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MellowDem

(5,018 posts)
16. You being irritated by "anti-religiosity" on DU...
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 03:56 PM
Mar 2013

is a symptom of the continuing power and privilege religion enjoys. There is nothing bigoted or wrong about being against certain philosophies or forms of thinking, much less saying what your opinions or preferences on such modes of thinking are on a discussion board, but the fact that this "irritates" you is because religion still has a lot of power and privilege. I'm glad you are of the opinion that religion is a choice that shouldn't be the basis for oppressing others, and for that I thank you.

But the pass religion gets is simply a reflection of the power it has. The owner of a progressive site congratulating religious people for the appointment of a new religious leader, a leader that very specifically calls out others on that same board as second-class citizens or worse, makes the point crystal clear that religion still has an incredible amount of power and privilege, even here, that we atheists get tired hearing about the laments of the religious about criticism of religion. When the feelings of the religious, which is a choice, comes before the rights of others, well, we've seen that power dynamic plenty of times throughout history.

I could post something about why I prefer free markets here on DU, and it would get shredded, yet, I wouldn't be "irritated", I'd kinda expect it on a progressive site like this, and people disagreeing with me is par for the course on discussion boards.

Someone needs to tell Scalia that... nt MellowDem Mar 2013 #1
There are a whole group of others that need to understand this as well. Skidmore Mar 2013 #3
I agree - i am religious and often irritated at anti-religiousity around DU el_bryanto Mar 2013 #2
I'm on the opposite side of this--I'm anti-religious, but I don't think this is true. Most people Dark n Stormy Knight Mar 2013 #4
That might be accurate - but I was referring more to the suggestion of how you should act el_bryanto Mar 2013 #6
100% agree. The imposition is so very problematic. Dark n Stormy Knight Mar 2013 #11
This atheist agrees w/you - TBF Mar 2013 #66
I would say that they choose not to consider other beliefs and to Skidmore Mar 2013 #8
Yes, but it seems to me that most don't have that choice. If you are brainwashed, and religion is a Dark n Stormy Knight Mar 2013 #14
Brainwashing isn't that effective, nor permanent jeff47 Mar 2013 #19
I understand where you are coming from... MellowDem Mar 2013 #31
inaccurate. Phillip McCleod Mar 2013 #28
LOL snooper2 Mar 2013 #36
You being irritated by "anti-religiosity" on DU... MellowDem Mar 2013 #16
Thank You MD!!! haikugal Mar 2013 #27
Arguments against religion are one thing - i generally don't have an issue with those el_bryanto Mar 2013 #29
Yes... MellowDem Mar 2013 #38
That's a fair response - certainly people on my side of the fence can be jerks as well el_bryanto Mar 2013 #42
I don't participate in the religious forum and I don't bring religion up notadmblnd Mar 2013 #45
That's not really what i am talking about - but I agree that if people el_bryanto Mar 2013 #47
IMO, discussing their beliefs is a form of preaching notadmblnd Mar 2013 #57
I guess I don't agree with you there el_bryanto Mar 2013 #60
It is a strong possibility that that congratulations was a personal one, not marketing, one person patrice Mar 2013 #48
Good move britaphilter Mar 2013 #5
So is politics, political affilitation, and philosophy (nt) The Straight Story Mar 2013 #7
This message was self-deleted by its author BainsBane Mar 2013 #9
That's why most religions teach it as an obligation complete with dire threats for those who choose. Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2013 #10
It's not that simple... pipi_k Mar 2013 #12
No, it is that simple. jeff47 Mar 2013 #17
This is not an excuse... MellowDem Mar 2013 #24
I think that what you stated timdog44 Mar 2013 #59
Religion is a choice, spirituality is not demwing Mar 2013 #13
I have come to understand that Skidmore Mar 2013 #15
My spirituality may evolve demwing Mar 2013 #22
It's not a choice for all the children whose parents force it on them. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #18
I think calling parents who make their kid go to Sunday School "child abusers" is a bit of a stretch Peter cotton Mar 2013 #21
Why? MellowDem Mar 2013 #26
Parents have the right to bring their child up in whatever tradition they see fit, Peter cotton Mar 2013 #34
There is a difference between education... MellowDem Mar 2013 #41
If someone tells you you are bad simply because you were born RainDog Mar 2013 #30
I was told that a number of times on other message boards when I mentioned I'm an atheist. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #39
You're not a child, I assume n/t RainDog Mar 2013 #49
Are you a child who has yet to attain the age of reason? cleanhippie Mar 2013 #51
You can try to reduce it to the absurd if you want, but forcing irrational nonsense cleanhippie Mar 2013 #37
Have you seen what they teach at "Good News Clubs"? backscatter712 Mar 2013 #44
No more and no less abusive that "forcing" a free market on them, LanternWaste Mar 2013 #40
Forcing irrational beliefs on children is abuse, whether the state thinks it is or not. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #46
In cases of stirct sects I might agree with you, but just teaching your children your faith is not hrmjustin Mar 2013 #43
Teaching about faith is one thing, indoctrinating children into it is abuse. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #50
I love the UU church. I don't always agree with their theology but many religious people can hrmjustin Mar 2013 #53
So we are in agreement then? There is a difference between religious education and indoctrination. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #54
Define what you mean Indoctrination. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #56
Already did. Several times. cleanhippie Mar 2013 #61
I would say it is a fine line. Forcing your children to believe something goes against my view hrmjustin Mar 2013 #67
"strict sects"?? Here we go again. Manifestor_of_Light Mar 2013 #58
Not all Christians believe in original sin. GreenStormCloud Mar 2013 #62
Southern Baptists most certainly do believe in the doctrine of original sin RainDog Mar 2013 #64
What is different is the idea of "accountability." RainDog Mar 2013 #65
For instance, some religions say you can't eat pork. But there is no state or federal LAW Lex Mar 2013 #20
Yes, here in the US. For adults. eallen Mar 2013 #23
Skidmore!! Kurovski Mar 2013 #25
Thank you. Skidmore Mar 2013 #33
To some of us, since it IS belief, the extent to which you NEED confirmation from others is the patrice Mar 2013 #32
If your beliefs are so steadfast, it should not require Skidmore Mar 2013 #35
I agree with all of that. What I believe does not require any of what you describe. patrice Mar 2013 #52
You nailed it Skidmore! alp227 Mar 2013 #55
thankyou Skidmore olddots Mar 2013 #63
Skidmore, the consensus of the GD hosts is this OP is about religion. Lone_Star_Dem Mar 2013 #68
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