his "moral majority" at all but he speaks for the Southern Baptists and I have to take his lumps even if I don't deserve them because I don't want him speaking for me and on this I am going to bed.
Nite all
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oddish4
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posted on November 27, 2000 11:44:33 PM new
It's very true Shar
I myself lump all the time. I don't even realize I do it until someone points it out. I think it's habit mostly or I don't know what. I really wish it were something I could get rid of though because I hate it when it's done to me I'm sure others feel the same when I do it to them.
Anyway I'm burbling again and since James found the words to what I was trying to say
OHH Moderators can we lock this up now so I don't make anyone uncomfy hmmmmm?
Bunnicula
I am sorry you have had those experiences. I hope you get a chance to have more pleasant ones in the future. If it helps at all I do try to talk to the nasty ones, all the time..try to get them to temper it down but it doesn't do me much good either they turn on me just as much as they turn on anyone else
Oddish~ The Odd One
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MichelleG
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posted on November 27, 2000 11:46:55 PM new
Everyone,
This thread is locked at the request of the originator.
MichelleG
Moderator
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