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