Religion

  • One privilege Christians don’t always realize they have: This is a typical conversation between a Christian and a non-believer: Christian: Abortion/homosexuality/[insert incredibly incindiary topic here] is blah blah blah. Atheist/agnotic: (smiles and nods) We smile and nod because we know Christian beliefs are respected and other beliefs are not so much, and if we say something precisely as offensive/inane in response, we will be treated as if we just punched a toddler in the face. I’ve done this a number of times: Christian: Abortion/homosexuality/[insert incredibly incindiary topic here] is blah blah blah. Atheist/agnotic: ... READ MORE
  • The gay marriage ban should be scaring heterosexuals, too: Three states passed bans on gay marriage in the national election a few days ago. Regardless of where you fall on gay rights’ issues and the definition of marriage, this should frighten you because it is, plain and simple, the beginning of theocracy. Neo-Christian fascism. Sieg heil, Fred Phelps. I was so livid about this for 24 hours, I couldn’t write on the topic. Now I’m calmer, but I’m glad gays are angry, and I hope a lot of other people ... READ MORE
  • What Christians could learn from feminists: I grew up Christian (I’m now an atheist, or more specifically, an anti-theist). This didn’t mean back then what it has come to mean today. I wasn’t taught we were being persecuted because public schools didn’t include a Christian prayer, and fuck the non-Christian kids who had to sit through it politely. I wasn’t taught I had a right to judge people who lived differently from me – in fact, I was taught the opposite. I wasn’t taught that Jesus ... READ MORE
  • Criticism, hostility and non-support: three different animals: If you find yourself in agreement with a dominant belief – the most popular religion in your culture, a love of the favored local sports team, or the belief that life is mostly neat and people are mostly good-hearted – you may occasionally have trouble distinguishing someone who doesn’t lick your butt in agreement from someone who is actually attacking you. This post includes tips on how to tell various members of “Them” apart. First of all, let’s discuss the source ... READ MORE
  • You just need to love God better: Purtek’s recent post at Feminism @ The Hathor Legacy got me thinking about something I’ve wanted to say for a while, but wasn’t sure how. I’m about to talk about a particularly hurtful privilege many Christians in my culture choose to engage in. Let me be clear: many Christians do not engage in this privilege (and instead do a very nice job following the example of a man who tried to think past privilege). And I’m sure many people other than ... READ MORE