Why I do not discuss religion

[Edena_of_Neith]

Ever note that while Edena_of_Neith is willing to rave on about global warming and other controversial issues, he refuses to discuss religion?

Tonight, I am remembering the eyes of Tas.
I am remembering the sad look in those dead eyes, which I could not close, which nobody could close.
I am remembering the sad look, frozen forever on that beautiful face.
Only his ears would still move. When he was found by mother 2 hours before I was awakened, he was still warm in the middle.
He had died at the front entrance of our home, cuddled in the blanket that he had most loved.
And although it has been nearly 2 years, I cannot write this without the tears coming.

How is this relevant?
I *respect* that most of you, have had experiences like this, or worse than this.

How is that relevant?
Well ...

If I were to come here, and say - for example - I am an Athiest, I am saying that no Afterlife exists, your Tas is dead, and you've lost him for ever.
That, I would consider out of line, rude, disrespectful, discourteous ... the word 'asshole' comes to mind. Yeah, I would be a real asshole, if I said that to you.

Ok, let's say I'm a Fundamentalist Christian. And I say: You Tas is with God.
But you happen to be an Athiest, and now you are infuriated with me. It was bad enough that your Tas died, but now I'm throwing my 'fantasy' at you to make it all the harder to bear. Again, I have been rude, discourteous, disrespect ... an asshole.

In other words, there is NOTHING I can say from a religious or not-religious connotation, that is not insulting to you, that is not disrespectful, discourteous, and hurtful.

What I CAN say is that I feel for your Tas, feel for your hurt, appreciate your hurt, and that I am sorry your Tas is dead, and mean it.

All I can do by discussing religion is hurt people.
I am not here on Kay Tastrophe to hurt people.
I do not discuss religion.

Edena_of_Neith

[Bregh]

.

[Ink Bleeder]

While I do enjoy discussing religion, you make an excellent point, Edena. When I lost my grandmother, I was confronted with the beliefs of many well-intentioned people that aggravated me no end. My grandmother was an athiest; I'm a witch. When the nurse who attended her just before her death told me she sang "Jesus Loves Me" to my grandmother, I wanted to tear her throat out. She clearly meant well, and intended to comfort my grandmother (and me), and I honestly have nothing against Christianity per se. But knowing my grandmother's beliefs, I couldn't imagine anything more disrespectful.

When I'm grieving and someone tells me they're praying for me, I usually take it in the spirit in which it's intended, and I'm touched. But not that time. Death and whatever (if anything) happens afterwards is a matter of personal belief, and it's private.

[Harry]

While I do occasionally enjoy standing on the sidelines of a good religious free-for-all around here, if Atticus is not being overly Atticus, I avoid getting involved in the arguments for a pretty simple reason. I don't care. Ya'll could start threads about the pros and cons of, say, breeding rabbits, and I'd participate at about the same level.

But, you know, a rabbit breeding thread would be pretty cool. I'd love to read that.

[Space Cadet B^3]

For some of us there's a different path, but I believe in harmony, and in allowing everyone their own method of connecting to a larger world.

[Pigs in Space]

I agree with edena's path, if you don't want to enter a debate, then you don't.

Makes perfect sense to me.

[Lisa Nadazdy]

I have long ago come to the conclusion that respecting anothers beliefs is the right thing to do. I'm an atheist, but I see no reason not give someone who is relegious room to believe what they want. I mean, I could be wrong in my non-belief in the same way they could be about their belief. How does it hurt to allow someone their peace?

[Radu]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and be the asshole:

I will respect your religious beliefs exactly to the same extent that I agree your wife is beautiful and your children are smart.

If someone is uninterested in discussing religion with me, that's completely understandable, but I don't see why economics and politics (both extraordinarily divisive and emotional topics) are any more "civil" topics for conversation than religion. If someone doesn't want to participate in a debate that's fine, but I don't think it makes them any better than those of us who do (nor are we better than those who abstain from participation).

If religion is an issue you feel to be private, keep it so. I, for one, think it is an extremely interesting topic and like to discuss it, much like I enjoy discussing game systems and theory. I cannot say I feel all viewpoints are equally valid or that they should be acknowledged, but I will say I will do my best to consider them in as unbiased a way as I can manage. Once that analysis is done, though, all bets are off and I'll let the praise or scorn fall where it may as it seems appropriate.

If that makes me an asshole, so be it.

[Dacke]

As long as people don't want to bring up their religion as an argument for doing stuff, especially regarding politics, I'm happy to let them believe whatever they want. But when they start saying things like "The Bible says it's a sin to spill your seed, so prophylactics must be illegal", they open it up to criticism themselves.

[The Winslow]

I think the real religious asshole wouldn't be the one who'd mean well and say "he's with God"; but the one who would say "he's rotting in Hell" -- you know, like what Fred Phelps and the dozen other shitnuggets at the Westboro Baptist Church are doing.

As for the atheist asshole, yeah, if he says "you know, there's no afterlife" he is one. The non-assholish atheist condoleance would be rather something like "he had a life well-lived, and you will keep him alive in your memories and your hearts" or something like that. Reflect on the past and give him an homage.

[Snatch]

But, you know, a rabbit breeding thread would be pretty cool. I'd love to read that.

But would you say it was worthless without pics?

[Critter]

http://www.rabbitworldview.com/sites/dingram/_files/Image/rabbits%20mating(2).jpg

[Snatch]

http://www.rabbitworldview.com/sites/dingram/_files/Image/rabbits%20mating(2).jpg

Touche.

[Name Lips]

NWS! NWS!

[Limper]

Edena... you think to damn much on things and spend to much time trying to empathise with everyone.