question re. mocking and/or ridicule of xtianity...

[k_jerome]

I have noticed that Christianity is singled out as the target of mockery and ridicule here at a much higher rate than Judaism, Islam, or other religions. As an agnostic I see facets in every religion that can be questioned. Has it become vogue to ridicule Christians?

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I would say in a sense it has. But mind you, there are a lot of reasons

to mock it. Heck, I mock it myself, at least the conservative fundagelical version of it. Very hard not to. So cultlike and weird in many ways, and often a threat to others.

[ceile]

5. There is mocking to a certain extent

but I also think that a lot of times it's more "WTF?". How can people proclaim to love God, be good Christians and then proceed to act in the complete opposite manner. I feel that other religions are not as vocal in their condemnations of others, so they tend to get a pass.

on edit: meant to post to OP

[k_jerome]

13. I am not referring to pointing out the obvious hypocrisy of...

many MANY christians. But these hypocrisies exist in all major religions and they are not ganged upon in nearly the same proportion.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. That's the price of being dominant. -nt

[CottonBear]

3. We only ridicule hypocritcal Christians and fundy wingnuts here on DU.

I am not anti-Christian, however, I am anti-hypocrite and anti-fundamentalist wingnut.

[leftchick]

8. I always thought that was pretty clear

I am a practicing Catholic and I have never felt my beliefs ridiculed.

[k_jerome]

11. were you around here when the Pope died...

I guess it depends on your definition of ridicule.

[CottonBear]

19. Yes I was. I did not ridicule the Pope.

I'm not Catholic, so I really don't pay much attention to any pope.

Actually, I remember that some DUer made a very funny comment about the deceased pope's red shoes. They said "That's a nice pair of red roadslappers there." ;) It cracked me up!

[k_jerome]

9. I understand hypocrisy as...

being present in most, if not all religions. Is it taboo to ridicule the others?

[Freedom_Aflaim]

4. Only on Certain boards that usually promote diversity

:popcorn:

I'll sit by and watch the chorus tell you how bigoted you are shorly before this thread gets locked

[Nite Owl]

6. They have singled out themselves

they think that theirs is the only way, that they and only they are right. The problem isn't Christianity it's fundamentalism.

[k_jerome]

10. Are not fundamentalists present in other major religions...nt.

[Rosemary2205]

7. I find it offensive and immature.

Funny how many DUers will have a fit if ALL MUSLIMS are equated with the terrorists -- but have no qualms about equating ALL CHRISTIANS with dumbasses like Pat Robertson and Fred Phelps.

[Wanet]

12. As a Christian myself

I think that most people who lash out at Christianity are angry at the Religious Right for hijacking our political system, and most of the Religious Right call themselves "Christian".

That said, there are also some who have a very negative attitude toward the Christian religion in particular, and these attitudes are tolerated on DU in a way that negativity toward other religions isn't.

But we all need to live together and work together to defeat the evil that is overtaking this country. All of us need to continually try to do a better job of representing our faith or philosophy, and not let ourselves be offended by people who are angry. "Turn the other cheek" and all that...

-- Wanet

[MrSlayer]

14. It's not Christianity in general that's mocked, it's fundamentalism.

The nutcase fundies get mocked, the extremists. Those who have a very warped view about what Christ actually stood for. And that's mainly because there are so many more of them than of any other denomination in this country. If it was majority Muslim or Jewish or Hindu or whatever it would be the same for them. How many times have you been in the subway and had a radical Jew thrusting the Torah in your face and screaming that you are going to hell for not following it? My guess is never. It happens three times a week with fundie Christians. That's what it's about, not Christians in general.

[k_jerome]

18. Do you categorize all fundmentalist or "born again" christians...

as nutcases?

[LeftCoast]

15. Please cite examples where DUers ridicule all christians

I believe you'll find specific, RW nutjobs ridiculed, but very little in the way of condemnation of all christians.

[Rosemary2205]

17. Obama made a religious comment

and quite a few DU went off. Way WAY off. Obama could hardly be confused with Fred Phelps.

[LeftCoast]

25. No citation. Anecdotal.

:shrug:

[Rosemary2205]

36. You can use the search as easy as I can.

You aren't a toddler and I'm not your mommy.

[LeftCoast]

38. You made the claim w/out evidence. I'm not going to do your work for you.

:hi:

[IChing]

21. Yes please site that where Judaism or Christianity is mocked or ridiculed

"I have noticed that Christianity is singled out as the target of mockery and ridicule here at a much higher rate than Judaism"

I find your post flame bait, because it is disingenuous and blithely loaded with such a blanket of generalities that pass as a bifurcation
of an argument.

[k_jerome]

26. I actually see no flaming or insults here as of yet...

but you are welcome to move on as are we all.

[LeftCoast]

32. BTW, we're still waiting for you to cite specific examples

:hi:

[BushOut06]

39. You were given one, but you chose to ignore it

Someone brought up Obama's comments about reaching out to the evangelical community, and the response here on DU. You chose to dismiss that as 'anecdotal', although many of us remember it well. I'm sorry if most of us don't chronicle each and every instance that pops up, simply so that we can spit out the exact links to you when you demand them.

[LeftCoast]

41. Well, if someone would kindly show me a link I'll examine it

Otherwise it's totally anecdotal. :shrug:

[IChing]

33. You made the statement not I and have provided nothing to back up

Your statement.

