Sigh...just because I agree with ONE thing a person says doesn't mean I agree with ALL they say

[Heddi]

Got into a discussion with a cafeteria religionist. You know -- the "I'm saved because I pick and choose what parts of the bible I think are important and because I say so."

I had mentioned Penn Jilette. You know -- atheist, libertarian, magician. And my religionist friend is like OH! Well you know he's a libertarian!!! How you like them apples??

I said "so...what?" I mean, I have read several of Michael Shermer's books and I find them interesting regarding skepticism, but I find his politics and alleged behaviour towards women abohorrent. It is possible to agree with someone when they say X but disagree with their position regarding Y

That's how I feel about Penn Jillette. I agree with much (not all) of what he says about religion and atheism. I do not agree with him one whit when it comes to politics.

This person is a PROUD CATHOLIC (tm) but disagrees with the pope about a number of things. When I brought up to this person that it's interesting that they allow themselves to disagree with the pope about X but agree with him about Y, I get the "oh, so Penn is now a leader of one of the largest religions in the world, eh? I thought you Atheists didn't have a leader?? snarf"

Aye yi yi.

Seriously.

I agree with Sam Harris, and I disagree with Sam Harris. I agree with Richard Dawkins and I disagree with Richard Dawkins. I agree with Pres. Obama and I disagree with Pres. Obama. I agree with my husband and disagree with my husband.....

Does anyone else face this? That by saying "oh I read this book" it means "Oh i read this book and got a tattoo of the author on my neck and changed my legal name and have swallowed the author and am now their clone and you'll never find the body now ha hahaha"?

Or are only Religionists allowed to pick and choose which parts of a religion, or book, or leader, or speaker that they agree and disagree with?


*and for the alert happy net nannies and the jurors that will be called because of the use of religionist
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religionist
religionistplay
noun re·li·gion·ist -ˈli-jə-nist, -ˈlij-nist
Popularity: Bottom 30% of words
Definition of religionist
: a person adhering to a religion; especially : a religious zealot

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/religionist
1.
excessive or exaggerated religious zeal.
2.
affected or pretended religious zeal.

http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/religionist
Synonyms for religionist
noun person who has faith in something

[Warpy]

1. Never argue with a crazy person

That one rule for living has saved me more grief, wasted time, and punches in the nose (and worse) than any other. I don't tell schizophrenic patients what they're seeing and hearing and I don't tell religious true believers anything to contradict their horse shit and for the same reason.

I suggest in future you just agree with this idiot. "Penn Jilette is a libertarian. How do you like them apples?" "Libertarians are apples? Thank you for the information."

"I don't agree with the Pope on X matter of faith." "Thank you for telling me you're no longer a Catholic."

The idea is to walk away and leave them to splutter. Enough of it and they just stop talking to you and that is a great improvement. Run away if you have to. If you can't get away, just let your eyes glaze over and nod and wait for them to run out of gas and then you can leave.

Trust me, crazy people of all kinds are simply not going to hear a word you say. Save your breath. The best you can do is make them go away.

[Heddi]

2. trust me, I didn't get into a back and forth

I don't argue with people who have the brain power of a comatose slug. I just gave a pittiful smile, nodded, and ended that part of the conversation.

But that's not the point I'm making

It is that when it comes to religionists, they are able to pick and choose this and yes that is a sin and no that isn't even though the bible says and I don't mind birth control but the pope does and that's no big deal...

but if I mention Michael Shermer or Penn Jilette or Sam Harris JESUS FUCKING CHRIST I better be ready to defend every. single. fucking. thing the man ever said in his life.

I see it daily in the Religion forum here. When el papa says someone who says an offensive thing should be punched in the mouth, oh it's just a colloquiums, he's just saying stuff, he doesn't mean it. When Sam Harris calls Islam a repressive force, OMG HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THAT GODDAMN BIGOT

[Warpy]

4. It's just part of the "do as I say, not as I do" mentality

along with selective blindness and a lot of mental tapdancing.

Personally, I'd rather just avoid them altogether.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. I was with you right up to the part about your husband.

As the Atheist Pope I have commanded all women to obey their husbands at all times. You must respect mah authoritie!

[Warren DeMontague]

6. I prefer the Vagenda of Manocide, myself.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. Wasn't Hitler a Catholic?

...just sayin'

[awoke_in_2003]

9. Didnt Stalin

attend seminary?

[Curmudgeoness]

7. And I am sure that she will call you a hypocrite

as if she would be able to spell or define it.

[AlbertCat]

8. Sigh...just because I agree with ONE thing a person says doesn't mean I agree with ALL they say

Yes it does.






You are dead to me now.








or something....

[Freelancer]

10. Can't let them libertarians get in -- they'll try to search yur house fur overdue libertary books...

And force yur kids to learn the Dewey Decimal System. Sounds Daam secular to me.

Said facetiously, of course.