Look No Further! Now You Too Can Get a Life!

Sunstone · Oct 19, 2019

Has life become dull, meaningless, and boring to you? Worse, was your own wedding the last party that anyone thought of inviting you to? Do your kids fall asleep these days when you are in the middle of saying "Hello" to them?

Let's face it. Maybe it's time to quit being a fundamentalist whose only social activity consists in condemning "atheists, heretics, infidels, sinners, and fornicators".

Hey! Maybe -- just maybe -- it is time to roll out "YOU 2.0"! Yes, maybe it is time you moved up from fundamentalism to the dazzle, glamor, and glitz of CONDEMNING RELIGION!!!

Imagine what life will be like when you are living it in the fast lane of professional religion-bashing! Just imagine what that will mean for you! Here are some true, real, honest scientist-approved facts! Yes, after a months-long search, we found a scientist willing to "approve" the following facts:

Religion-Bashers are (not) invited to even MORE parties than Fundamentalists! Consider how proud you will be as the only person in your tiny social circle who was not even invited to his or her own second- wedding!
And yes, you certainly will have a second-wedding now because -- as a religion-basher -- your current spouse will no longer religiously believe in staying married to you!
Moreover, as a diehard religion-basher, you can now achieve epic levels of wilful stupidity that ARE TRULY PRESIDENTIAL IN THEIR PROPORTIONS!!!

Sound too good to be true? THINK AGAIN! Now, for just $12.98 plus $144.95 shipping and handling, you can enroll in UNCLE SUNSTONE'S ONLINE UNIVERSITY OF RELIGION-BASHING! (Please note: Tuition and course fees are separate and on top of the $12.98 enrollment fee, as well as the $144.95 shipping and handling fee.)

At Uncle Sunstone's U, you will learn the "Three Dead Horses" you need to tirelessly beat in order to become even more popular than the Judgmental Fundamentalist that you no longer wish to be:

(1) Unleash your power to shock by beating the dead horse of, "There sure is no conclusive evidence that god exists, and the only thing to do about it is for us all to become atheists!"

(2) Stun and awe your ever-dwindling audience with, "Religion sure has caused a lot of divisiveness, conflict, and strife in the world, and the only thing to do about it is for us all to become atheists!"

(3) Savage any criticisms of your new-found social prominence with, "Religion sure has been used to justify many bad moral choices, and the only thing to do about it is for us all to become atheists!"

Call 1-800-SUN-SCAM now! Please have every credit or debit card you own handy in order to save processing time. (please note: A moderate processing fee of $45.75 will be applied to your account on top of all other fees, costs, rates, and charges.)

GET A LIFE!
CALL 1-800-SUN-SCAM TODAY!

(This offer is invalid where prohibited by secular authorities in cahoots with fat-cat clergy.)

......

OP QUESTIONS: Do you feel anti-religion bashing is just as messed up as pro-religion bashing? Do criticisms of religion that go no further than the three listed above ever strike you as perhaps repetitious, superficial, boring, and a waste of your time?

__________________________
And now, by way of apologizing for introducing a serious topic in a facetious manner...

SalixIncendium · Oct 19, 2019

Sunstone said:
OP QUESTIONS: Do you feel anti-religion bashing is just as messed up as pro-religion bashing?

Any kind of "bashing" is messed up.

Sunstone said:

Do criticisms of religion that go no further than the three listed above ever strike you as perhaps repetitious, superficial, boring, and a waste of your time?

Click to expand...

Yes.

And since I answered correctly, I think my $45.75 processing fee should be waived.

Audie · Oct 19, 2019

"My friend" cried Abduhl
"Has your life grown so dull
That you wish to end your career?"

9-10ths_Penguin · Oct 19, 2019

SalixIncendium said:
Any kind of "bashing" is messed up.

"Bashing" would go beyond just asking pointed or annoying questions, though.

