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Hey Y'all:
Reading another thread has put me squarely in mind of my real problems with
Xtianity, and more particularly with Xtians in a more general way.
[note: I don't so much mean the Xtians taking part in the other thread, many
of whom are making some really interesting points for once. Kudos to the
friendly debaters. And don't even try to get up my snout with your
even-tempered rhetoric, Schuler! =) ]
I don't mind that people have their faith. I don't care what they believe
or teach their children in their own homes. I don't care how they tithe or
otherwise spend their money. I don't care who is doing who, or how, or what
configurations are ultimately achieved by the participants (hard to imagine
that the Supreme Being does either, but whatever...). I don't even care if
they talk about others as sinners who are going to hell, or whatever -- free
speech and all.
I happen to be pagan -- which means a lot less to me than a Xtians Xtianity
means to them. If I lost my faith in the next hour, I wouldn't care. Why?
Because I know that it is largely a "faith" issue -- I am *choosing* to
believe a thing whimsically. I think its beautiful, and I believe -- simple
as that. I recognize that my faith has no truth value except to me, there is
no divine knowledge that will cascade down upon me for holding these matters
of faith close to my heart. I think that ritual has more value than does
truth -- that ritual has more meaning than does the truth (whatever that may
be, truth being one of the slipperiest words ever conceived). In a sense, I
believe that ritual resonates with what *seems* like truth (and the actual
truth be damned). If it feels good, do it.
As a pagan, I never try to win converts to my pagan way of thinking.
Indeed, it is part of my personal faith that all such matters are highly
individualistic and that no one can or should intervene in the spiritual
life of another. I don't care how others choose to live their spiritual
lives, or even if they have what they may consider spiritual lives in the
first place. Like a good american should -- I mind my own business.
FWIW, I have read the Bible several times, in several translations, slanted
toward several belief systems. I have my Strong's Concordance, I have my
Smith's Bible Dictionary, I have my books of the Apocrypha, and
pseudographic texts, I have archeological books about biblical subjects, I
even have my No-Doze! And I still don't believe this rubbish -- I find it
interesting as a very culturally relevant mythology. And except as
literature, I find these texts dangerous, ethically demented, and
xenophobic. I think The Revelation is about as interesting as the last 20
minutes of Kubrick's 2001 on mushrooms, and I find that it holds about the
equivalent truth value.
So I wouldn't mind Xtians except that many of them (not all) have a tendency
to try to convert others to their Xtian belief system(s) and to control the
moral fiber of society (whatever that is). They don't mind their own
business, they try to legislate what I may or may not do based upon their
own individualistic preferences without a proper respect for my own. They
try to control what I may or may not view on television, see in museums, and
enjoy in private clubs. They come to my home and try to *teach* me the truth
of their mad beliefs. They scorn others publically (homosexuals being an
easy example of this intolerance) and thereby incur my own scorn for them in
return. In times past they have even murdered people like me because we did
not agree with them and would not agree with them under pain of torture.
So much for live and let live, minding one's own business, or doing not unto
others as one would have others not do unto oneself.
You know, I don't even want to make the world free for democratic republics
(and I am a very political creature) -- and you think I am going to stand
idly by while Xtian's attempt to make everyone into Xtians?! Or failing
that, at least get us all to act like Xtians would like us to act? Get thee
behind me!
Dear Xtians, I will leave you alone with your faith, if you will leave me
alone in mine. Sadly, you will not leave the rest of us alone -- I have
seen that. History has proved it out.
So be it.
There is no Moral Majority, just a very vocal minority. In reality, there
was a tolerant and silent majority. Silence = Death, therefore my own
silence is at an end. When the intolerant (Xtians, White Supremicists,
[nutty group of choice here]) speak their madness aloud, I will voice my
unflagging opposition to them and their objectionable beliefs.
Some Jehovah's Witnesses came to my house the other day, and I was perfectly
sweet to them. In reality, they are suggesting by their mere presence that
there is something missing or needful in my own situation. I should have
chased them from my door -- and next time I will. I have been too
respectful for far too long. What would they do if I came to their door with
books and pamphlets on Satanism?
Those kinds of nutty Xtians need to learn they are not safe on the streets
with their nonsense. Not when they go to people homes and disturb those
people's peace. Really, it's shocking that such things happen.
Just Imagine:
Knock, knock. "Good Day, Madam. Have you heard the good words of Satan, the
Liberator?"
or
Knock, knock. "Sir, would you sign my petition to stop a local production of
'Faust'?"
It's cultural warfare, come get some...!
-- Hop-Frog (Anyway, only Xtians believe in Satan. I don't have a lot of
use for such an image.)
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Message has 5 Replies:
 | | Re: The Faith Issue
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| (...) I've more often envisioned that when they came to my house, I'd invite them in, and explain my religious perspective to them. I'd probably quite enjoy it. Presuming I wasn't in the middle of something. Actually, someone did that to me on the (...) (23 years ago, 16-Nov-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: The Faith Issue
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| (...) Me too, sometimes. I think (1) the Koran may have the same problems. But when I asked about it what I got was a load of "you're not being tolerant enough, how dare you ask"... at least that's how I read the net net of what I got back. Would it (...) (23 years ago, 16-Nov-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: The Faith Issue
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| Hi Rick and all, The main points in this post that I agree with, are: (...) Oh-so-totally-true. What *you* believe is what matters. My beliefs are very different than, say, my Jewish friend Mimi's beliefs. It doesn't matter that we are both Jewish - (...) (23 years ago, 16-Nov-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: The Faith Issue
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| (...) And from what I've seen, people's faith changes (sometimes markedly) over time, anyway - the well-publicised story of Cat Stevens / Yusouf Islam comes to mind - so what you preach to me today may become abominable to you tomorrow. ROSCO (23 years ago, 16-Nov-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: The Faith Issue
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| (...) Richard, I've found the 2 fastest ways to get rid of them are: 1. Say "No thank you" and shut the door 2. Tell them I'm an atheist and watch their blank stares/shock/horror, as they turn around and leave. -- | Tom Stangl, iPlanet Web Server (...) (23 years ago, 16-Nov-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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