If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#41
|
|||
|
|||
"Matt Whiting" wrote: I don't think the issue with atheists is being offended by a religious expression, they are just jealous because others are happy and they are miserable. :-) It is precisely this kind of ignorant smugness that many non-Christians find so offensive. As a Jewish friend of mine put it, "I don't care if people want to celebrate the birth of a blasphemer, but I do care if they try to ram his birthday down my throat every year and expect me to be of good cheer." -- Dan C-172RG at BFM |
#42
|
|||
|
|||
In article , "Dan Luke"
wrote: "Matt Whiting" wrote: I don't think the issue with atheists is being offended by a religious expression, they are just jealous because others are happy and they are miserable. :-) It is precisely this kind of ignorant smugness that many non-Christians find so offensive. As a Jewish friend of mine put it, "I don't care if people want to celebrate the birth of a blasphemer, but I do care if they try to ram his birthday down my throat every year and expect me to be of good cheer." and this would be different from the smugness from "the Chosen"? -- Bob Noel looking for a sig the lawyers will like |
#43
|
|||
|
|||
However, when all the Airedale worshippers on the town council decide
to put a replica of the Holy Airedale on the town green, they've crossed the line, as far as I'm concerned. I have a feeling a good number of christians would feel the same, and insist the Holy Airedale be removed. Why would I be bothered about a statue of a dog? We have statues of horses, elephants, bulls, eagles aned a whole host of other creatures on display in many of the worlds cities. In November, in London, Princess Anne unveiled a statue of 2 mules, a horse and a dog. To her, they represent the animals of war. To some, they may well have some religious significance - so what? For myself, I suspect that the artist may well be one of the greatest political commentators of the year. Tony |
#44
|
|||
|
|||
Why would I be bothered about a statue of a dog?
Well, if the laws of the land were predicated on what that dog dictated to people, you might find that a statue of the dog would have an adverse (though indirect) impact on you. Jose r.a. homebuilt and student trimmed -- Freedom. It seemed like a good idea at the time. for Email, make the obvious change in the address. |
#45
|
|||
|
|||
On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 19:11:45 GMT, tony roberts
wrote: Why would I be bothered about a statue of a dog? We have statues of horses, elephants, bulls, eagles aned a whole host of other creatures on display in many of the worlds cities. Well, you probably wouldn't be, until the time the government, when at last composed solely of Airedale worshippers, insisted that you observe the "true" religion, and forced you to get on your knees whenever the Holy Airedale went by. |
#46
|
|||
|
|||
"Bob Noel" wrote: and this would be different from the smugness from "the Chosen"? Religious smugness is offensive wherever one finds it -- particularly in government. |
#47
|
|||
|
|||
On Mon, 27 Dec 2004 14:08:06 -0500, Bob Noel
wrote: In article , "Dan Luke" wrote: "Matt Whiting" wrote: I don't think the issue with atheists is being offended by a religious expression, they are just jealous because others are happy and they are miserable. :-) It is precisely this kind of ignorant smugness that many non-Christians find so offensive. As a Jewish friend of mine put it, "I don't care if people want to celebrate the birth of a blasphemer, but I do care if they try to ram his birthday down my throat every year and expect me to be of good cheer." and this would be different from the smugness from "the Chosen"? Very little differences exist between any of the religions when it comes to smugly assuming theirs is the only way to achieve "true happiness", as the poster did. Let them enjoy their smugness, I say. It is when they expect me to join in by providing my taxpayer-funded parks and buildings to help them in their attempts to proseletyze the world (and therby affirm their assumed right to be smug) that I object. Churches, synagogues and mosques are great places for exhibiting religious smugness of whatever variety. Parks are for feeding pigeons without religious intrusion. |
#48
|
|||
|
|||
wrote in message
... Parks are for feeding pigeons without religious intrusion. Well, without religious intrusion *by the government* (which is what I think you meant to say). Its fine for evangelists to come to public areas to try to persuade others of their views. (Personally, I enjoy trying to convert them to atheism in response.) It would even be fine for *private* groups to construct nativity scenes (or whatever) on public land, *provided* that the land is made available for *any* group to construct advertisements for *any* opinion, however unpopular or offensive. What's objectionable is when the government takes sides about religion by granting special privileges for particular religious expressions on public land. --Gary |
#49
|
|||
|
|||
"Dan Luke" wrote in message As a Jewish friend of mine put it, "I don't care if people want to celebrate the birth of a blasphemer, but I do care if they try to ram his birthday down my throat every year and expect me to be of good cheer." -- Dan C-172RG at BFM It sounds like you friend has issues. Living in any society as a minority, will have times that are difficult. I doubt you friend has had much "Ramming of the throat" compared to many countries governments might do. Your friend is still free to worship as he pleases, and also free to turn the other way, and not participate. Not too bad a deal, from where I sit. -- Jim in NC |
#50
|
|||
|
|||
"Morgans" wrote: It sounds like you friend has issues. Indeed, she does. Living in any society as a minority, will have times that are difficult. Living *free* in this society as a minority is precisely what is great about America. Ever heard the phrase "tyranny of the majority?" I doubt you friend has had much "Ramming of the throat" compared to many countries governments might do. We are not talking about other countries where the ramming is more brutal, but about the U. S., where it is more subtle but nonetheless real. Your friend is still free to worship as he pleases, and also free to turn the other way, and not participate. My friend is not free to "not participate" if *her government* sponsors or otherwise fosters religious observances contrary to her beliefs. Not too bad a deal, from where I sit. Freedom of religion is indeed a very good deal. For that reason it is worthy of vigorous defense against those who would enlist government in proselytizing their particular creeds. The idea is to keep our home-grown Ayatollahs from achieving the power that those in other countries have managed to get. "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance," remember? -- Dan C-172RG at BFM |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Merry Christmas to all | [email protected] | Home Built | 14 | December 28th 04 05:18 PM |
Merry Christmas to Everyone | C J Campbell | Home Built | 70 | December 28th 04 12:29 PM |
Merry Christmas | Dudley Henriques | Aerobatics | 2 | December 20th 04 10:47 AM |
Another Almost Annual Christmas Poem!!! | David Pincus | Home Built | 4 | December 28th 03 12:47 PM |