Singling out a religion for violence would be anti-religious bashing. Bullying would arguably be bashing. I see no actual "bashing" in @Sunstone 's OP.

SalixIncendium · Oct 19, 2019

9-10ths_Penguin said:
"Bashing" would go beyond just asking pointed or annoying questions, though.

Singling out a religion for violence would be anti-religious bashing. Bullying would arguably be bashing. I see no actual "bashing" in @Sunstone 's OP.

So you wouldn't consider condemnation and/or ridicule of another's beliefs or views a form of bashing? If not, you and I have very different definitions of bashing.

Sunstone · Oct 19, 2019

SalixIncendium said:
I think my $45.75 processing fee should be waived.

AH! It must be true then! Hope really must spring eternal in the human breast!

9-10ths_Penguin · Oct 19, 2019

SalixIncendium said:
So you wouldn't consider condemnation and/or ridicule of another's beliefs or views a form of bashing? If not, you and I have very different definitions of bashing.

Not unless there's something more to it.

The term "bashing" was derived as a general version of the original term "gay-bashing," which described cases where gay people would be singled out for violence that often put them in the hospital if it didn't kill them outright.

Since then, the term has been broadened to include non-violent bullying of the sort that can drive a person to suicide.

Equating this with a theist's realization that someone else thinks their beliefs are silly minimizes the violence that LGBTQ people - and others - have gone through.

And have a look at the OP's examples of "bashing":

- pointing out the lack of evidence for a religion.
- pointing out the amount of conflict and divisiveness caused by religion.
- pointing out that many evil acts have been justified by religion.

Would you actually consider any of these things bashing in and of themselves?

PureX · Oct 19, 2019

Sunstone said:
(1) Unleash your power to shock by beating the dead horse of, "There sure is no conclusive evidence that god exists, and the only thing to do about it is for us all to become atheists!"

(2) Stun and awe your ever-dwindling audience with, "Religion sure has caused a lot of divisiveness, conflict, and strife in the world, and the only thing to do about it is for us all to become atheists!"

(3) Savage any criticisms of your new-found social prominence with, "Religion sure has been used to justify many bad moral choices, and the only thing to do about it is for us all to become atheists!"

Oh boy! You're gonna get it, now!

SalixIncendium · Oct 19, 2019

9-10ths_Penguin said:
Not unless there's something more to it.

The term "bashing" was derived as a general version of the original term "gay-bashing," which described cases where gay people would be singled out for violence that often put them in the hospital if it didn't kill them outright.

Since then, the term has been broadened to include non-violent bullying of the sort that can drive a person to suicide.

Equating this with a theist's realization that someone else thinks their beliefs are silly minimizes the violence that LGBTQ people - and others - have gone through.

And have a look at the OP's examples of "bashing":

- pointing out the lack of evidence for a religion.
- pointing out the amount of conflict and divisiveness caused by religion.
- pointing out that many evil acts have been justified by religion.

Would you actually consider any of these things bashing in and of themselves?

It would depend on the intent of the examples.

Why would one point out lack of evidence for a religion?
Will anything productive come out of pointing out the amount of conflict and divisiveness caused by religion?
Will anything productive come from pointing out that many evil acts have been justified by religion?

Are these questions being asked because the individual being asked is being divisive or committing evil acts in the name of religion? If not, what's the point other than to proselytize atheism by condemning religion? Wouldn't condemnation of religion be considered bashing?

ETA: Where are you getting your information about "gay-bashing" being the original term? I did some digging and can't find it. But I did find this article on bashing:

Bashing (pejorative) - Wikipedia

"Sometimes this label is applied to criticisms that are not particularly vehement nor even inappropriate. In these cases, the term can be seen to be applied purely for partisan benefit. The use of the term within this context is most common in editorial or personal commentary. These terms are used to imply that the criticism of these groups or individuals is excessive, too frequent, uncompromising, or inappropriate. Since politics is inherently partisan, the term bashing is frequently used to cast negative aspersions on critics for political gain."

