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Abrahamic religions vs. Secularism

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
It strikes me that most of the attacks mounted against secularism come from either Christians or Muslims. In this case it's Muslims:

Seattle Muslims Demand Teacher Be Canned For Showing Muhammad Cartoons To Teens - Yahoo News

But in the US we also see Christians attacking the teaching of evolution and so on.

==

Does this seem like a fairly accurate generalization? I don't recall such assaults coming from other religious groups. I wonder why these two groups are so sensitive?
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
I wonder why these two groups are so sensitive?

I think that's a good question, and I don't really know the answer, but my hunch is it has something to do with both groups being a little bit more oriented towards social control than towards some kind of spirituality.
 

Kolibri

Well-Known Member
I don't know about Muslims but the churches of Christendom forget that Christians are "to be no part of the world." This means that beyond "legally establishing the good news," and seeking to live "a calm and quiet life", we do not go out and try to establish policy for the world around us.

"They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world." - John 17:16

"If is only right for me to think this regarding all of you, since I have you in my heart, you who are sharers with me in the undeserved kindness both in my prison bonds and in defending and legally establishing of the good news." - Philippians 1:7

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made concerning all sorts of men, concerning kings and all those who are in high positions, (or "in positions of authority.") so that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with complete godly devotion and seriousness." - 1 Timothy 2:1,2
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
I think that's a good question, and I don't really know the answer, but my hunch is it has something to do with both groups being a little bit more oriented towards social control than towards some kind of spirituality.

For instance, if Elaine Pagels is right, Christianity fairly early on dumped the relatively spiritual Gnostics and their individualism in favor of giving the clergy more power over people and a religion that was perhaps decisively less spiritual.
 

Thana

Lady
So a protest with less than 20 people is apparently news worthy?

Anyway, they fight for what they believe in, just as you do. I don't think it has much to do with sensitivity.
 

JRMcC

Active Member
My jerkish view is that followers of Abrahamic religions have a lot more silly stories and rules to defend than Buddhists or spiritual anti-theists do.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
My jerkish view is that followers of Abrahamic religions have a lot more silly stories and rules to defend than Buddhists or spiritual anti-theists do.

I think I know what you might be getting at, and if so, I agree with you to some extent. For me, the main problem is the role those religions play in controlling society -- usually on behalf of an elite upper class, albeit not always. But I think that you've got a good point in so far as it seems some clergy (and others) respond to criticisms of their wilder ideas by calling for repression of the critics.
 

Baladas

An Págánach
I think that the problem here is that people take the wrong things too seriously.
This? A cartoon? This is what you are willing to protest?
Out of everything you could be spending your energy on?

Okay then.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
I think that the problem here is that people take the wrong things too seriously.
This? A cartoon? This is what you are willing to protest?
Out of everything you could be spending your energy on?

Okay then.

Any thoughts about why they might take them too seriously?
 

Saint Frankenstein

Wanderer From Afar
Premium Member
For instance, if Elaine Pagels is right, Christianity fairly early on dumped the relatively spiritual Gnostics and their individualism in favor of giving the clergy more power over people and a religion that was perhaps decisively less spiritual.

Actually, some Gnostic groups had some wacky ideas, too, and some of these were absorbed into mainstream Christianity, such as some of the pathological anti-sexuality and anti-physical world concepts.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
Actually, some Gnostic groups had some wacky ideas, too, and some of these were absorbed into mainstream Christianity, such as some of the pathological anti-sexuality and anti-physical world concepts.

That may be true, but it's irrelevant to the point that the Gnostics, generally speaking, placed less emphasis on using religion as a means for social control than did the clergy of the Catholic Church.
 

Baladas

An Págánach
Any thoughts about why they might take them too seriously?

Well, they learned to be offended by these things from their families (usually). The families learned it from authority figures in their religious tradition and so on.

I know all of this, but it still frustrates me sometimes.

Maybe I need to take this less seriously? :)
 

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
Well, they learned to be offended by these things from their families (usually). The families learned it from authority figures in their religious tradition and so on.

I know all of this, but it still frustrates me sometimes.

Maybe I need to take this less seriously? :)

Sometimes it's serious. I feel the need to constantly be defending things like personal freedoms and science from pernicious attacks from these groups.
 

Sees

Dragonslayer
True. Just pointing something out.

Riddick has returned! :)

OP, imagine if schools show Thor movies or pass out the comics...I'm going to throw a fit! :mad:

Some people need non-believers to treat as sacred that which they treat as sacred - rather than have actual confidence, respect freedom, and take it as free publicity.

Cowards fear criticism and the worst of them also fear jokesters.

Please draw some cartoons of my Gods and have a good time while doing it. They actually want you to enjoy life. :eek:
 
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