Religious tolerance

[Anonymous]

I tend to see posts that refer to fairies and spaghetti monsters as a sort of mockery that is intended to make me think about whether my faith is misplaced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I did just walk past her and cross my fingers she didn't try to stop me. I did walk a tad faster to put out the "leave me be" body language.

Excellent! (from the liberal protestant)

[Anonymous]

I am an agnostic who attends a Methodist church with my family because my husband is Christian. I try to be tolerant, and I really believe in the possibility of just about anything. When my tolerance wanes is in the face of things like Proposition 8 in California. I got called a bigot over and over again on here a few months ago for bringing up politically related things the Catholic church has done that I find abhorrant. Saying Catholic=pedophile is bigotry. Saying you are horrified with the way the Catholic church handled the pedophile priests in their churches and the whole sex scandel is not bigoted. Saying, "Catholics hate women," is bigoted perhaps. But saying you object to the way the Catholic church has inserted itself into modern politics in an effort to remove choice as an option for all American women is not bigoted. Some people CANNOT hear any criticism of their chosen faith. I think there are also many people in this area who are "cafeteria" Catholics, to use a possibly offensive but descriptive term, and are sensitive themselves to these things. Maybe saying Catholics hate gay people is inaccurate and bigoted...but when the actions for the church are making it harder for a whole group of people to secure what should be civil liberties it inculcates intolerance in those on the outside. Are there any Catholics on here who can at least relate to that? If I am a lesbian trying to live my life and raise my children and a church that I do not belong to nor agree with is actively trying to break up my family (or actively trying to delegitimize it politically through banning my marriage) then how much "tolerance" for that institution am I supposed to muster? I may understand that some people object to my lifestyle, but it's one thing to "object" and it's another to work through lobbying congress and writing and backing "Propositions" designed to make it impossible for me to marry my partner. What if I was trying to break up your family because I thought it was illegitimate and not sacred because you don't belong to my religion? How much "tolerance" would you then show me?

[Anonymous]

I grew up Catholic, but I didn't like cafeteria Catholicism because it always made me feel like a hypocrite. I believe in God, but I will never participate in organized religion again. I was disgusted way the way the church covered up the rape and molestation of all those children. I am 100% pro-death penalty. I am somewhat pro-choice (I do oppose partial-birth abortions).

I love the Catholic Church for its tradition, beauty (I honestly believe it has the most beautiful churches in the world), and emphasis on charity. Politically, I just cannot agree with them.

[Anonymous]

OP here. The mix of politics and religion is kind of a touchy subject, IMO. I don't want to be made to live by the Bible anymore than I want to live by the Quran or Torah. As a lesbian, the Christian-backed "family values" legislation puts families like mine at risk. While I may take issue with these practices of some denominations, I try my very best to not let it affect my dealings with people who may be religious, but aren't out to marginalize families like mine. Everyone has a right to their opinion and vote in matters of politics. It's hard sometimes when I see the harm these laws cause to not feel under attack from the whole of Christianity. I am a logical and emotional being.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an agnostic who attends a Methodist church with my family because my husband is Christian. I try to be tolerant, and I really believe in the possibility of just about anything. When my tolerance wanes is in the face of things like Proposition 8 in California. I got called a bigot over and over again on here a few months ago for bringing up politically related things the Catholic church has done that I find abhorrant. Saying Catholic=pedophile is bigotry. Saying you are horrified with the way the Catholic church handled the pedophile priests in their churches and the whole sex scandel is not bigoted. Saying, "Catholics hate women," is bigoted perhaps. But saying you object to the way the Catholic church has inserted itself into modern politics in an effort to remove choice as an option for all American women is not bigoted. Some people CANNOT hear any criticism of their chosen faith. I think there are also many people in this area who are "cafeteria" Catholics, to use a possibly offensive but descriptive term, and are sensitive themselves to these things. Maybe saying Catholics hate gay people is inaccurate and bigoted...but when the actions for the church are making it harder for a whole group of people to secure what should be civil liberties it inculcates intolerance in those on the outside. Are there any Catholics on here who can at least relate to that? If I am a lesbian trying to live my life and raise my children and a church that I do not belong to nor agree with is actively trying to break up my family (or actively trying to delegitimize it politically through banning my marriage) then how much "tolerance" for that institution am I supposed to muster? I may understand that some people object to my lifestyle, but it's one thing to "object" and it's another to work through lobbying congress and writing and backing "Propositions" designed to make it impossible for me to marry my partner. What if I was trying to break up your family because I thought it was illegitimate and not sacred because you don't belong to my religion? How much "tolerance" would you then show me?

Could not have said it any better!

[Anonymous]

On DCUM, religious tolerance is very good, unless one is a Christian and then the Agnostics and Atheists bash us about pagan customs and that our holidays are secular. Treat others as you would wish to be treated is still a pretty good way to live your life and teach the same to your children.

[Anonymous]

14:50, please, take a paragraph break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On DCUM, religious tolerance is very good, unless one is a Christian and then the Agnostics and Atheists bash us about pagan customs and that our holidays are secular. Treat others as you would wish to be treated is still a pretty good way to live your life and teach the same to your children.