I'm confident that we can interchange the term 'religion' with 'politics' in the paragraph above.

Twilight Hue · Oct 19, 2019

I would have signed up, but I put all my money for that seminar, "How to turn devout prayers, into devout payers"

PoetPhilosopher · Oct 19, 2019

This thread makes me think too much.

I prefer threads like the departed Reverend Beastmaster's, when he asked "What are you wearing?"

As for why he left, who knows. Maybe he didn't like my reply.

sun rise · Oct 19, 2019

Sunstone said:
OP QUESTIONS: Do you feel anti-religion bashing is just as messed up as pro-religion bashing? Do criticisms of religion that go no further than the three listed above ever strike you as perhaps repetitious, superficial, boring, and a waste of your time?

I don't particularly get attracted to pro or anti bashing because it's much too black and white for me. The reality of religion has been both positive and negative depending on the people, place and time.

I'm more interested in how religion has manifested over time and what the impact of the dying of traditional religion might have on the future.

SalixIncendium · Oct 19, 2019

lostwanderingsoul said:
Is your life so dull all you can do is ask foolish questions on RF?

I think you have @Sunstone mixed up with me.

9-10ths_Penguin · Oct 19, 2019

SalixIncendium said:
It would depend on the intent of the examples.

Why would one point out lack of evidence for a religion?

Will anything productive come out of pointing out the amount of conflict and divisiveness caused by religion?

Will anything productive come from pointing out that many evil acts have been justified by religion?

Are these questions being asked because the individual being asked is being divisive or committing evil acts in the name of religion?

Lots of potential reasons. Which would qualify as "bashing?"

If not, what's the point other than to proselytize atheism by condemning religion?

"Proselytize atheism"

Why? Is proselytizing necessarily "bashing?" If so, this is probably more reason to criticize religion.

The reasons that come up most often for me, personally:

- being questioned (and occasionally pestered) about why I'm not religious.

- conversations about why/whether we can justify religion's preferential treatment under the law.

Wouldn't condemnation of religion be considered bashing?

Condemnation by burning down a church, sure. Doing nothing but condemn a religion? I can't see how.

ETA: Where are you getting your information about "gay-bashing" being the original term? I did some digging and can't find it.

I'm getting it from having lived through the 80s and 90s, and remembering how I saw the usage of the term change over time.

SalixIncendium · Oct 19, 2019

9-10ths_Penguin said:
Lots of potential reasons. Which would qualify as "bashing?"

It was a yes or no question.

9-10ths_Penguin said:
"Proselytize atheism"

Yes. Is that an unfamiliar concept to you? It happens here quite frequently.

9-10ths_Penguin said:
Why? Is proselytizing necessarily "bashing?" If so, this is probably more reason to criticize religion.

No. Condemning others for their views is. Please try to keep up.

And why is it all the more reason to criticize religion given atheists can be just as guilty of proselytizing as their theist counterparts.

Unless, of course you are implying that atheism is a religion. Because, as I see it, it's not. It's a worldview.

9-10ths_Penguin said:
The reasons that come up most often for me, personally:

- being questioned (and occasionally pestered) about why I'm not religious.

- conversations about why/whether we can justify religion's preferential treatment under the law.

Of course, religious people are never pestered about why they're religious, right?

I don't remember when I was given preferential treatment under the law, so I can't really comment on the second point. Then again, I'm not really considered to be 'religious' among the religious community.

9-10ths_Penguin said:
Condemnation by burning down a church, sure. Doing nothing but condemn a religion? I can't see how.

And this demonstrates perfectly why you and I have very different definitions of the term 'bashing.'

9-10ths_Penguin said:
I'm getting it from having lived through the 80s and 90s, and remembering how I saw the usage of the term change over time.

And this is why you likely missed the bus on other kinds of bashing. I, too, lived in that time span as well as before. You see, before gay-bashing, there was race-bashing, gender-bashing, and religious-bashing. But back then, we just called it bigotry.

