My Dear, religion is like a penis...

[Playinghardball]

[LittleBlue]

1. Did the Dowager Countess actually say that?

Downton Abbey

[NastyRiffraff]

5. Dunno if she said it but

I can easily picture her saying that.

[TxDemChem]

19. I've never heard her say it,

but I do have a similar quote on my work PC's wallpaper.

[anneboleyn]

29. I wish...I can imagine her tone and delivery perfectly!!! And Cora would laugh...

so would Sybil...in the old days anyway....

Of course prude, bourgeois Matthew would have pursed his lips in shock, disapproving of "such talk" uttered by one of the Crawley ladies.

[LittleBlue]

57. Damn, the good old days

Sybil and Matthew

[srican69]

71. can't wait for the next season to start! NT

[LittleBlue]

80. It's already started

The season is nearly over in Britain, they get to watch DA earlier than us. Not being able to wait, I just download them.

[srican69]

81. where do you download it from? Appletv?

[silverweb]

2. How very, very true!

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]And so succinctly put.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Sounds a bit stiff.

.

[NightWatcher]

4. my fav comeback to "it says so in the Bible" comes from Patton Oswalt

"I'm glad you like a book".

I like books too, but I don't go around forcing everyone to eat green eggs and ham just because I have a book that says it's good to do so.

[Moonwalk]

7. Cruz tried to force everyone to eat green eggs and ham for several hours....

Might have gone over better if he'd stuck to the bible

[Mopar151]

56. True dat x 237.3!

"Several" hours of actually reading the Good Book might straighten him up and get his mind right - 'Specially the parts about
(R)moneychangers, false idols, and the like.

[calimary]

31. Love it!!!

[Arugula Latte]

34. Heretic!

You shall be smote by Seuss presently.

[dchill]

6. However, only one of those waving activities...

Is legal.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. And that is a shame. nt

[Boom Sound 416]

8. They sure do make a lot people scream

"Oh God!!"

[avaistheone1]

9. My dear, atheism is like a penis too.

[paleotn]

10. possibly....

....but we've done a whole lot less waving over the centuries. We're also not real big on having ours codified by legislation.

[Mr. Evil]

14. Thank you. n/t

[calimary]

32. Welcome to DU, Mr. Evil!

Glad you're here! I bet a lot of eyeballs came directly here! MOST alluring subject line!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

15. Why? Because it probes the unknown?

[TeeYiYi]

37. Do atheists have one of these?...

The Christian Science Society, whose slogan is ‘rising up’, recently moved into its new greener place of worship in the city of Dixon, Illinois.

...I didn't think so.

TYY

[hootinholler]

45. I wonder if they stiffed the architect?

In the trades, churches are normally a pain in the ass to work on.

[TeeYiYi]

46. More than likely...

...after it was erected. That would have been hard on him.

TYY

[hootinholler]

47. You're right

Probably left him fapping in the wind.

[TeeYiYi]

49. No doubt...

...getting hosed like that was a bugger.

TYY

[hootinholler]

50. I'm sure more than one church lady

is clutching her pearl necklace.

[TeeYiYi]

51. ...while tugging...

...at her beads. What a bummer.

TYY

[rhett o rick]

83. Yes, but it doesnt look like it's been smacked with a ruler. nm

[Hissyspit]

53. The only time atheism ever COMES UP

is when someone brings up religion.

I want you think LONG AND HARD about that.

No, seriously.

[rhett o rick]

82. You are right. Sounds like schoolyard stuff. What I hear is, "Oh yeah, atheists do stuff too and

they look funny."

[SchmerzImArsch]

12. Some religions expect you to evangelize. What should those believers do?

[hrmjustin]

13. Do not be a pain about it. Leave people be. I think in all my life I invited 2 or 3 to church.

[SchmerzImArsch]

18. Your definition of pain may not be mine.

For example, I don't want "under god" in the pledge, I don't want "in god we trust" on the currently. I don't want religious television on my basic cable. I don't want religion to have tax exempt status.

I consider all of these expressions of religion a pain.

Who's definition of "don't be a pain" should we use.

[hrmjustin]

21. My view is leave people alone and don't try to force your religion on them.

We may disagree on some of this issues you said but I believe in the separation of church and state.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

33. "Who's definition of "don't be a pain" should we use."

This guy?

[Warren DeMontague]

16. Some religions expect you to put on a track suit and eat seconal-laced apple sauce

Just because a religion "expects you" to do something, doesn't mean you need to do it.

[SchmerzImArsch]

17. It's not that simple.

[Warren DeMontague]

23. Yeah

it is.

[Go Vols]

28. +1

[SchmerzImArsch]

54. Because it is so easy to undo a lifetime of teaching

[sibelian]

66. What's that to the rest of us? You think we all collectively owe religion something?

We don't.