I wouldn't go this far. However, I have noticed that only one person seems to bash gays for religions reasons, vs. lots of religious people who say they support gay marriage et cetera. But there are 3-4 atheists who consistently bash all christians, not just the catholic and evangelical ones, on the theory that all christians are responsible for the bad behavior of a few. There seems to be an imbalance on DCUM. This makes me wonder about the cries of "persecution" from DCUM's atheists!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On DCUM, religious tolerance is very good, unless one is a Christian and then the Agnostics and Atheists bash us about pagan customs and that our holidays are secular. Treat others as you would wish to be treated is still a pretty good way to live your life and teach the same to your children.

I wouldn't go this far. However, I have noticed that only one person seems to bash gays for religions reasons, vs. lots of religious people who say they support gay marriage et cetera. But there are 3-4 atheists who consistently bash all christians, not just the catholic and evangelical ones, on the theory that all christians are responsible for the bad behavior of a few. There seems to be an imbalance on DCUM. This makes me wonder about the cries of "persecution" from DCUM's atheists!

That is an outrageously skewed reading of DCUM and clearly through the lens of your own biases.

[Anonymous]

Actually, you could probably do a study and find numbers to support this. Even if you don't include the numerous repeat posts by the ranting atheist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand atheism, I think agnosticism is a more logical position. Dawkins himself says he's agnostic, because we can't know for sure. Anybody care to weigh in?

Sure, but the distinction's irrelevant. Dawkins goes on to say he's agnostic about Poseidon...also the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Christians are atheists in regard to every god who men have ever believed in--except one. It's the reason why Pascal's Wager is a sucker's bet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an agnostic who attends a Methodist church with my family because my husband is Christian. I try to be tolerant, and I really believe in the possibility of just about anything. When my tolerance wanes is in the face of things like Proposition 8 in California. I got called a bigot over and over again on here a few months ago for bringing up politically related things the Catholic church has done that I find abhorrant. Saying Catholic=pedophile is bigotry. Saying you are horrified with the way the Catholic church handled the pedophile priests in their churches and the whole sex scandel is not bigoted. Saying, "Catholics hate women," is bigoted perhaps. But saying you object to the way the Catholic church has inserted itself into modern politics in an effort to remove choice as an option for all American women is not bigoted. Some people CANNOT hear any criticism of their chosen faith. I think there are also many people in this area who are "cafeteria" Catholics, to use a possibly offensive but descriptive term, and are sensitive themselves to these things. Maybe saying Catholics hate gay people is inaccurate and bigoted...but when the actions for the church are making it harder for a whole group of people to secure what should be civil liberties it inculcates intolerance in those on the outside. Are there any Catholics on here who can at least relate to that? If I am a lesbian trying to live my life and raise my children and a church that I do not belong to nor agree with is actively trying to break up my family (or actively trying to delegitimize it politically through banning my marriage) then how much "tolerance" for that institution am I supposed to muster? I may understand that some people object to my lifestyle, but it's one thing to "object" and it's another to work through lobbying congress and writing and backing "Propositions" designed to make it impossible for me to marry my partner. What if I was trying to break up your family because I thought it was illegitimate and not sacred because you don't belong to my religion? How much "tolerance" would you then show me?

Could not have said it any better!

Shame on you for bashing folks' religious beliefs! You're why we can't have a decent discussion about "faith"!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I tend to see posts that refer to fairies and spaghetti monsters as a sort of mockery that is intended to make me think about whether my faith is misplaced.

Either that, or a way for non-believers to talk about why it is that they don't believe without implicitly endorsing the "faith" position. Again, a lot of the nomenclature of religious belief is a form of question-begging. "I don't believe in God Almighty The Creator" is different than "I don't believe in any of the thousands of omnipotent sky-dieties that folks around the world worship". To a religious believer, the former just sounds respectful. The latter, completely disrespectful. I suspect the reason folks find it disrespectful is that it doesn't validate the religious believer's assumptions. But how could we without endorsing them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an agnostic who attends a Methodist church with my family because my husband is Christian. I try to be tolerant, and I really believe in the possibility of just about anything. When my tolerance wanes is in the face of things like Proposition 8 in California. I got called a bigot over and over again on here a few months ago for bringing up politically related things the Catholic church has done that I find abhorrant. Saying Catholic=pedophile is bigotry. Saying you are horrified with the way the Catholic church handled the pedophile priests in their churches and the whole sex scandel is not bigoted. Saying, "Catholics hate women," is bigoted perhaps. But saying you object to the way the Catholic church has inserted itself into modern politics in an effort to remove choice as an option for all American women is not bigoted. Some people CANNOT hear any criticism of their chosen faith. I think there are also many people in this area who are "cafeteria" Catholics, to use a possibly offensive but descriptive term, and are sensitive themselves to these things. Maybe saying Catholics hate gay people is inaccurate and bigoted...but when the actions for the church are making it harder for a whole group of people to secure what should be civil liberties it inculcates intolerance in those on the outside. Are there any Catholics on here who can at least relate to that? If I am a lesbian trying to live my life and raise my children and a church that I do not belong to nor agree with is actively trying to break up my family (or actively trying to delegitimize it politically through banning my marriage) then how much "tolerance" for that institution am I supposed to muster? I may understand that some people object to my lifestyle, but it's one thing to "object" and it's another to work through lobbying congress and writing and backing "Propositions" designed to make it impossible for me to marry my partner. What if I was trying to break up your family because I thought it was illegitimate and not sacred because you don't belong to my religion? How much "tolerance" would you then show me?

Could not have said it any better!

Shame on you for bashing folks' religious beliefs! You're why we can't have a decent discussion about "faith"!

I am trying to decide if this is a satire post and feeling inadequate.