Don't welcome me to move on either.

this should be placed in the religion forum according to DU rules

[BushOut06]

22. Here's one

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x84947

<snip>
"However, I found just as much evidence that Jesus was really the personification of a psychedelic mushroom called Amanita Muscaria than he was the son of God. And that cracked-out theory was proposed by one of Great Britain’s leading religious authorities. It’s an insane notion, but so is every religion, from Christianity, Islam and Judaism all the way to Scientology. Believing in something without proof is “faith.” Believe whatever you want. What I’m saying, though, is that faith makes you ignorant.
<snip>

While it doesn't actually ridicule Christians, it basically states that anyone who believes in a higher power, who has "faith" in God, is ignorant. Some of the most brilliant minds throughout history have been religious.

It's the same old tired cliche many bad things have been done in the name of religion, ergo religion is bad. Note the above oped doesn't single out fundamentalism. It attacks Christianity itself, along with all other religions that believe in a God.

[LeftCoast]

24. Sorry, that criticizes people who believe in religion. Next.

:shrug:

[k_jerome]

29. So you feel that all...

born again protestans are "RW nutjobs"?

[LeftCoast]

Show me a quote. I'll discuss specific examples.

Otherwise, we're just building a big ol' strawman.

[Jamastiene]

16. This should be interesting.

:popcorn:

I am an equal opportunity mocker, I guess. I posted a link to an article in R/T just the other day. It included right wing Jewish leaders as well as right wing Christian leaders. I'll mock any right wing Christian because they deserve it, but I think sometimes right wing "others" deserve to be mocked as well. As far as mocking all Christians, I used to do that before I met some really nice ones here on DU. Now, I try to distinguish between the hatemongers and the liberal Christians.

For what it's worth, I happen to think our best way out of this mess with Chimpy and his loser administration will be through the Christians who are in our corner; that is, the real Christians.

[niyad]

20. how has it managed to escape your notice that it is a certain

genre of xians who, using their "faith" as their basis, are intent on turning this country into a theocracy? It isn't the jews, or the muslims, or members of any other belief system, only xians. so, how is it you don't understand why it is primarily this particular brand of xianity that is being subjected to ridicule, etc?

[k_jerome]

23. I have noticed it mainly focuses on born again christians...

as I said, there are fundmentalists in several other religions and sects. My questions was regarding the obvious inbalance of ridicule. I believe the rapture is a belief of most "born again" protestants. Do you lump all these into this group you feel is trying to turn this country into a theocracy? Is this the basis for the ridicule of this entire group of christians vs say, fundamentalist muslims or jews?

[BushOut06]

35. Well, the "Rapture" is a stupid belief and deserves to be mocked

:sarcasm:

This is something I have seen repeatedly on this board. Yet many religions have "preposterous" beliefs. I rarely see anyone mocking the belief in reincarnation - yet many have no problem whatsoever mocking certain Christian beliefs.

As far as the "rapture" is concerned, what does it really matter to any of us if people believe that one day they'll be taken away? I agree, when that becomes the basis for governmental policy, it's a huge problem. But the belief in and of itself is no worse than many other religious beliefs.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

27. LOL.

Yeah, I remember from yesterday. You started whining about people attacking christianity when people criticizing homophobes for being against gay marriage. You were the first person to even bring christianity up.

Quit pulling our legs.

[k_jerome]

31. you seem to be the only one...

turning this into an attack type thread. is that your goal?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

Look in the mirror, pal.

If you want to see somebody starting attack threads.

"I have noticed that Christianity is singled out as the target of mockery and ridicule here"

[LeftCoast]

40. Then he fails to cite even a single specific instance.

Makes one wonder....

[Bluebear]

42. "' As an agnostic', I notice the Christians being ridiculed...."

:eyes: Nice touch.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

43. Sure.

This is the same character who posted some David Duke literature and then used it as an example of how anti-semitic DU is.

[poverlay]

28. When religion stops inflicting horror and suffering in the name of good

God, and morality, I'll stop ridiculing it...

When the righteous (Not that any are truly so), stop allowing travesty, tragedy, and massive hypocrisy to be perpetrated by those professing the same beliefs, I'll respect those beliefs.

True morality is nowhere near as popular as hypocrisy.

[BlooInBloo]

30. I thoroughly enjoy mocking all religions.

[Igel]

34. People know there are different kinds of

Xianity. Xians are not typically oppressed, or at least not viewed as oppressed. They are also--the kind stereotypically ridiculed here--white. Xianity has a history of oppression and violence that has been widely discussed. Xians, esp. conservative ones, are more likely to impact US domestic politics; most DUers are N. American, and affected by US politics (even Canadians are affected to some extent by US politics, and many watch US politics). So to some extent, it's 'think locally, act locally.'

Most Muslims are non-white; they view themselves as oppressed victims, and in some ways they're looked down upon; their historiography is that of a pure religion that is perfect, and to assume that early practitioners were bloodthirsty conquerors in search of slaves, concubines, and booty is to contradict many Muslims' "self definition". They have little impact on progressive politics.

While this holds domestically in the US, it doesn't hold overseas. Yet people don't stop to re-evaluate their attitudes.

Moreover, while there are completely distinct Xianities and Judaisms reflected in the various sects of each faith (with ecumenists somehow denying the differences and objecting to them at the same time), all but the most extreme Muslim will take issue at saying that the different sects have different muhammeds.

[Initech]

37. The fundy wingnuts bring it on themselves

Really, every insane fundie story on here is always good for a laugh!

[maddezmom]

44. locking

Bigotry in any form is not allowed on DU, if you feel a post needs the moderators attention please hit alert.