Not so brave
"Although it is often they who accuse us of being babyish, needing a big daddy in the sky to lean on, there is something profoundly immature about atheists. That surly, self-satisfied certainty that insists that one is the first person, ever, to see with a white-hot, burning clarity straight to the heart of society's attempts to
manipulate and control us all for its own ends.
"Today, atheism is big business with the success of books like 'The God Delusion.' If you want to get ahead, be a heretic! Something, however, has been lost. Say the word 'atheist' 100 years ago and it conjured up a vision of sexy, freewheeling rebels celebrating life, love and creativity in their rejection of a higher power. Say it now and a vision of fun-hating killjoys, desperately scared that somewhere
a Christian is having a good time by singing lustily in church on a Sunday morning, comes to mind. And, sadly, the alleged 'humanist morality' never happened - to this day, 80 percent of all unpaid and unself-interested voluntary and charity work is faith-driven.
"The problem, which Western atheists miss, is that to be a heretic here requires no bravery whatsoever. On the contrary ... the mocking of Judeo-Christian belief is a mainstay of prime-time entertainment and has been so since 'The Life of Brian.'"
- Julie Burchill, writing on "For the love of Christ" on Aug. 14 at the Guardian blog Comment is Free
How typical, but ultimately ironic, as all you need to do is substitute all the appearances of "Atheist" and "Atheism" with "Christian" and "Christianity", and make a few appropriate changes, and you get, what I feel, is a far more accurate article:
"Although it is often they who accuse us of being babyish, afraid of big daddy in the sky, there is something profoundly immature about Christians. That surly, self-satisfied certainty that insists that one is the first person, ever, to see with a white-hot, burning clarity straight to the heart of society's attempts to manipulate and control us all for its own ends."
"Today, Christianity is big business with the success of books like the 'Left Behind' series. If you want to get ahead, be a Evangelist! Something, however, has been lost. Say the word 'Christian' 100 years ago and it conjured up a vision of pure, honest good folks, celebrating life, love and creativity in their acceptence of a higher power. Say it now and a vision of fun-hating killjoys, desperately scared that somewhere an atheist is having a good time living a Hedonistic lifestyle, comes to mind. And, sadly, the alleged 'Christian morality' never happened. Whenever atheists publicly demand to be treated like anyone else, the death threats from Christians start filling up their answering machines."
"The problem, which Western Christians miss, is that to be a believer here requires no bravery whatsoever. On the contrary... the mocking of liberals, Atheism and Evolution is a mainstay of Christian Fundamentalism and has been so for the last century."
Now doesn't that tell it more like it really is?
14 comments:
Good morning, Dave. As I commented on this...ahem...elsewhere, your transposition fits like a glove. Good one!
Thanks!
Unrelated to the topic, have you heard of the people who tried to plan massive protest against the RNC (Republican National Convention) who were harassed and detained, and after they were released and went on with the demonstrations, militarized police officers complete with tear gas and big sticks were there to greet them? Scary times...
That, and famous journalist like Amy Goodman are actually being arrested.
And at the DNC, reporters were literally pushed into traffic. It is the 1960s all over again. And I hate the 60s..
I dunno, GA, I think the 60's were great, because it was a decade when conservative assholes got outed from both parties, and we shoved a lot of hypocrisy down the throats of racist assholes in our government. All the rioting and assholism that went on during that time was great, because it led to an end to institutionlized racism, more social freedom, an end to religious indoctrination in public School (1964, O'Hair), and a whole lot of other things. We also walked on the moon.
The Vietnam protests were possibly the first time that the nation rose up en masse to protest a retarded war.
If anything, it's like the 50's again -- we're seeing a lot of pressure from assholes in government to go back to the age of "don't complain about anything, and we'll leave you alone."
The 1950's were a totally sucky era of willful compliance and contrived social norms, where everyone pretended to be perfect, but nobody was. The conservative assholes would love us to go back to that. We're just lucky that the spirit of protest of the 60's is alive and well, and not letting them get away with their bullshit.
Really? The 1960s seemed awful, wrought with civil strife and conflict, lacked any social cohesion, and everyone dressed like a jackass, just to make someone else mad. At least, it seems like that from my end.
I would say social conservatism was more prominent then than now, since social conservatism is readily being destroyed by our corporatist politics and culture.
Sure, actual achievements happened during the 60s, but it was not very much fun getting to that point, and I personally like living after the struggle, not during it.
No, the Vietnam war was not the first. Massive protest against the Quasi War, the Civil War, World War One and Two and everything in between were nearly as large. They were just unsuccessful, thus not talked about.
