Religion

The Velveteen Ocelot

(130,759 posts)

28. He can go if he wants to, and he's free to comment.

Sun Jun 16, 2013, 01:47 PM

Jun 2013

But if he wants to be taken seriously as an "objective" observer he should dispense with the mockery and snark. If he's sincerely interested in finding out what attracts people to religion he wouldn't be sitting there bitching about how boring and silly he considers the service to be; he'd stick around and ask people why they attend: He'd ask what it is about the service that they find meaningful. Do they attend because their family expects them to? Or because they're afraid God will punish them somehow if they don't? Do they feel better/happier/more relaxed because they went to church? What do they think actually happens when they take Communion? I'd take the guy seriously if he seemed interested in those questions; but if all he does is look down his nose and make fun of the service and the people who attend, he's just being an ass. And he should stay the hell home.

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An atheist goes to church: The Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary [View all] rug Jun 2013 OP

many are there there simply because they were taught to believe it was a sin to miss Mass MotherPetrie Jun 2013 #1

And many are there because it has meaning and value for them. cbayer Jun 2013 #3

I didn't say they weren't. But AFAIC, as a very ex-Catholic, the only meaning it had was promoting MotherPetrie Jun 2013 #36

You are not alone in the experience that you describe and cbayer Jun 2013 #39

Why is he doing this? Just so he can mock others? cbayer Jun 2013 #2

Who are you to judge his motivations? nt PassingFair Jun 2013 #4

I am not judging his motivations. I am questioning them. cbayer Jun 2013 #6

When YOU make a sincere effort to understand why non-believers don't get what you do from it... cleanhippie Jun 2013 #12

Nothing judgemental here. Nothing at all. PassingFair Jun 2013 #16

Nor here. rug Jun 2013 #17

Nor here: PassingFair Jun 2013 #18

Nor here. rug Jun 2013 #21

Again, I did not walk into his house for the sole purpose of ridiculing him. cbayer Jun 2013 #20

Do you live in that church? PassingFair Jun 2013 #27

It's called a sanctuary for a reason. cbayer Jun 2013 #30

So is this place. PassingFair Jun 2013 #35

You might go in there and say the cages needed cleaning, or cbayer Jun 2013 #41

He poked them with sticks! That's just wrong! PassingFair Jun 2013 #42

OK. You appear to be part of his intended audience, so it's pretty clear cbayer Jun 2013 #44

I doubt you would be so *understanding* if this were aimed at a group you were a member of. PassingFair Jun 2013 #45

Yeah, more hypocrisy from that poster. cleanhippie Jun 2013 #62

Actually, YOU are his intended audience, and you have given the very expected response. cleanhippie Jun 2013 #60

One last thing.... PassingFair Jun 2013 #48

Lol, you caught me. I posted it solely to offend cbayer. rug Jun 2013 #54

I presumed you posted it to wind up theists with a "we're under attack by nasty atheists" message muriel_volestrangler Jun 2013 #69

Were you offended? rug Jun 2013 #72

No, but you know I'm not a theist muriel_volestrangler Jun 2013 #74

Do you think the article is offensive? rug Jun 2013 #75

No. muriel_volestrangler Jun 2013 #76

Then what's the problem? rug Jun 2013 #77

Good - you think the article's fine, after all. muriel_volestrangler Jun 2013 #78

No, I think he's an ass and the article is simple chumming. rug Jun 2013 #79

Then why did *you* ask *me* what the problem is? muriel_volestrangler Jun 2013 #80

For something to offend it must first be offensive. rug Jun 2013 #81

Because some theists get needlessly offended muriel_volestrangler Jun 2013 #82

As do some atheists. rug Jun 2013 #83

Your posting of it here is the "chumming" PassingFair Jun 2013 #91

If you think that's chumming you should spend some more time here. rug Jun 2013 #95

Hahahahahahaha!!! What a most excellent response! cleanhippie Jun 2013 #9

Hahahahahahaha!!! Yes they are!!! rug Jun 2013 #13

Allow me. rug Jun 2013 #11

And my daughter replied, upon asking if she wanted to receive "the host": PassingFair Jun 2013 #14