[SchmerzImArsch]

67. The rest of us?

As a member of "the rest of us" it is disappointing to see how intollerent some of the rest of us can be.

To return to the OP original imagery, religious folk aren't the only ones swinging penises in people's faces.

[cleanhippie]

68. Telling others to get their metaphorical penis' out of ones face is not the same

As waving ones metaphorical penis in ones face.

[SchmerzImArsch]

69. That wasn't what I was saying

But telling people to basically shut up about what you don't like is, yes, the same thing. It is censorship, which is your prerogative, but really you should just tell them you're not interested, and move on. Kind of like changing the channel.

Like I said earlier, every pledge of allegiance, every monetary transaction, every god bless you and merry Christmas is a waving penis. I just move along and change the channel.

[cleanhippie]

72. Who is telling anyone to shut up?

The message here is "Thanks, but No Thanks. Why are you still talking to me about this?"

No one is telling anyone to shut up, its asking for some mutual respect of privacy. The concept is simple, really.

[SchmerzImArsch]

74. It seems implicit to me when the analogy is a waving penis.

But I think this topic is exhausted.

[cleanhippie]

75. Religion IS that penis. Asking people to have the respect for others they want for themselves

is not telling anyone to shut up, it telling them to get the penis out of their face.

[SchmerzImArsch]

77. There a any number of penises religious and otherwise.

We might not agree with them, but religious people clearly see marriage equality as a penis, universal health insurance as a penis.

Basically, any position that is ranted without regard to the audience is a penis to someone else.

That is all that I am saying.

[cleanhippie]

78. Seeing a penis when there is no penis there is a whole other problem.

Equal Rights (marriage equality) and Human Rights (healthcare) are not equivalent topics that can be associated with this analogy of the penis. Rights are Rights. We have the Right to believe whatever we want. We have no Right to have those beliefs respected. People have Rights, beliefs do not.

[sibelian]

85. "religious folk aren't the only ones swinging penises in people's faces"

Oh yeah? Who's on your list?

[nomorenomore08]

24. Look, practice your religion at home and at church all you want. Nobody's stopping you.

Shit, go out and proselytize if you really want to, but even so you should respect people's wishes when they tell you to leave them alone.

[SchmerzImArsch]

55. And the Sunday religious shows?

Isn't that prosletizing? I think it is. But if I want cable I have no choice.

[HappyMe]

62. Sure you do.

Don't watch any of it.

Isn't what you are saying here proselytizing?

[greiner3]

64. "...proselytizing..."

proselytizing;

"convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another."

Just by stating his opinion does NO ATTEMPT convert, anything (except for the cable company's 'bundling' policy).



Jus' saying.

[mbperrin]

20. They should take care of their own family instead of being on the street telling me

about the future.

The future is me, under the ground.

Now go home and love your kids, pets, and any other significant person in your life.

[Crunchy Frog]

25. Wave it about with wild abandon?

A accept that some people will hold you in the same regard that they do flashers.

Of course, this will give you permission to feel like a Christian martyr.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

30. I like the missionary on "Erik The Viking" myself....

He did the smart thing and quit.

[calimary]

40. Welcome to DU, SchmerzImArsch!

Nice to have you with us. I would say I'd hope the evangelizers proceed gingerly. I don't like it in my face either.

[sibelian]

65. Chuck the religion and do something less antisocial.

There's no automatic get-out clause for irritating behaviour based on some nebulous "right" to believe in "stuff", whatever the stuff is.

[Bradical79]

73. They can choose to leave their religion

Or deal with people unhappy with their evangelism. They have options.

[Festivito]

22. Bad analogy. More like wearing a team logo.

We have right to religious choice and practice in America. No, we don't have a right to shake our privates in others faces. Therein the analogy FAILS.

We also do not have a right to stalk others, hound others or deny others their right to speak because we will not stop talking. But, we do have the right to say, hey, how's dem (insert team name), or, hey, I feels da Gods luv in mys heart today. How's you?

And, that is not analogous to waving ones privates in someones face.

Cutesy photo. Silly, mistaken verbiage.

[nomorenomore08]

26. The point has to do with rudeness. It's rude to keep proselytizing someone when they've told you

"no thanks" already. Just as it would be rude to persist in any other unwanted interaction.

[Festivito]

38. ...and I addressed that in my post, making your response redundant. eom.

[thesquanderer]

27. The analogy works...

...because it accurately expresses some people's views. It doesn't have to express everyone's.

[Festivito]

39. Your point is to say that you'll ignore my reasoning, and instead restate the opinion.

Not exactly mind bending or such.

[thesquanderer]

43. I see that response as a non-sequitor.

I did not restate any opinion.

Also, your reasoning explains why you don't agree with the point the analogy is making. That does not make it a bad analogy. For people with some views that are different from yours, it can be a good analogy.