{The 1950's were a totally sucky era of willful compliance and contrived social norms}
Well, the 60s were too, they just changed the social norms is all. I mean, we still live in a culture of social conformity, and now we are getting to the point of social oppression, as evidence by police being allowed to harass people planning the protest of the DNC and RNC.
{We're just lucky that the spirit of protest of the 60's is alive and well, and not letting them get away with their bullshit.}
That is the thing...they are not. Riots should have broken out in St. Paul over this, and while the protest ARE ongoing, they are reduced, and most people are unaware of the raids and just do not care. It is sad. This country could be finished after all. Now its Europes turn I guess.
Also, what are your views on the massive harassment and detaining raids that occurred prior to the RNC protest and the attack on journalist at the DNC?
Gamingasshole wrote:
"Also, what are your views on the massive harassment and detaining raids that occurred prior to the RNC protest and the attack on journalist at the DNC?"
That's totally fucked up! The police are targetting the specifically NON-DANGEROUS groups, while the anarchists, who typically protest by breaking glass in store windows and starting riots, got hardly a second glance. As a result, a lot of peaceful protestors got arrested, harrassed, and angered, and the anarchists and anti-capitalists who have been boasting about what they'll do, started riots and trashed stores.
Further proof of the cowardice of the police state. They are so afraid of the anarchists and anti-capitalists, that they harrass hippies and pagans who are just going to march with signs and shout slogans.
But hey, looks like someone's gonna have to teach these hippies and peacenicks how to make molotov cocktails and where to find discount football gear, so that they can in turn teach the cops a lesson. :)
I think the ¨anarchist and anti-capitalist¨ are right in what they are doing, since well, they were being raided too. The only ones under arrest are the anarchist and anti-capitalist, the ones that have not been released I mean, minus the respected Democracy Now! reporters. Democracy Now? They have to be under arrest? Geesh.
While I am not an Anarchist, I am anti-capitalist, at least American capitalism, and I think riots and breaking windows are a great reaction. I want all hell to break loose, its a necessary response. European protest do that, and they get real change there.
Also, the hardly second glance thing I do not get. The anarchist and anti-capitalist protesters were attacked and detained, some arrested as well. That is just as wrong as picking on vegan and hippie kids.
I don't know if "european protests" get very violent and lead to change that much. Most European nations are not dancing with Fascism, Totalitarianism, Anarchy, and red communism. IN Eastern Europe, that's a little different -- The Balkan states still have a few problems, but Europe proper is far more respectable, stable, and sensible by comparison. Are you referring to any specific incidents recently?
I think what I was saying about the anarchists vs. hippies was that the hippies and non-violent groups were given THE SAME TREATMENT as violent groups. This is like the list of nuns, priests, and even US Senators who are on the no-fly lists. IN any case, the next president needs to burn the no-fly list, or at least refine it to the point that it's not too broadly used. We only want criminals and terrorists to be prevented from flying -- not people whose only crime is pissing off some asshole in Washington with their opinions.
[I don't know if "european protests" get very violent and lead to change that much.]
Really? Cars burn whenever a some globalization or neoliberal summit. I mean the 1999 WTO summits there are the norm. Also, crippling strikes there are common, I mean just look at recent attempts by the French government to take away pensions and lower wages led to giant strikes that almost got violent. That is a good thing. Simply holding up signs behind barbed wire fences is not going to do anything.
[Most European nations are not dancing with Fascism, Totalitarianism, Anarchy, and red communism]
Uh..what do any of those things have to do in common? I mean, some of those things are complete opposites of each other. I do not think I ever suggested they ¨dance¨ with any of those things.
I do not understand why you brought those things up.
[IN Eastern Europe, that's a little different -- The Balkan states still have a few problems, but Europe proper is far more respectable, stable, and sensible by comparison.]
Anarchy and Red communism do not reign in Eastern Europe anymore than they reign in Western Europe.
I do not see giant protest and strikes antithetical to stability, at least politically. I think its great if by keeping your government in check you threaten to take it down if it does even the slightest thing to make you angry. Riots are healthy, I wish we had more of them in America.
[Are you referring to any specific incidents recently?]
Well, I was just doing a brief retrospective of events like that in the past 15 years. Its really too bad protesting is seen as useless in America. People just vote, which really means nothing.
[not people whose only crime is pissing off some asshole in Washington with their opinions.]
I would not count on the next President burning the list, I mean Im sure whoever wins will just expand it.
Woops, some grammar and spelling errors.
Meant:
Cars burn whenever some globalization or neoliberal summit is held there.
Protest like the 1999 WTO Protest are the norm there.
There :)
Also, by riots, I do not meant the image of riots given now like the LA riots or French unrest in 2005, I mean very vigorous and aggressive protest, which technically are riots. If that was a part of America, then real needed change would occur, however no change is happening here in America and it probably will not change for some time now.
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