I'm sure she's not. rug Jun 2013 #15

That's hilarious. Goblinmonger Jun 2013 #19

I must have missed "the pity brigade in here". Will you kindly point it out? rug Jun 2013 #23

............... Goblinmonger Jun 2013 #50

It looks like you're projecting. rug Jun 2013 #53

Uh-huh Goblinmonger Jun 2013 #59

Lol, I do see undies in a bunch but I can't say they're theists. rug Jun 2013 #61

"dare to say that going to church didn't make his sphincter tingle is amazing." cleanhippie Jun 2013 #63

Wait, he didn't poke them with pointed sticks? PassingFair Jun 2013 #90

One would think, right? Goblinmonger Jun 2013 #92

We had attended my niece's first communion, because she practically BEGGED us to come. PassingFair Jun 2013 #25

The response was at at best childish, and you claim it seemed appropriate, Leontius Jun 2013 #46

P.O.V. PassingFair Jun 2013 #47

So do you not think that the host in the RCC is the actual body of Christ? Goblinmonger Jun 2013 #51

No I think the response was childish as is your attempt to defend it . Leontius Jun 2013 #85

Christian AND meat-eating privilege in one post. Goblinmonger Jun 2013 #87

I'm sure that seemed really funny when you first thought of it Leontius Jun 2013 #89

And your understanding of your christian privilege is not even childish. It's willfully ignorant. cleanhippie Jun 2013 #66

I wasn't going to reply to your blathering but could you at least get your facts straight Leontius Jun 2013 #84

Your complaint is when christian evangelism in public-funded institutions is deemed unconstitutional cleanhippie Jun 2013 #86

Still at it I see, afraid to use the truth because it doesn't fit your agenda that's okay Leontius Jun 2013 #88

Repeating what you say is immoral? Do you even read what you write? cleanhippie Jun 2013 #93

He announced a few weeks ago he was going to spend the summer going to different churches. rug Jun 2013 #5

I missed that. cbayer Jun 2013 #8

No, i read one other visit but I haven't been following it closely. rug Jun 2013 #10

Actually, it seems to be communion bias. okasha Jun 2013 #96

Lol, I confess that was good. rug Jun 2013 #97

I suggest you read the first in the series intaglio Jun 2013 #52

Well then kudos to PZ for his detached investigation. rug Jun 2013 #56

The link goes to what he intends to do but it's easy to get from there to the cbayer Jun 2013 #58

The writer claims to be going to various church services in order to The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2013 #7

Yes, he should be banned from all churches! PassingFair Jun 2013 #22

You have a very loose definition of "observation". rug Jun 2013 #24

So judgemental! nt PassingFair Jun 2013 #26

Isn't it? rug Jun 2013 #43

He can go if he wants to, and he's free to comment. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2013 #28

It's his POV he's writing about not yours, not the "worshippers". PassingFair Jun 2013 #29

Here's what he said: The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2013 #32

He didn't say he was going there to interview worshippers. PassingFair Jun 2013 #37

You are entitled to your opinion and you are entitled to post your opinion. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2013 #38

He liked the music! PassingFair Jun 2013 #40

Excellent response and I agree. cbayer Jun 2013 #34

All are welcome at god's table. xchrom Jun 2013 #31

I think we should get together and stone this PZ Myers. Make sure he get's a real good stoning. BlueJazz Jun 2013 #33

Careful with that chocolate milk intaglio Jun 2013 #55

... Dawson Leery Jun 2013 #49

And? rug Jun 2013 #57

The writer is correct in his criticism of the church's absurd practices. Dawson Leery Jun 2013 #64

His critique was of the service. rug Jun 2013 #65

What an asshole Goblinmonger Jun 2013 #67

No, he's an asshole for suggesting this charade is an "investigation". rug Jun 2013 #73

If PZ thinks religion is a waste of time, he shouldn't waste his time with it. struggle4progress Jun 2013 #68

I'm sure he'd love to skepticscott Jun 2013 #70

Why do you imagine Rachel Carson, another scientist, was so interested in DDT? dimbear Jun 2013 #71

Wait, are you saying religion is a poison? Warren Stupidity Jun 2013 #94