Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Real gods, false gods, sex gods...

There are two things which they all say you should never talk about in polite company, religion and politics.  Well, I took the step and discussed politics a few entries ago, so how about we just go the whole hog and have a whack at religion while we're at it, hmm?

I suppose I should start off this little round table pow-wow by stating for the record that I'm a Pagan.  Yep, that's right, I'm one of those unique little snowflakes that you see wandering around occasionally hugging trees and blathering on about the love of the Goddess (as opposed to the love of the Bloggess, which is a totally different thing).

It's a faith system that works for me.  I know it wouldn't work for everyone, but that's cool.  Not everyone is meant to believe the same thing.  That's why they call it belief, not fact.  But like most Pagans out there I've come across my fair share of people who take offence to my faith, although I've never been able to work out why something like what I believe in is such a big thing to other people that they actually make judgements about me because of it.

There's plenty of the little examples.  The people who avert their eyes when they work out what the star around your neck means.  The ones who are all friendly right up until something comes up to show you're a Pagan, and suddenly it's like an Arctic chill has settled.  The ones who, once they learn of your religion, make sure that no part of their body comes in contact with yours, like you could pass Paganism on like leprosy or something.

But those people are easy enough to deal with.  For the most part it's just a mixture of ignorance and discomfort.  Nine times out of ten they get over themselves after a bit and forget to be all standoffish. I think human nature takes over, and it's human nature to want to be friendly with people who are being friendly to you.

No, the ones who really scare the bejuzus out of me are the zealots.  People like the Westboro Baptist Church, who do reprehensible things like protest funerals and ludicrous things like protest geek conventions.  Seriously, who the hell protests a geek convention!  You're just giving us fuel to make fun of you, and there's nothing we like more than that!  Check out this video if you don't believe me.


Yeah, it was never going to work out well for the Westboro guys.  Geeks have a natural tendency towards the ridiculous.

I suppose the final lesson to take away is this.  I don't give a shit about your religion.  You can be Catholic, Mormon, Seventh Day Adventist, or even a freaking Pastafarian and I have absolutely no problem with that.  More power to you and let your freak flag fly!  In fact, if you're a Pastafarian, I salute you, sir or madam, and hope that your path crosses with many pirates (yeah, that's an in joke).

What I do have a problem with is if the lessons and morals taught by your church cause you to treat others with disrespect or distain based on nothing more than the fact that they don't have the same faith system as you.  I have a problem with people who use faith as a way to camouflage their bigotry and intolerance.  I have a problem with people who use something that is supposed to be a good thing, a moral guideline to make one's life better and more rich, as an excuse to treat others as somehow less than themselves.

I also have a problem with religious door knockers.  Seriously, if I wanted to get up at what-the-fuck o'clock in the morning to answer the door to someone trying to shove their faith down my throat I'd put up a sign or something!

But then I think we all have a problem with them, don't we.

31 comments:

  1. The only people who have problems with another's faith or belief system, are those who doubt their own or don't have one. The proper response when you don't understand what someone else believes is to be like, "Hey, I don't know much about that. I'd love for you to tell me more so I can understand it and it'll probably make us closer."

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  2. Thanks for this post, Kellie. As a Mormon, I completely relate - - some people get a little "weird" when they find out my religion, as they do yours. And it really irks me when people say things that aren't true. I'm with sporkgasm above, if you don't understand my (or yours) religion, just ask. If you don't want to know, that's okay too. Don't ask. Just please don't talk like you know!!!

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    1. It's frustrating, isn't it! I just feel like yelling "I'm the same person I was five minutes ago, you don't have to act like I'm suddenly the devil incarnate!"

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  3. People who say their religion is "the only true way" and everyone else will burn in hell as non-believers are supremacists, pure and simple, in the same appalling league as white supremacists, male supremacists, etc.

    And always remember -- the Flying Spaghetti Monster boiled for your sins, may meat sauce be upon him.

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  4. I try to be a tolerant person, but I don't mind saying that I truly hate the Westboro Baptist church. The evil they do in the name of God is disgusting. I was at a funeral of my friend's son who died in Iraq, where they protested. So I really loved that video!

    And I was going to add that I have an award for you on my site, but now that I know you're a pagan, I am going to have to re-think it......oh, what the heck, go ahead and take it, but just don't touch me or anything ;)

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    1. Thank you! I'll make sure to keep at least six inches between us at all times :D

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  5. Of course, people were decrying rock music as spawn of the Devil back in the 1950's. What I don't get is why is it we never see riot-gear outfitted police thugs clubbing and pepper spraying Westboro Baptist Church protesters? Probably because the cops are there for services on Sunday.

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  6. I just think it's funny how many people have been hurt or killed in the name of religion. I mean... That's like the OPPOSITE of what they should be doing.

    Just sayin...

    Hugs!

    Valerie

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    1. Nothing screws religion up like a human being, I'm afraid.

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  7. Who cares about anyone's religion providing it doesn't lead to personal attacks? I don't even have a problem with door knockers provided they choose a reasonable time to be intrusive. Same with fetishes. Wait, fetishes are the same as religions! I just blew my own mind...I am high, why do you ask? It's a part of my religion!

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    1. Actually, it'd be AWESOME if people came door to door to tell you about their fetishes! "Hi, have you accepted spanking as your personal fetish?"

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  8. Girl I love you for you and the friendly warm fuzzy feeling when I read your wonderfully humorous posts so go by my blog and get yourself that award I STILL think you deserve!! I am not taking it back or making changes to my post so go get it already ok? :))

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    1. Thank you for the award! I've put it on my blog in the award side bar thingamebob!

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  9. Put up a sign that says, "Don't knock. I don't wanna get up at what-the-fuck o'clock in the morning," maybe they'll go away.

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    1. Either that, or a picture of me sitting in a rocking chair, holding a shotgun, with the words "Keep walking ..."

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  10. Ahhh good ole religion. As a former Mormon door knocker, all I ask is that you're at least civil with your rejection. I would also like to request that you post more on paganism since I don't know any in real life. This sounds wayyy more interesting than what's showing up on facebook lately.

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    1. I always try to be polite ... unless polite doesn't work. I've had a few that I had to get quite angry with just to get them to leave. Although, that's probably more to do with them as people rather than their religion.

      I'll have to write more about Paganism sometime :D

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  11. I am a whatever floats your boat kind of guy.

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    1. Me too, for the most part. I'm pro religion of any sort ... I'm just anti stupid people.

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  12. I'm concerned about the amount of times I'll go into a comedy club and someone will go on stage to say that the idea of religion is laughable. I think it's sad, because they think the Westboro baptist church and related factions represent all of Christianity and the few terrorist bombers out there represent all muslims. We're not all like that.

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    1. That's the sad thing. We get stereotyped too. I actually had someone ask me what I sacrifice the other day! In this day and age, someone seriously thought that's how Paganism works!

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    2. Wow, that's ridiculous...

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  13. I thought there were three things one should never talk about in polite company, religion, politics, and sex. Do we get the sex talk next post? :)

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  14. Many religions seem to teach people to be closed minded, if only they taught understanding!

    My religion? Science!

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    1. Ah, a man of science! I was going to be a woman of science, but then I failed Chemistry AND Physics in high school. I'm pretty sure I've been black balled since then.

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  15. I love this post! Preach it. I want to join your church.
    Really, though, I agree with you completely. I wish people would pay attention to their god instead of looking at mine, and stop judging me.

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    1. Hopefully one day kids will say "Really? People hated each other because of their religion? What a strange thing to hate someone about".

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