If someone can't respect my faith without attacking it then I just ask that they simply leave it alone. Thanks. ---KirbyI often hear people calling criticism or ridicule attacks. This worries me. To me, it sounds like some people equate criticism (especially of religion) with violence. I couldn't disagree more. Criticism is not violent and it's not attacks. If it were the case then I'd be the persecuted one, because I bet I get far more criticism than most christians do. However, I don't concider it as attacks and I don't think that I have ever been persecuted (yet).
Also, why is criticizing religion such a taboo? The fact that so many are offended by simple questions, makes me dislike religion even more. To me, it seems that it's all superstition. Don't disagree, no matter how ridiculous our doctrines are, or something bad will happen.
6 comments:
Yes, I agree with you. However, I think that, increasingly, criticizing just about anything is becoming "politically incorrect." I doubt it that it is a Canadian thing only. But here, you can say nothing negative, derogatory, or even mildly disagreeable about anyone or anything.
Truth be told, the United States and its people are the only ones we all have license to speak against. You guys are fair game ;-)
I feel compelled to apologize for that, seriously. How can I not? I live here.
Ah, and if you don't believe me, feel free to read this
I can answer this question. The reason why a person can't attack another person's faith or ideology is because that both are so intertwined with too many people's self-identities that to attack the ideas is tantamount to attacking the person!
I don't know how many times in recent years I've run into this mentality. Somebody offers an idea -- a really stupid or poorly thought out one -- and somebody disagrees. The person being disagreed with behaves as if the other person has pointed a gun at their head, threatening to pull the trigger.
Me, I'm from the old school. I like boisterous debates like Jane Curtain and Dan Aykroyd used to parody on Saturday Night Live. If you're of a certain age, how can you forget Dan's famous phrase -- "Jane you ignorant slut!" -- as a preface to his main point of rebuttal to her previous argument?
(Jane would usually reply, "Dan you pompous ass!")
Rambling Taoist is bang on the money. The reason people feel that a criticism of their religion is an attack is because they feel that they themselves are being criticised. I can follow the logic - if I claim that what you believe is stupid, you can make the inference that I think you are stupid for believing it - but people are about far more than their beliefs, and one doesn't have to look far to find examples of very intelligent people who believe very dumb things.
What is needed is an attitude of objectivity towards one's own beliefs and those of others. Unfortunately, most religious memes are threatened by such objectivity, and so rule it out with claims of "absolute truth".
" Can faith be attacked? "
No it cannot even be challenged.
To do so brings instant anger, hate, disbelief, terse confrentation. I find these to be prevelent behavoir among the people that are believers. It is rare that I ever meet a person of faith who is tolerant of even discussing the validity of gods.
It is the surest way I know of to lose friends. I hear intellectualy brilliant discussions among them of everything gods can do but never how. Godcandoit is never questioned. Yet each one knows as a fact what gods mean and know and won't or will do. Their example of reason is enough for me not to believe any of them or want to be.
ibex
Anonymous Said,
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To do so brings instant anger, hate, disbelief, terse confrentation. I find these to be prevelent behavoir among the people that are believers. It is rare that I ever meet a person of faith who is tolerant of even discussing the validity of gods.
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I couldn't agree more. I am a believer, and the lack of believer's ability to challenge their own beliefs is rather pathetic, let alone others challenging them.
If I were agnostic, or atheist, and looked up on the "Christian Religion", I would honestly have to say that I would want nothing to do with it. Well, what do you know, I am a Christian, and even I want nothing to do with traditional Christianity as we know it. Go figure.
But, I have found many atheists and agnostics to be quite insulting and rude. And, given that, I understand how some believers may get frustrated. But, the same goes for Christians.
Personally, I simply have no use talking to people who are not honestly wanting the truth: atheist, Christian, agnostic, or otherwise.
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