Religious-People-Bashing and Persecution of the Religious; How Big a Problem in America?

[El Pinko]

Poll question: Religious-People-Bashing and Persecution of the Religious; How Big a Problem in America?

Religious-People-Bashing and Persecution of the Religious; How Big a Problem in America?

[donco6]

1. I think 99% of the "religious people bashing" is really . . .

. . . more like "they won't roll over and do what Christians want them to do!"

[Marr]

5. Exactly. Funamentalists often seem to interpret any criticism

of their actions as an attack on their religion.

[ihavenobias]

8. DING, DING, DING, We Have A Winner!

:)

[FredStembottom]

6. Exactly.

Refusing to convert and help establish Christianity as the official state religion is bashing, apparently.

[saltpoint]

2. The nurse who works the late shift in a hospital in Omaha or

Jefferson City or Delray Beach who takes inspiration in a religous model of any stripe is pretty darn high on my list compared to the raving maniac asshole in the village square trying to take CATCHER IN THE RYE off my public library shelves.

To me, there's a vast difference between the two. The fundie nutbags deserve what they get, and should be challenged forcefully at every step of the way in the name of Jefferson's and Madison's and Paine's democracy.

The late-night nurse is owed our thanks.

[donco6]

10. Without question.

But I'll bet if you asked her if she's being persecuted for her religion, she would look at you like, "WTF?"

Well, maybe not WTF, but you get the idea.

[saltpoint]

15. LOL! It would be a great film scene if such a nurse did say WTF, though!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

18. Yes!

If someone takes the teachings of the masters and lives them, that is great! I've found the basic teachings of the major religions to be very similar--do unto others, strive to help without thought of reward, and don't make a show of yourself or your faith. I have had many a Christian tell me what a good Christian I am--and I just smile. The teachings are what is important, not the means through which you learned them.

[saltpoint]

21. A big hug to ya on this Sunday afternoon, ayeshahaqqiqa.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. Discrimination against white males: an american tragedy.

[zanne]

16. Warren; Please tell me you're kidding. nt

[Warren Stupidity]

please tell me the OP was kidding

of course I am kidding.

[zanne]

20. Thank goodness. nt

[Maestro]

4. It's not eve just the agnostic or atheist, but anyone who

questions the Bible or the role of religion in general. From conservative to fundie type Christians along with fundamental jews and muslims, simply questioning the Bible, Torah or Koran from a liberal thinking point of view is tantamount to blasphemy and heresy.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. You have hit the nail on the head

The problem is the fundamentalist. Sufis in different parts of the world are persecuted, their meeting centers destroyed, etc, etc, because of their liberal interpretation of the Qur'an and their tendency to internationalize their fellowships.

[SmileyRose]

7. There is NO persecution of THE CHRISTIAN religion or even just Fundies.

Oh they whine endlessly about how they are being persecuted but it's all in the tiny little heads. No one is after the Fundies or anyone else (OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH) to shut them down religiously. All that's happened is something more like a "bodyblock" where we finally said enough is enough and started trying to stop them from implementing the American Taliban.

Sorta like a wife beater whining because the cops stopped him from beating on women.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. I disagree about persecution--non-Christian faiths do suffer persecution

There have been many instances of mosques being attacked since 911. And anyone who knows history realizes that Jews in this country have been banned from country clubs and have had to endure anti-Jewish jokes.

[SmileyRose]

22. Opps, not what I meant at all, I'll edit my post.

I was thinking only in terms of the christian religion since that was hot I took the OP.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

29. that was very kind of you to do

And I agree with your sentiments about Christianity.

[struggle4progress]

34. In the more intolerant parts of the country, anyone who isn't just like the neighbors is a target

I saw clean-cut kids get the crap beat out of them on TV in 1968 for opposing the Vietnam war

I saw Klansmen shoot down communists on TV with complete impunity in 1979 Greensboro

The haters and eliminationists have never disappeared: Sikhs and others were murdered here after 9/11

A variety of other prejudices are fairly near the surface in American life: anti-Jewish prejudice and anti-Catholic prejudice haven't disappeared here

Ask a heavy set woman if she's ever been mocked for her weight. I's bet a surprising number of mathematicians have been called Unabomber, too

[JerseygirlCT]

37. And the bigotry is anything but past.

Muslims attacked after 9-11 - Sikhs attacked after 9-11 - because they wear turbans (and you know all those types are alike, right?). Attacks on Jews and Jewish property continue pretty regularly today. I can't tell you how many "Jew jokes" I've been subjected to by otherwise seemingly normal, well-adjusted people.

And I doubt we even need to mention pagan religions - they're all satanists in the eyes of too many.

