What religon/belief......

[amber]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Well annoying and offensive are two different things thought

And I wouldn't be either by someone talking about a Sandwich saviour lol...but I see your point nonetheless....still though - I mean if you hear it in passing - or see it on a billboard - why care? There are other secular billboards too - you know?

I think I'm failing miserably at voicing what I'm trying to voice and asking what I'm trying to ask - it sounds good in my head - but I'm not getting at the answers to my questions lol....whatever though - I just maintain the "to each their own" thing - and that works well for me....

right, I don't mind much. But then, imagine that most of the continent you lived on believed that a big Sandwich controlled everything? Imagine people voting for president based on whether he wanted to bring the word of the Big Sandwich into your life. Imagine if the president himself believed strongly in the Sandwich, and started doing things in the name of said Sandwich. And all this time, you do NOT believe that the sandwich has control over your life, the universe, or anything else.
okay, I know that probably didn't answer your question either, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[amber]

Originally Posted by The Tower

I am. Not necessary offended like if someone farted in my face or something, but offended because it's so pervasive and accepted and that no one has a clue what they are sponsoring when they declare their religiousity to the world sometimes.

Frustrated is a better word.

Yeah. I don't go around saying "thank Atheism! My cold got better!" or anything.
I used to be more offended, but I'm trying to be nicer and more accepting.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by The Tower

I am. Not necessary offended like if someone farted in my face or something, but offended because it's so pervasive and accepted and that no one has a clue what they are sponsoring when they declare their religiousity to the world sometimes.

Frustrated is a better word.

But they aren't necessarily professing their association with an organized religion if they just want to discuss the concept of a higher power or something or that nature. Not all people of faith are sponsors of corrupt institutions. But that goes without saying.

I do agree with you about the magazine, though. I don't think it was appropriate, and a friend (rahther than a co-worker) might actually say something like "I know this magazine offends you in general because it may have some anti-gay sentiments in it, but there was just something else in it that I wanted to show you." Of course, a friend might also elect to just not show it to you for that reason.

[strandinthewind]

I have to agrew with Tower here because the innocuous examples of mere mentions of reliligion are few and far between. For example, I recently say a billboard that said "One Nation Under God - United We Stand" - I immediately knew some whacked out right wing organization put this up there as a screw you to anyone that takes offense at the Fed. Govt. trying to establish their religion as THE religion of the U.S. Sure enough, I checked with a friend and I was correct. So, my conclusion based on this and a million other examples is very, very few Christian organizations do anything that is not named at trying to convert people and they really do not take no for an answer very graciously.

[The Tower]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

But they aren't necessarily professing their association with an organized religion if they just want to discuss the concept of a higher power or something or that nature. Not all people of faith are sponsors of corrupt institutions. But that goes without saying.

No one really knows, do they?

I have to watch what I say and who I say it to at my job because I don't know who is a "pod person" and who isn't. A lot of people at my job were hired specially because they are a member of the owner's church.

One person's "let's talk about a higher power" can slide to "divorced women are whores who abandoned their husbands and their god" pretty quickly. Believe me, I have seen it!

[amber]

Originally Posted by The Tower

No one really knows, do they?

I have to watch what I say and who I say it to at my job because I don't know who is a "pod person" and who isn't. A lot of people at my job were hired specially because they are a member of the owner's church.

One person's "let's talk about a higher power" can slide to "divorced women are whores who abandoned their husbands and their god" pretty quickly. Believe me, I have seen it!

so, so true.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by The Tower

No one really knows, do they?

I have to watch what I say and who I say it to at my job because I don't know who is a "pod person" and who isn't. A lot of people at my job were hired specially because they are a member of the owner's church.

One person's "let's talk about a higher power" can slide to "divorced women are whores who abandoned their husbands and their god" pretty quickly. Believe me, I have seen it!

Okay - I'm not a pod person thank you very much.

See? You complain about religious people stereotyping gays and saying that they're abominations - aren't you doing the exact same thing to religious people?

I follow a religion - I don't consider gays an abomination and I am overall a well-adjusted and open-minded person - I try to respect all views....

I am secure enough in my views that I don't take offense when someone tries to encroach on them - I just stand firm and know that what I stand for/believe is good for me.

WHy this need or whatever to insult and denegrate? Isn't that what you dislike about religion inthe first plac e- but you're turning right around and doing the same thing...two wrongs don't make a right

----

And when someone says "Thank God...yada yada yada" I don't even think that has religious meaning anymore....which I stated earlier in this thread...

The word god has almost lost meaning - it's SO used by religious and non religious folks..a good example is the "thank god" others: "god dammit" "oh god" accompanied with a

[amber]

um, wasn't he just saying the people at his work were pod people?

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by amber

um, wasn't he just saying the people at his work were pod people?

I don't know - I thought he was referring to all religious folks as pod people... whatever - the fact remains....I'm not a pod person

[amber]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I don't know - I thought he was referring to all religious folks as pod people... whatever - the fact remains....I'm not a pod person

exactly, but I actually think he was just talking about the people at work, and not you. At least in that post.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by amber

exactly, but I actually think he was just talking about the people at work, and not you. At least in that post.

Well I knew it wasn't directed at me per se....but again Ijust thought it was a blanket statement for people who follow a religion ...whatever though...I myself don't even like the pod people types soo...

[The Tower]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Okay - I'm not a pod person thank you very much.

Originally Posted by amber

um, wasn't he just saying the people at his work were pod people?

Yep.

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

See? You complain about religious people stereotyping gays and saying that they're abominations - aren't you doing the exact same thing to religious people?

I'm not stereotyping at all. My use of the term "pod people" refers to the people at my job who are all members of the same church (cult, in my opinion), who are "nicey, nicey" on the outside but have deeply conservative, judgemental opinions inside. It's been proven by their actions.

I follow a religion - I don't consider gays an abomination and I am overall a well-adjusted and open-minded person - I try to respect all views....

Does your religion feel the same way you do?

I am secure enough in my views that I don't take offense when someone tries to encroach on them - I just stand firm and know that what I stand for/believe is good for me.

I have no problems whatsoever with standing firm with regard to what I believe. I'm concerned about my civil rights being infringed and, frankly, religious views giving the okay for people to physically kick the **** out of me.

WHy this need or whatever to insult and denegrate? Isn't that what you dislike about religion inthe first plac e- but you're turning right around and doing the same thing...two wrongs don't make a right

I don't recall insulting anyone.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by The Tower

I don't recall insulting anyone.

I think I was referring to the pod people thing when I didn't realize you were speaking about specific people you know...

And my church overwhelmingly feels the way I do..my church - not the whole religion....it's a "it's okay to be gay as long as you don't act on it" which I admit is a horrible thing...but I think as long as there are people like me and my friends fighting to change things then one day we can....the church I go to isn't even acknowledged or considered by the Vatican...so whatever to the Vatican...but overall the place I go is open to women, homosexuals...well just everyone...what a concept...huh?

Well anyway - the nicey nicey people you speak of - I know the type well...my family got burned by people in our church when I was younger and my parents divorced...so I am now very picky about where I celebrate mass - if I can't find a church that fits with my views and open - ness - I don't go to church....

Ok I'm rambling...

[Highway Woman]

Originally Posted by The Tower

I could go on all day citing examples of how religion is offensive.

How are you defining "religion" here?

[The Tower]

Originally Posted by Highway Woman

How are you defining "religion" here?

re·li·gion (r-ljn)
n.

1 a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.

1 b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.

2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.

3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.

4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.