Have You Been Insulted by Religious People in Front of Everyone's Eyes?

thomas t said:

When I debated in a Christian forum, I became aware of the fact that some people were insulted, but nobody seemed to have problems with this - the moderators included.

I think it's a difference between getting insulted by one person and nobody sees or hears anything... and the insult/ offence happening in front of the whole group. The role of the group is key, I think.
When they condone the insult, it's the group's fault I think.

Did anything of this sort happen to you?

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The worst insults I have seen in our own forum are from the Atheists. Of course not all atheists or anything like that, and it is not a general thing, but though ism and ogy have people insult others, the worst I have experienced in this forum are from atheists. Being called names is a different matter, but there have been incidents where people have insulted wives as well. Oh yes. I say that again. Insults to the wife, not only to me.

But then again, take a look at the Bahai's. Except for an extreme exception, I have rarely seen insults of that level. There are many types of ad hominem and some of them are almost negligible because it is a habit. Like a Tu Quoque. But when people insult your families that's a hilt. But Admins here dont allow any of that nonsense. Well hell, they won't even allow a simple accusation of dishonesty put crudely.

Out of curiosity I have seen some Facebook forums in order to see how the sentiments work. Muslims and Christians are absolutely the same. They insult. Sometimes so arrogantly and minnumbingly stupidly. But, atheistic forums are worse. Far, far worse. Its ironic and strange. There is no way one could have any level of decent conversation in any of those. Muslims think no one knows their theology better than them. Christians do too. But Atheists think no one has any kind of brain power. I mean no one else. Their arrogance is far far stronger in comparison to everyone else. It is almost as if they thrive on insulting theologies and theists. This is my personal experience.

Cheers.

thomas t said:

When I debated in a Christian forum, I became aware of the fact that some people were insulted, but nobody seemed to have problems with this - the moderators included.

I think it's a difference between getting insulted by one person and nobody sees or hears anything... and the insult/ offence happening in front of the whole group. The role of the group is key, I think.
When they condone the insult, it's the group's fault I think.

Did anything of this sort happen to you?

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As an anti-theist, I debate theists a lot. A common dance I see, is that I attack a few religious ideas, and after a little back and forth, the religious person stoops to personal attacks. It seems to come with the territory.

ChristineM said:

rather condescending of woman

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I'm woke enough to see this happening to women all the time.

Revoltingest said:

Call an idea "ignorant", "juvenile", "whiney", or "hateful".
Those are insults about a person's state of mind, but applied to
the idea. It's been argued that insulting ideas is within the rules.
But are they in the spirit of the rules? No.

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Ignorant & hateful can be a true statement of a person's lack of knowledge or real emotional state or an insult. To distinguish between the two requires a knowledge of the other that we don't have, especially online where all we see are words on a screen.

If I were much more advanced than I am, I'd love to see only one rule: every post must be motivated by love of the other. Maybe in a 1000 years.

Altfish said:

If the poster insults their religion, I think that is fair.

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You write it your opinion as your opinion, usually that takes most of the heat of
When someone "insults a religion" making a claim trouble usually starts
But its good to realize that such a claim is "stupid" in itself
So, it says all about the insulter, not much about Religion

firedragon said:

The worst insults I have seen in our own forum are from the Atheists. Of course not all atheists or anything like that, and it is not a general thing, but though ism and ogy have people insult others, the worst I have experienced in this forum are from atheists. Being called names is a different matter, but there have been incidents where people have insulted wives as well. Oh yes. I say that again. Insults to the wife, not only to me.

But then again, take a look at the Bahai's. Except for an extreme exception, I have rarely seen insults of that level. There are many types of ad hominem and some of them are almost negligible because it is a habit. Like a Tu Quoque. But when people insult your families that's a hilt. But Admins here dont allow any of that nonsense. Well hell, they won't even allow a simple accusation of dishonesty put crudely.

Out of curiosity I have seen some Facebook forums in order to see how the sentiments work. Muslims and Christians are absolutely the same. They insult. Sometimes so arrogantly and minnumbingly stupidly. But, atheistic forums are worse. Far, far worse. Its ironic and strange. There is no way one could have any level of decent conversation in any of those. Muslims think no one knows their theology better than them. Christians do too. But Atheists think no one has any kind of brain power. I mean no one else. Their arrogance is far far stronger in comparison to everyone else. It is almost as if they thrive on insulting theologies and theists. This is my personal experience.

Cheers.

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I recommend more usage of the prefix, "some".

Revoltingest said:

Hypthetically, in a disagreement, it's better to say "I disagree",
& explain why, than to say "That's a stupid argument."

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We learned that in psychology - marriage counseling. I statements are much better than you statements.

sun rise said:

I'm woke enough to see this happening to women all the time.

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There are many who are not woke, religion breads misogyny and i don't accept it. That often puts me at odds with religious people.

Altfish said:

If the poster insults their religion, I think that is fair.

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thomas t said:

However, when you say "being Christian is silly" you're attacking a personality trait of believers, in my opinion.

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thomas t said:

It's like saying "Homosexuality is sin, but I do not say anything against them as a person". Sexual orientation is also a personality trait, as I see it.

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thomas t said:

Or, it's like saying "being black is like being a pig. But I'm no racist".

