cutmeamango
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Yum yum yum, the irony is dripping, I better lick my fingers.
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High school student successfully sues her school to remove a religious prayer banner
- Thread starter Korey
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Yum yum yum, the irony is dripping, I better lick my fingers.
I come here for discussion, not for approval. Not one of you here is perfect nor would one of you change or alter your viewpoint regardless if it offended anyone here, as evident by this thread. I made no bones that I doubted the noble intentions of this girl, thats my viewpoint and it does not matter to me if you agree or do not. Simple fact, not brooding rage.
Clear
CliffyB's Cock Holster
I think this is a classic case of intolerance breeding intolerance.
The way I see it, Miss Ahlquist was unable to tolerate the presence of what is to an outside, non-partisan observer, a fairly harmless and benign piece of Christian iconography, and asked it be removed on the grounds of the constitutional division of church and state.
In so doing she created a political, ideological, and theological flashpoint that drew people in on both sides of the debate. Naturally the most dogmatic and intolerant of challenge to their chosen ideology were in the front-row, thereby expanding and deepening the conflict.
My view is that there are no "winners" in such a pointless conflict, nothing has been gained and whole load of enmity has been stirred up. Its a net loss for that community, and especially for Miss Ahlquist.
Its an empty victory because all that's been accomplished is a clearer delineation of battle-lines on ideological grounds. An open display of Atheism or non-Christian belief is going to be no more welcome in that school/community than it was before, in fact I suspect it'll be greeted with more hostility.
This is because belief is more than some words written on a wall, its something that people carry with them. As an Atheist Miss Ahlquist should realise that the ABSENCE of something can carry as much weight as its presence, should the prayer be removed or altered it will stand as a lasting reminder of a deep schism for years to come.
The way I see it, Miss Ahlquist was unable to tolerate the presence of what is to an outside, non-partisan observer, a fairly harmless and benign piece of Christian iconography, and asked it be removed on the grounds of the constitutional division of church and state.
In so doing she created a political, ideological, and theological flashpoint that drew people in on both sides of the debate. Naturally the most dogmatic and intolerant of challenge to their chosen ideology were in the front-row, thereby expanding and deepening the conflict.
My view is that there are no "winners" in such a pointless conflict, nothing has been gained and whole load of enmity has been stirred up. Its a net loss for that community, and especially for Miss Ahlquist.
Its an empty victory because all that's been accomplished is a clearer delineation of battle-lines on ideological grounds. An open display of Atheism or non-Christian belief is going to be no more welcome in that school/community than it was before, in fact I suspect it'll be greeted with more hostility.
This is because belief is more than some words written on a wall, its something that people carry with them. As an Atheist Miss Ahlquist should realise that the ABSENCE of something can carry as much weight as its presence, should the prayer be removed or altered it will stand as a lasting reminder of a deep schism for years to come.
Count Dookkake
Member
What's ironic about pointing out how one is failing to live up to the teachings of their favorite philosopher?
EDIT for Clear: You messed up in your second sentence. Non-partisan observers ruled in her favor. I didn't read the rest of your post.
If I was some diehard christian, why would I care what an atheist thought of me?, Thats not remotely consistent.
You don't really know what the word irony means.
Sanky Panky
Banned
Thank you, you summarized 5+ pages of me going back and forth with people here. Very well said.
Count Dookkake
Member
You can dance however you want to, but if you are a Christian, you are failing and Jesus is facepalming.
I'm sorry but this reads very much like "It doesn't matter if you're in the right, mess with us and you will come to regret it".
I'm sure that's not how you feel, but that's how your post reads to me.
You are right. What can I do to get GAF to like me so I can be closer to the invisible sky wizard? I recant everything I've ever said and every opinion I've ever held.
BobsRevenge
I do not avoid women, GAF, but I do deny them my essence.
You're not wrong, but I think you'll see attitudes shifting quickly like we've seen with homosexuality recently. There are a lot of atheists, or at least people who don't have religious feelings, that people are going to know and be aware of. They'll see that what they've been led to believe about atheists on a personal level is wrong.
Yeah, it induces some cognitive dissonance, but whenever I've had a serious conversation with a religious person about my beliefs I've found that they are accepting that I don't think the same way they do. That I don't feel their spirituality, so I don't feel justified in lying to insert myself into a religion just because it'd be easy.
And religious people respect that because it is inline with their moral beliefs. That you shouldn't lie, and that you should be a strong person. And I never try to push anything onto them, just explain the viewpoint.
Count Dookkake
Member
I'm not trying to convert you to atheism.
I'm pointing out that you are not following the teachings of your lord. Why is that?
Assuming that you are Christian, that seems weird to me.
Mortrialus
Banned
Discussion in forums is a direct result of other people having opinions on what you say. If people don't have anything to say about your posts, there would be no discussion. By definition, if you want discussion you care to some extent what other people think about your posts.
Calling someone an attention whore is not a particularly useful method in changing others viewpoints. It is not a way to carry yourself if you care about discussion like you have alleged that you do. I've changed my mind lots of issues. You could go back and find a post I've made in the past that does not reflect my viewpoints now because another poster managed to convince me to change my mind. You aren't apart of actual discourse and discussion. You're evidently far too bad at it.
If you cared about discussion and making arguments, you'd have realized that calling the girl an attention whore and questioning her motives is a flawed approach well before you'd have entered this thread.
Mango Positive
Member
Merely stating that you're an atheist seems to be perceived as "intolerance of religion". Of course, an atheist in the southern United States learns to be tolerant of other people's beliefs, lest he have no friends. I do hear a lot (usually from my mother) that I should just shut up about it. People even say that I should remove the "atheist" tag from my Facebook page. "Shut up and stay hidden, otherwise we get offended" is the perception. I don't bring it up unless I'm asked, but if it comes up, I don't hide my lack of superstition. I am polite about it though. But yeah, I live in Kennesaw, Georgia.
I would say that most atheists don't really mean to be rude. They just like discussing it. It's a topic of interest. It should go without saying that, yes, we think religious people are wrong. You don't have to get offended if you're religious because you think we are wrong as well.
I would say that most atheists don't really mean to be rude. They just like discussing it. It's a topic of interest. It should go without saying that, yes, we think religious people are wrong. You don't have to get offended if you're religious because you think we are wrong as well.
cutmeamango
Banned
It's like one of those memes...
Says religious are crying persecution.
(your picture)
Dissent opinion? Religious!
But yours is a tame irony, funny, but common... this one though \/
I don't like to explain jokes, but if you remove the quote between the two sentences:
"I mean heck, here's a great example of embarrassing immature behavior:
Can't you just HEAR the 15 year old puberty-rage FUCK YOU DAD voice?"
Mature you say?
I made plenty of posts in this thread that had nothing to do with deriding this girl (in which I agreed with her point), and the one I did make was plenty early. But I guess I can't make fun of her or doubt her intent because....is she the atheist version of a saint? Do you have those? Maybe that explains it.
Count Dookkake
Member
Yeah, that's not ironic in the slightest. Is English not your native language? It's okay, because irony is a difficult concept to grasp.
cutmeamango
Banned
You sure?
Count Dookkake
Member
Yes.
I really want to hear how being indifferent to what other posters on the internet think about me is contrary to any Christian doctrine. This should be interesting. Love thy neighbor? But I love ALL of you guys, even despite the fact that you think I'm an asshole. I think that is most Christian actually.
POWERSPHERE
Member
God is dead. Singularity is nigh.
cutmeamango
Banned
Oh man. :/ The second one was definetely irony right?
Count Dookkake
Member
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