National spokesman for Iraqi Christians and Chaldean-American businessman Mark Arabo said the "evil" being carried out by ISIS militants in Iraq now includes shocking beheadings of children...I try to temper my criticism of religious people with empathy for the reason I believe they adhere to their faiths, but I feel driven to say that in the cold light of true religious persecution, the baseless whining of some American Christians really starts to look pretty reprehensible.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
This is what real religious persecution looks like
Just in case your persecute-o-meter needs calibration:
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You trying to to set the anchor for the persecute-o-meter at child beheading.
ReplyDeleteThe anchor for the persecute-o-meter is 0.00 .
So when the American Humanist Association objects to voluntary prayer by a high school football team, that registers on the persecute-o-meter. They key ethical concept is that while the government is secular, the population it is ruling is religious.
More on the persecute-o-meter:
Judge Orders the Removal of Ten Commandments From a New Mexico City Hall
Atheists File Federal Lawsuit to Remove Christian Monument at OK State Capitol
Iowa State University to Remove Bibles From Hotel After Atheists Object to 'Unwelcome Propaganda'
Atheists Object to '9/11 Cross'
This is part of a long campaign to make Secular Humanism the new orthodoxy. It has succeeded in media (television, motion picture films, newspaper, online).
Interesting in that they adopt a consequential ethics system.
Interesting that in the Red Scare of the 1950's, the American people were concerned that "Godless Communism" would take over. Well, they've gotten the Godless.
Otherwise I think your link to your prior article on religion, and your comments on atheism, is one of the most honest I have every read.
ReplyDeleteIt also goes to show that Everything You Need to Know Can Come From Start Trek
The Keeper's final words to Captain Kirk: "Captain Pike has an illusion, and you have reality. May you find your way as pleasant."
> The anchor for the persecute-o-meter is 0.00 .
ReplyDeleteNo, it isn't. In a world full of heterogeneous people, everyone has to put up with some things they don't like on occasion. We atheists have to put up with entitled sociopaths who expect to get their way on everything and whine about being persecuted when they don't. What do Christians have to put up with? Atheists trying to get the courts to enforce the Constitution. Oh, the horror!
> Otherwise I think your link to your prior article on religion, and your comments on atheism, is one of the most honest I have every read.
Thanks!
> Everything You Need to Know Can Come From Start Trek
Indeed, there is a lot of wisdom in Star Trek, though it's important always to keep in mind that it was just a TV show. And for the quote you cite it's important to remember that at that point Captain Pike's reality was pretty unpleasant. The overarching theme through all the Star Treks is that reality is generally to be preferred to illusions (c.f. "A Taste of Armageddon").
>> The anchor for the persecute-o-meter is 0.00 .
ReplyDelete>No, it isn't. In a world full of heterogeneous people, everyone has to put up with some things they don't like on occasion.
I would think the goal for "persecution," of all forms, would be to asymptotically approach 0.0. "Persecution" is far more serious than "annoyance," "irritation," "discontent," or "vexation."
>What do Christians have to put up with?
1. Banning of seasonal decorations from the public sphere; "Holiday Trees".
2. Constant portrayal in the media as narrow-minded bigots.
3. In films and television shows, the negative plot lines around religious faith, practices, and religious leaders. [In the few exceptions where a pro-relgion movie is produced, they do huge business]
4. Constant theme of Christians being dolts who believe the earth is 6000 years old, or don't accept evolution (nor natural selection). Pink unicorns and the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
5. Discrimination against Christians in higher education, with some professors less willing to hire job candidates if they are conservative Christians.
In short - constant persecution from the time of Christ until the present day.
>Atheists trying to get the courts to enforce the Constitution. Oh, the horror!
You'll find it's mostly Christrians who are trying to get the courts to enforce the Constitution. Including every member of the Supreme Court (OK, bad example!).
> 1. Banning of seasonal decorations from the public sphere; "Holiday Trees".
ReplyDeleteBecause it's the Christians themselves who insist that these are not "seasonal" or "holiday" trees, they are CHRISTmas trees, and the season is all about Christ. You can't have it both ways. Either these are secular symbols, or putting them up on public property is a violation of the establishment clause.
> 2. Constant portrayal in the media as narrow-minded bigots.
Maybe if they didn't constantly act like narrow-minded bigots they wouldn't be portrayed that way as often. (And in this regard, Publius, you really ought to look in the mirror.)
> 3. In films and television shows, the negative plot lines around religious faith, practices, and religious leaders
Oh, boo hoo. If it's as lucrative as you claim, why don't you go and make your own shows exhibiting religion in a more positive light? That's the appropriate free-market response.
> 4. Constant theme of Christians being dolts who believe the earth is 6000 years old
Again, if the shoe fits... 47% of Americans are young-earth creationists.
> 5. Discrimination against Christians in higher education,
It is entirely appropriate to discriminate against a young-earth creationist applying for a position in the sciences, just as it would be entirely appropriate for the Catholic church to discriminate against an atheist (or a Muslim) applying to be a priest.