Ask some people if they would rather have a penis or religion waved in their face, and some people will pick the penis. "Legal rights" is not the point. The perspective of the OP is a perfectly valid one, and for people who share that perspective, that analogy makes their point well.

[Festivito]

52. I took: "analogy works..." as restatement. So, the OP only works for *some*?

If you live in a bubble of agreement with *some* people, then, no matter how accurate the expression, it fails to relate to the outside audience. And, DU is an outside audience.

Also, you are mistaken. I do agree with the sentiment of the attempt, bad analogy aside, to say that people should not go overboard with expressing themselves. And, they should certainly step back with their hatreds. By me though, once admonished to do so.

But, to say that others with whom one disagrees should hold themselves utterly silent is ridiculous in this country with its first amendment. They have a right to speak. To say that speaking is the same thing as waving a penis in someones face is equally ridiculous. One is legal and benign, the other is not legal and could be a danger.

[thesquanderer]

58. We're talking about different things.

I'm talking about whether the analogy properly describes some people's attitudes. It does.

You're talking about whether people should have those attitudes. That's a whole different discussion.

All I ever tried to say here is that the fact that you disagree with people who feel that way does not make it a bad analogy. I think it communicates their position quite well. Therefore it is a good analogy.

As for the rest, of course free speech entitles you to talk about your religion, and even flaunt it. But likewise, listeners are perfectly entitled to feel put off by that, and even to say they find it as welcome as a flaunted penis.

[Festivito]

60. Some people think free speech is like having a penis waved in their face...

As said Buba Fat, as he sat on the mountain Yat.

*Some* people will believe anything.

[thesquanderer]

70. I think you're still missing the point

Free speech CAN be like having an unwanted penis waved in your face, for some people, depending on what the speech is. Take religion out of it. How about referring to a black person with the N word? It's legal. Does someone have the right to feel just as offended as if someone waved their penis at them? I'd say yes. Maybe more!

[cleanhippie]

76. You are wasting your time.

It would seem the person you are dealing with is only able to see this as "My beliefs are freedom of speech, and asking me to not bother others with it is unreasonable and oppressive."

[AngryOldDem]

35. It works.

Even Christ said that one's faith should be a private matter. Making a public display of it is very much an unwanted intrusion to many, myself included. When someone comes up and asks if I "know" Jesus or have Christ "in my heart," or if I want to join a prayer circle jer---er, prayer circle, then that is waving their religion in my face.

That said, I would like to find the t-shirt that the atheist scientist gave to Bill Maher on Real Time a few weeks back: It's slogan: "Religion: Together, We Can Find A Cure."

[Festivito]

42. Well! You say so! Ahh, did not Christ also lift his hands and pray aloud?

Can't stand Him either, can you? Waving religion in your face, he would.

I understand to a degree. You don't like to see it, hear it, have it waste your precious seconds of life.

Then, work hard to eliminate those pesky rights of speech and practice.

Good luck!

Oh, and, in response to your title from second grade recess logic class: Does not!

[AngryOldDem]

44. Religious folks can do whatever they want.

But when it's clear I don't want to hear it, the conversation should end there.

ON EDIT: To be clear...the conversation should end with ME. Move on to the next person who might be receptive to the message. I'm done with this inanity. I should have known better in the first place.

[Festivito]

48. No, they can't. And, I addressed that end of conversation bit upthread.

Your on edit is too unclear. Either the conversation you have with someone else should end with you, or you might have meant this conversation should end with you. Either way, I don't know why conversations must end with ... you.

Regardless, religious folks cannot do whatever they want.

[ancianita]

63. Please cite a source for his lifting hands and praying aloud. He said to keep it quiet and private.

http://biblehub.com/matthew/6-6.htm

This shouldn't be an issue of free public speech. It's an issue of whether religionists keep their prayer to themselves and simply live by their creed without judgment of others.

[LanternWaste]

36. Kinda the same way I feel about economics, arts, philosophy and sports...

Kinda the same way I feel about economics, politics, arts, philosophy and sports. Hope your luck's better than mine!!!

[hrmjustin]

41. I wish people would let people be. If they want to believe or not, just leave people alone.

[Peacetrain]

79. Bingo.. if it was painful to her

and it impacts not another soul on this planet, or how the race is run.. it was lubricious to try and force her to wear something she felt so strongly about. The race officials are the ones with egg on their faces..

[Hissyspit]

59. Miss Jean Brodie

"I'm in me prime."

[ReRe]

61. K&R

I love the actress and I agree with that statement. I absolutely hate it when someone plays the religion card. They use it as a shield, as a way to give their asinine ideas credibility. Never ever trust someone who wears their religion on their sleeve. It's the dead give away that you are conversing with a hypocrite.

[idwiyo]

84. k&r