This is really an excellent post. I don't really mind displays of religion or even face-to-face proselytization, mainly because I enjoy arguing. But if nothing else the ubiquity of crosses and bracelets and bumper stickers is a constant reminder of a minority status. A minority whose opposed majority identifies strongly enough with their religion that they would make such displays. That's power: expansive control over the production of cultural images (signifiers). A seemingly indestructible network of powerful individuals and institutions (see my post above referencing evangelism in the military).
And in those threads in which your opinions appear, you make it clear that you are against equal rights for gays. That being the case, it's a little baffling that you're so touchy when people bring it up.
Are you making a distinction between a cross and a crucifix? I see very few lay people wearing a crucifix as jewelry.
Absolutely it's a religious statement, but it is not analogous to a billboard. If it were, corporations would stop buying billboards and just wear a bracelet. I meet with a ton of people every week and I can't tell you the last time I actually noticed their jewelry. The only time I really notice jewelry a person is wearing is when an attractive woman wears a necklace that hangs near her cleavage. Otherwise, unless I'm in a personal setting, I never notice or care what anyone is wearing.
I believe they are quite analogous. They may cover different audiences, and occur on a different scale, but the intent is the same: put your faith on display for others to see. Whether it's one billboard that's seen by 100 people or a WWJD bracelet shown to 100 people, the message is conveyed just the same. So for people to say that the Christian message isn't constantly being put forth in public is quite disingenuous. Yeah, I notice those too. :grin:
They are not the same at all. Firstly, I don't think I have ever seen anyone outside of the Baptist grade school I went to wearing WWJD bracelets. Secondly, people don't wear them to advertise to other people, they wear them for themselves. When people wear a cross necklace, it is almost always under the shirt, not out in the open. A billboard is for advertisement, a cross is for personal purposes.
Man, you non-believers are making the Inquisitors jealous with your dogmatic attacks on all that is religious.
Stating opinions, but not ever backing them up (debating), or responding when I make salient points. There's a difference between stating opinions and backing up your opinions with reason. You never do the former. You do plenty of the latter. And what are you talking about with this "there are 3-4 threads where I've stated my opinions blah blah blah." Do you think I'm following you around, watching for every time you post opinions? And you tell ME not to flatter MYself. WOW. And yes, let's talk about putting words in someone's mouth. I said: To which you said in reply: Ummm.............. NO. Never did I equate slavery and homosexuality. The fact that you can't grasp what an "analogy" is is what touched off this whole thing. Hmm... it seems again, you cast the first stone, Mr-Puts-Words-In-My-Mouth. An analogy is "a similarity between like features of two things, on which a comparison may be based." That's like FEATURES, not like OBJECTS/THINGS. If I say a turd and a tree stump are both brown, I am not saying a tree stump is a turd. I am merely saying they are both brown. Similarly, you said BECAUSE IT WAS AROUND A LONG TIME, gay rights is a complicated issue. I pointed out that slavery was around a long time, and clearly slavery is not a complicated issue. Therefore your claim that "BEEN AROUND LONG TIME AUTOMATICALLY MEANS COMPLICATED" was invalidated. Analogy. NOT equation.
YUP! in a thread that has nothing to do with gay marriage, or..........wait for it.... slavery. you reply to a post not directed at you with...... I'm flattered.
^You're just not very bright, LL. Here again, you fail to understand what an analogy is. You suggested that one ought only hold beliefs that benefit them. Drexler pointed out that you hold an opinion (bigotry in this example) which does not benefit you in any apparent way.
And that's right after you posted this: Oh my! Perhaps I WAS making a point ABOUT THE TOPIC AT HAND. The fact that it referenced a prior thread is coincidental, nothing more. You might notice I posted in THIS TOPIC quite a number of times months ago. I came to the thread because I'm interested in the topic, not because your idiotic "IDK WHAT ANALOGIES ARE"-self is here. BTW, explain to me how you didn't put words in my mouth first when you said I equated slavery with homosexuality. If you reply to me in this thread again without addressing that, I will take that as you admitting your cowardice.
Do you think it's possible he actually doesn't understand? Or is he just being a TJ-esque ass? It's honestly hard to tell.
^I guess that's as close to an admission you're wrong as you're capable of. You might as well have posted a picture of a white flag.
Why do you think there are absolutely no similarities between slavery/segregation and the current persecution of homosexuals? Obviously it's nowhere near the same scale, so you can't equate them, but there are similarities. Bigotry toward blacks was defended with the Bible, as is homophobia/the current denial of rights for gays. Those who were pro-slavery/segregation felt "uncomfortable" among blacks. This is the same argument used to defend DADT. Racism and homophobia are more prevalent among the more rural, older population. Gay kids get bullied and beat up all the time - believe me, I know a couple people who have experienced that cruelty. So how can you deny the similarities in sentiment? Fear and disgust are closely related.
I think he understands and I think he knows he's wrong. That's probably why he gets so bent out of shape about it.
Atheists get so much grief because so many religious people are completely unable to see that their religious beliefs are no less absurd than belief in unicorns, leprechauns or the tooth fairy. Many theists are appalled when atheists and other non-believers don't grant their religious beliefs the same respect they do for beliefs based in fact or reason. I see the same sort of dismay demonstrated by many self-proclaimed agnostics or "spiritual but not religious" folks. That shows you just how deep this demand for respect for religion has been ingrained into most of us. It is hammered into our heads so much by our families and our communities that even many of the people who choose not to believe in the whole god concept still can't help but grant that belief some sort of immunity from criticism.