ChristineM · Oct 19, 2019

Sunstone said:
Has life become dull, meaningless, and boring to you? Worse, was your own wedding the last party that anyone thought of inviting you to? Do your kids fall asleep these days when you are in the middle of saying "Hello" to them?

Let's face it. Maybe it's time to quit being a fundamentalist whose only social activity consists in condemning "atheists, heretics, infidels, sinners, and fornicators".

Hey! Maybe -- just maybe -- it is time to roll out "YOU 2.0"! Yes, maybe it is time you moved up from fundamentalism to the dazzle, glamor, and glitz of CONDEMNING RELIGION!!!

Imagine what life will be like when you are living it in the fast lane of professional religion-bashing! Just imagine what that will mean for you! Here are some true, real, honest scientist-approved facts! Yes, after a months-long search, we found a scientist willing to "approve" the following facts:

Religion-Bashers are (not) invited to even MORE parties than Fundamentalists! Consider how proud you will be as the only person in your tiny social circle who was not even invited to his or her own second- wedding!

And yes, you certainly will have a second-wedding now because -- as a religion-basher -- your current spouse will no longer religiously believe in staying married to you!

Moreover, as a diehard religion-basher, you can now achieve epic levels of wilful stupidity that ARE TRULY PRESIDENTIAL IN THEIR PROPORTIONS!!!

Sound too good to be true? THINK AGAIN! Now, for just $12.98 plus $144.95 shipping and handling, you can enroll in UNCLE SUNSTONE'S ONLINE UNIVERSITY OF RELIGION-BASHING! (Please note: Tuition and course fees are separate and on top of the $12.98 enrollment fee, as well as the $144.95 shipping and handling fee.)

At Uncle Sunstone's U, you will learn the "Three Dead Horses" you need to tirelessly beat in order to become even more popular than the Judgmental Fundamentalist that you no longer wish to be:

(1) Unleash your power to shock by beating the dead horse of, "There sure is no conclusive evidence that god exists, and the only thing to do about it is for us all to become atheists!"

(2) Stun and awe your ever-dwindling audience with, "Religion sure has caused a lot of divisiveness, conflict, and strife in the world, and the only thing to do about it is for us all to become atheists!"

(3) Savage any criticisms of your new-found social prominence with, "Religion sure has been used to justify many bad moral choices, and the only thing to do about it is for us all to become atheists!"

Call 1-800-SUN-SCAM now! Please have every credit or debit card you own handy in order to save processing time. (please note: A moderate processing fee of $45.75 will be applied to your account on top of all other fees, costs, rates, and charges.)

GET A LIFE!
CALL 1-800-SUN-SCAM TODAY!

(This offer is invalid where prohibited by secular authorities in cahoots with fat-cat clergy.)

......

OP QUESTIONS: Do you feel anti-religion bashing is just as messed up as pro-religion bashing? Do criticisms of religion that go no further than the three listed above ever strike you as perhaps repetitious, superficial, boring, and a waste of your time?

__________________________
And now, by way of apologizing for introducing a serious topic in a facetious manner...

What do i need another life for, i have enough problems managing the 5 i have already got

SalixIncendium · Oct 19, 2019

ChristineM said:
What do i need another life for, i have enough problems managing the 5 i have already got

You have 5 lives? That's more than half of a cat!!

ChristineM · Oct 19, 2019

SalixIncendium said:
You have 5 lives? That's more than half of a cat!!

Seems like it. But thats life

Mock Turtle · Oct 20, 2019

Sunstone said:
AH! It must be true then! Hope really must spring eternal in the human breast!

In your case, don't you mean 'human beast(y)'.

Look No Further! Now You Too Can Get a Life!

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

Audie

Veteran Member

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist

PureX

Veteran Member

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.

PoetPhilosopher

Veteran Member

sun rise

The world is on fire

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.

Mock Turtle

Oh my, did I say that!