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thomas t said:

But that's not fair if it comes down to disparaging views about the religion itself, I think

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Very good point you make here. Those who love to insult Christians will be happy to ignore this post of yours

BUT the reverse is true as well, and get overlooked by quite a few Christians (90+% maybe?):
IF a Christian does not like his faith to be insulted or belittled
THEN he should also not insult homosexuals, transsexuals

sun rise said:

Ignorant & hateful can be a true statement of a person's lack of knowledge or real emotional state or an insult.

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Nonetheless, to describe a poster thus is to flirt with rule violation.

To distinguish between the two requires a knowledge of the other that we don't have, especially online where all we see are words on a screen.

If I were much more advanced than I am, I'd love to see only one rule: every post must be motivated by love of the other. Maybe in a 1000 years.

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Love is too difficult a standard.
I prefer civil disdain.

Revoltingest said:

I recommend more usage of the prefix, "some".

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Some revoltingests have no sense of ....

You mean like that

ChristineM said:

Some revoltingests have no sense of ....

You mean like that

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Exactly!

stvdv said:

You write it your opinion as your opinion, usually that takes most of the heat of
When someone "insults a religion" making a claim trouble usually starts
But its good to realize that such a claim is "stupid" in itself
So, it says all about the insulter, not much about Religion

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Why?
I don't go looking to insult, and 'insult' is often in the eyes of the person being insulted. It is like people taking 'offence' at something that has been said.
If you tell me your god/messiah (say) turned water into wine or flew on a winged horse; you are insulting my intelligence by expecting me to believe that; but that's fine. I'll tell you I find it to be rubbish.

Revoltingest said:

I recommend more usage of the prefix, "some".

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You are right. It is indeed some. But that "some" refers to this forum.

But when I spoke of those Facebook forums I visited, I have to say "ALL".

stvdv said:

Very good point you make here. Those who love to insult Christians will be happy to ignore this post of yours

BUT the reverse is true as well, and get overlooked by quite a few Christians (90+% maybe?):
IF a Christian does not like his faith to be insulted or belittled
THEN he should also not insult homosexuals, transsexuals

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Who said anything about "Love to insult"?

I just respond in kind to what, in my opinion, is religious nonsense; if that insults you then I'm sorry but so be it.

ChristineM said:

religion breads misogyny

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Abrahamic religion - certainly.

In Hinduism, people chant SitaRam RadhaKrishna putting the woman's name first. And there are many female figures of great power such as Kali. I mean, who can look at this image and not acknowledge the power of the feminine:

firedragon said:

You are right. It is indeed some. But that "some" refers to this forum.

But when I spoke of those Facebook forums I visited, I have to say "ALL".

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I also recommend staying away from political
& religious discussions on Facebook.

Revoltingest said:

I also recommend staying away from political
& religious discussions on Facebook.

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haha. Thats correct. But that's fantastic avenues for super data.

sun rise said:

Abrahamic religion - certainly.

In Hinduism, people chant SitaRam RadhaKrishna putting the woman's name first. And there are many female figures of great power such as Kali. I mean, who can look at this image and not acknowledge the power of the feminine:

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True to a point, however one of the most misogynistic countries i have visited is India with its very high hindu population

On the forums, I find most leave me be in peace. I try to be kind, and I find most posters here afford me the same respect. I have had a few disrespectful comments, but the posters that dispensed them tend to be disrespectful of all, so I believe they have the problem, not me.

In person, I got made fun of once by a group of Mormon boys. They were probably just out of high school, looking to convert people. I tried to politely say I wasn't interested, and one made a joke and the rest laughed. I took it as teenaged boys being teenaged boys, though, not a reflection of Mormons everywhere.

My husband and I were members of a UU church for a few years. Most of the congregation were atheist, and would bully the tar out of people who weren't. Not directly, but snidely. The women weren't so bad with it, it was mostly the men, and my husband got the brunt of it. Like the Mormon boys, there would be a ringleader and a bunch of gigglers, though who was leading would change. The religious service council did a good job of keeping the anti-theist stuff out of the sermons, but other than that it was free game. It was dehumanizing, and I'm sorry we didn't leave sooner.

But one of the most terrifying experiences we had was at an anti violence rally, locally. We were having an awfully bad year as a city, and too many people had been shot and killed, but no one really knew(or knows) what to do. Some of the Baptist churches in the area decided to stage a peace march. Sure. We decided to join in. When we got there, there was a preacher screaming fire and brimstone. We debated leaving, but decided to stick it out. But then he turned on us. I think my husband and I looked a bit 'goth' that day, and the preacher looked at us and screeched "If you're not here for God, you can go home. We don't want no one here that doesn't believe. You won't do any good!" Nasty look from him. Nasty looks from the crowd(who was probably numbered between 40-50). More fire and brimstone. Honestly, we were petrified. We didn't want to call attention by leaving, so we just stood our ground.

viole said:

It depends. For instance, I find "if you do not believe, you will roast in Hell for all eternity", without providing any hard logic and evidence, more insulting, then "you are a Schlampe". The former is a direct attack to my intelligence, the latter is just the final proof that my contender has lost.

Ciao

- viole

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I've come to see the former as a believers way to resign a debate. It is a clear sign that s/he has no more arguments.