Ignorance is rife, I'm afraid. And what people don't understand they fear. And what they fear, they come all too easily to hate.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. I had to post "other" because

there has been, and continues to be, real persecution of certain non-Christian religious minorities. For example, mosques have been firebombed and there have been allegations of discrimination in hiring Muslim Americans. And there is at least one case of DWM (driving while Muslim) where a family was stopped by a state trooper because the woman driving the vehicle was wearing hijab. And let us not forget the Sikh shop owner in the Southwest who was murdered in 2001 because the shooter thought he was Muslim and wanted revenge for 9/11.

I agree that atheist bashing and persecution do happen in this country-don't get me wrong. But I did wish to point out that religious minorities are also sometimes treated badly. And I would contend that it is easier for those who hate to target these minorities because of their designated meeting places and their appearance.

[Dr.Phool]

11. You know you're in trouble when...

Your state has more churches than bars.

[rucky]

13. They have to act persecuted so they don't seem like the bullies they are. n/t

[datasuspect]

17. it's practically like they are being fed to the lions in the colosseum.

being that christians are so marginalized and excluded from the mainstream and all.

[beam me up scottie]

19. Anti-christian bigotry:

[SmileyRose]

23. Snort.

perfect. !!

[TechBear_Seattle]

42. That about sums it up

I've always loved that cartoon. :hi:

[beam me up scottie]

44. I do too!

I can't remember how many times I've posted it and it's still my favorite. :hi:

[Bill McBlueState]

24. Of Christians? No.

Mainstream Muslims certainly take a lot of undeserved crap, though.

[sniffa]

25. It's on par with the racism white people face

[LeftyMom]

26. "religion bashing" seems to be theist code for subjecting their beliefs to critical thinking

Apparently thinking about what they say and noticing flaws and inconsistencies is disrespectful somehow. :shrug:

[JerseygirlCT]

36. Oh, I don't think so.

The people who would claim persecution IRL for their Christianity aren't likely to be engaging someone who wants to dispute their beliefs.

OTOH, in places where people willingly engage in those sort of dialogues, I do not think that disagreement is seen as "bashing".

[old mark]

27. Not nearly enough!!!

These people suck, and should be told how and how much much more often than they are.
As long as they are still able to sneer at others, they have not been attacked enough.

mark

[Edweird]

28. Give me a break. They are a bunch of finger pointing high-horse hypocritical lying scumbags.

Persecution my ass. THEY are the persecutors!

[aka-chmeee]

30. The only place I can watch a movie anymore

seems to be IFC because almost anywhere else, they've been sanitized to prevent abrasions to their Oh! So Delicate! sensitivities.

As an after thought, are you sure you didn't mean "Religious-People-Bashing-OTHERS and Persecution BY the Religious"?

[LWolf]

31. Other:

Discrimination against religious people who are not judeo-christian, as well as those who profess atheism, is prevalent.

[knitter4democracy]

32. In the immortal words of brian k. reese:

I'm sick and tired of whiny Christians!!!

As for religious people getting persecuted, I would agree that Muslims have a really hard time here.

[JDPriestly]

33. No persecution of Christians, but Unitarians and other minority religions are fair game for

fanatical Christians. And don't even think about Muslims or atheists or agnostics. They have virtually no respect at all.

[JerseygirlCT]

35. Christians are certainly a majority. And I do not think we're in any

way persecuted.

Minority religions, though, are often a different story.

[SidneyCarton]

38. Religious fanatics need to feel persecuted in order to justify their own persecutions of others.

No one wants to be seen as a bully, we all want to think that we're being the "good guys." Persecuting someone because of belief, while it has a long and storied history in America, is inherently contrary to the values of democracy and liberty. However, retaliatory persecution of alleged persecutors creates a sense of moral equivalence, therefore making it ok.

[JerseygirlCT]

39. Yup. nt

[pokerfan]

40. Christian Persecution Complex™

[goddess40]

41. The first choice is laughable

the last two groups that are okay to bully are Homosexuals and atheists. Actually the only religion in this country that's been being truly bashed is Islam and the vast majority of the bashing on all three of these groups is by those in the Christian groups.

I realize the Christian group is also the largest so it would make sense that they have the most bullies but it's also because way too many of them believe through their religion tells them that these other groups are inferior.

[Dorian Gray]

43. I don't think it's a big problem in the US

I do think it sometimes happens more here on this website than anywhere else. In real life? Eh. Some friends hate religion, but they respect me and we agree to disagree. And I try to understand where their hatred of religion, particularly catholicism, comes from. A lot of evil was done by Catholic Clergy, and the Church is reaping what the leadership has sowed. Now they need to address those issues and do better moving forward.