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Make2short -- All of what you say is very true but I do recognize it
Putting down my opponents with ridicule is definately a conscious effort as it goes against what I try to practice and my very nature. Never ever do I throw the first stone and can honestly say that any time I do lower myself to insult someone it is a response in kind. Getting back what they give is something that most people cannot handle. Atrocious behavior met with atrocious behaviour but don't try to suggest that it is more prevalent than occassional. As a matter of fact, I hold that I am one of the most well behaved contributors to this category but there is no law anywhere that states I must be a public tackling dummy for other people's religious delusions. If attacking the author is all that a person is capable of when confronted with a differing religious perspective the only advice I can offer them is to make sure they are wearing their hip waders when they decide to stroll through the crap.
posted by
gomedome
on April 10, 2005 at 12:14 PM
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I earned your snide remark.
I can see that from your point of view that religion seems backward. Bur ritual isn't about reason but about metaphor. You cannot say however that you argue solely from logic. You use sarcasm and ridicule as well. I agree with much of your assessment of religious writers, but I find that you aren't always arguing from a rational point of view but using other methods to put down your opponents.
posted by
Make2short
on April 10, 2005 at 11:44 AM
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RAME -- I try not to write anything from a position of ignorance
As a graduate of a catholic residential/mission school I know too much about the workings of the catholic church. At least more than I want to know. For people such as yourself who have absolutely no idea of what I am speaking of, I tone it down a few notches. Using snide commentary interlaced with jaded humour instead of an all out attack that is likely to fall on deaf ears anyways. Carry on in your delusion. If you think that the catholic church is beyond reproach and has nothing to answer for, it is you that have a lot to learn......and you pity me? Now that's funny.
posted by
gomedome
on April 10, 2005 at 9:26 AM
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Gome,
You are mistaken about many of the things you just stated in this blog. No wonder you are so bored with the Catholic faith. If you would learn more, pray more from the heart, and truly "listen to God" then you would not feel this way. I am not trying to insult you, I am sorry for you. I hope you will take the time to learn much more about the church than you have in the past.
posted by
RAME
on April 10, 2005 at 9:03 AM
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Thank you mikes_goddess -- I Think ????
Of course I like to call what some refer to as arrogance.....wisdom. Maybe living proof that we are all capable of self delusion......nyuk nyuk.
posted by
gomedome
on April 10, 2005 at 9:01 AM
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Excellent assessment of the situation...
I may not always agree with your views but I love the way you state them
And I find your arrogance refreshing. At least no one has to wonder where you stand.
Mike's Goddess
posted by
mikes_goddess
on April 10, 2005 at 8:41 AM
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Ariala --- that perspective would never have crossed my mind.
But when you think about it.....
posted by
gomedome
on April 9, 2005 at 9:51 PM
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Yeah cantey_1975 -- it can be spooky
I know when I was a little kid being endoctrinated into this stuff I had more than a few nightmares.
posted by
gomedome
on April 9, 2005 at 9:45 PM
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Gome, last time I went with my family to the Catholic church I didn't
laugh, I got angry. To me it was mockery to God to watch the shenanigans...I have more respect for witch doctors at a campire than I do a bunch of priests thinking they are little Jesus's.
posted by
Ariala
on April 9, 2005 at 8:55 PM
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all of the ritualistic downright spookiness of it all
is really quite useless to humanity. I agree.
posted by
calmcantey75
on April 9, 2005 at 8:39 PM
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Odysseus -- you've hit the nail/point squarely on the head
How far is this from witch doctor stuff? It is in reality completely the same thing. There is a fine line between tradition and ritual. After so many years this distinction has become blurred to create a number of subtle effects on it's practioners. The first and most obvious is the smokescreen or distraction it provides to obscure the underlying religious message. Over time, generation after generation begin to believe that the adherance to ritual and tradition is the entirety of the religious message. The spiritual education and development of the individual becomes obscured as well.
posted by
gomedome
on April 9, 2005 at 1:44 PM
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Make2short -- I now have time to address the rest of your comment
When you ask:
".......what is your definition of success that makes you superior to all the religious people on this site?" These are your words and I have never said nor implied anything of the sort. Typically you are letting your feelings of disdain from reading something that doesn't fall into your little realm of conformity manufacture notions in your mind. This statement implies a great deal of disdain within itself. Is that the best you can do? Is that all you are capable of? If this in fact is all that you are capable of when discussing an opposing religious viewpoint then you've just answered your own question.
posted by
gomedome
on April 9, 2005 at 1:36 PM
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Gome
This was very interesting reading. Hmmmm, how far really is this from the campfire shenanigans and incantations of the medicine man and witch doctor? I suppose people must do something when they come together to worship, but I prefer interactive discussion to watching a magic show, any ole day.
posted by
telemachus
on April 9, 2005 at 10:49 AM
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cantey, jackie_o whichever you like
the comment was sincere. I appreciate your insight and sense of humor.
posted by
calmcantey75
on April 8, 2005 at 9:03 PM
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Now jackie_o ----or is it cantey? That comment from you admittedly
surprised me. But I will take it with the gracious intent it implies and say thank you.
posted by
gomedome
on April 8, 2005 at 9:01 PM
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this was funny
I like your sense of humor.
posted by
calmcantey75
on April 8, 2005 at 8:20 PM
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Make2short --- That was a pretty decent comment.
It unfortunately is also about as far as I let people go before I become insulted. That would be because I make it a personal policy to only take offence when people pull weapons. All other times I am obligated by a code of decency to give unknown parties the benefit of the doubt. Bestowing this beneficial enlightenment on others is free, and worth every penny of it. But this evening I only have time to address arrogance. OOOEEEE.... I've never heard myself called that before. My defence is always the same:
I earned my arrogance.
posted by
gomedome
on April 8, 2005 at 7:29 PM
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This column is very amusing.
Religion seems to bring out the arrogance is almost everybody. Since I haven't read your entire blog, what is your definition of success that makes you superior to all the religious people on this site?
posted by
Make2short
on April 8, 2005 at 7:12 PM
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readywriter55 -- I just love it when people make an assessment
as you have done with entirely too little information.
posted by
gomedome
on April 8, 2005 at 12:06 PM
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I wish my mother had been right much sooner.
posted by
TARZANA
on April 8, 2005 at 11:27 AM
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Gomedome, In all that is holy and loving, I regret to inform you that you have not elevated yourself, you have done just right the opposite, and someday you will come to understand that, and also understand how right your mother was.
posted by
MountainClimber57
on April 8, 2005 at 11:17 AM
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Gomdome, In the name of all that is holy, and loving, you have not elevated yourself, but done right the opposite - if you like read some of my responses to today's funeral, if not, then we will agree to disagree!
posted by
MountainClimber57
on April 8, 2005 at 11:15 AM
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