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> What a sheltered life you claim to have led, not to have met anyone "smart" who is also religious. Perhaps, although maybe in my social bubble in London, Chr

by darkr 11y ago

> What a sheltered life you claim to have led, not to have met anyone "smart" who is also religious. Perhaps, although maybe in my social bubble in London, Christians just aren't all that common, smart or otherwise. My last interaction with a Christian was my ex-neighbours. Lovely friendly family, or so we thought until we saw & heard them carrying out exorcisms on terrified, screaming children in their kitchen. I called the police.

jessaustin 11y ago
One neighboring family (with whom you've had conflicts serious enough to require LEO intervention) is standing in for Christians you've never met on the other side of the world? How is that not prejudice?
- darkr 11y ago
  I didn't have any conflicts with them. They were nice people, to me at least; they even used to cut my hedge. My only issue with them was that they thought that a man who lived in the sky, or possibly everywhere was telling them that a disabled child had some kind of devil living inside them and that they had to get it out, even if doing that required screaming and shouting, shaking and probably permanently damaging the child. I don't think all Christians are like that either. My grandma was a Catholic, and one of the most selfless people I have ever known. Most of the monotheistic religions seem to me a little like still believing in Father Christmas, and the same "get em while they're young" method of indoctrination is often used. If I meet someone who is religious, in my head I'm thinking about the practicalities and (how does such a fat man get down the chimney? How does he know which children have been naughty and which have been nice? And how does he get through all those houses in one night?). And I'm not prejudiced. Pointing out gaping inconsistencies in someone else's argument or belief system goes not constitute prejudice. I totally support people believing in whatever they want to believe as long as it doesn't impact on others right to do the same. My personal belief is that Father Christmas does not exist, and any grown-up believing that he does is fucking ridiculous. I do like mince pies though.

by darkr 11y ago

jessaustin 11y ago

One neighboring family (with whom you've had conflicts serious enough to require LEO intervention) is standing in for Christians you've never met on the other side of the world? How is that not prejudice?

darkr 11y ago
I didn't have any conflicts with them. They were nice people, to me at least; they even used to cut my hedge. My only issue with them was that they thought that a man who lived in the sky, or possibly everywhere was telling them that a disabled child had some kind of devil living inside them and that they had to get it out, even if doing that required screaming and shouting, shaking and probably permanently damaging the child. I don't think all Christians are like that either. My grandma was a Catholic, and one of the most selfless people I have ever known. Most of the monotheistic religions seem to me a little like still believing in Father Christmas, and the same "get em while they're young" method of indoctrination is often used. If I meet someone who is religious, in my head I'm thinking about the practicalities and (how does such a fat man get down the chimney? How does he know which children have been naughty and which have been nice? And how does he get through all those houses in one night?). And I'm not prejudiced. Pointing out gaping inconsistencies in someone else's argument or belief system goes not constitute prejudice. I totally support people believing in whatever they want to believe as long as it doesn't impact on others right to do the same. My personal belief is that Father Christmas does not exist, and any grown-up believing that he does is fucking ridiculous. I do like mince pies though.