I just received an amusing email from One News Now regarding a billboard battle in Toledo, Ohio. Here it is in its entirety:
Obviously, both churches are wrong, since non-existent beings are unable to bestow gifts, blessings, curses or anything else upon anyone. That being the case, the conflict can’t really be about whether a god approves or disapproves of homosexuality. What it’s really about is whether particular people approve or disapprove of homosexuality. Some people see nothing wrong with homosexuality, and others view it as more disgusting than vomit. But all of them believe their god has something to say about it. At least, that’s what they say. But what if some of them are just using their god as the scapegoat upon which to pin their own preferences? I find both of these possibilities plausible and wouldn’t be surprised if both mindsets are actually at play in the politics of religion and homosexuality.
The email closes with a link to a poll. If you’ve ever checked out a One News Now poll, you’ll know that the options tend to be skewed toward a “correct” point of view. This poll is no different:
Anyone who doesn’t agree with any of these options is unable to vote. Of course not. Fundies don’t need input or feedback from anyone who doesn’t live inside their little bubble. After all, what could they possibly learn from the likes of me? So, I’m not upset that there’s no room for opinions like mine in their poll. My exclusion reminds me of why billboard battles like these are fun: it’s immensely amusing to sit back and watch the godbots eat their own.
– the chaplain
Lithp
September 30, 2011 at 6:36 pm
I can’t decide which is my favorite part: That all of those poll options say the same thing, or that the homophobic church keeps talking about “standing up” as though his views are somehow being oppressed.
Kagehi
September 30, 2011 at 10:36 pm
And, as usual with these idiots, you can’t post anything to the article. How is this poll though:
The color of the sky is:
1. We need more questions like this from Kagehi.
2. Not blue.
3. Orange.
the chaplain
October 1, 2011 at 11:20 am
Lithp
The lack of range in the options speaks volumes about the lack of range in fundy thinking.
Kagehi
Your poll is no worse than the One News One poll. On the other hand, it’s no better either.
jonjermey
October 1, 2011 at 6:44 pm
I voted for the first option. The more pastors there are like Tony Scott, the quicker fundamentalism will collapse.
the chaplain
October 7, 2011 at 4:44 pm
Liberal & moderate theism are generally more palatable than fundentalism, and no theism is better than any theism.
tommykey
October 1, 2011 at 9:30 pm
How about a billboard that reads “Pedophile Priests Are A Gift From God”?
the chaplain
October 7, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Ooh! Low blow! Wish I’d thought of that!
HYpnotrish
October 4, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Sign between the signs . Free Baloney
the chaplain
October 7, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Too bad so many people like baloney.
PhillyChief
October 7, 2011 at 9:38 am
Perhaps a snarky billboard in-between is needed, such as:
• The Bible – clear, obvious truth
• Christianity – the answer to any question
• Jesus eliminates all doubts and confusion
Ever since the first shaman smeared some shit on himself, danced around a fire and spoke his opinions as if the dictates of a god, humans have been exploiting faith-based beliefs to validate their opinions and that’s never going to change because human nature doesn’t change. This isn’t just a religious thing. Look at how the right-wingers exploit the faith-based beliefs about this nation and the constitution to validate their opinions. Ignorance is more precious than gold, for you can do more with ignorance. If ours was a well educated population, you couldn’t pay people to skip vaccines, refuse to fund stem cell research, attend prayer rallies for rain, and so forth but keep them ignorant and look what’s possible.
the chaplain
October 7, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Sadly, many people would take your snark dead seriously. Good point about how valuable an ignorant populace is to the powerful in both religion & politics.
Brian M
October 10, 2011 at 3:50 pm
I don’t know. Many of the people who believe in religions (or that vaccines cause autism) are superficially well-educated.
“Education” is not apanacea…especially when, as you noted, there are other “educated” but ruthless people out there using that education to exploit their fellow “tribespeople”.
PhillyChief
October 10, 2011 at 4:10 pm
I’m confused, unless you’re somehow suggesting education provides higher morals (which I don’t agree it does, necessarily). Leaving morality aside, the educated are more capable to exploit the uneducated, no? And it would be in their best interests to maintain that educational divide, no?
Education in this discussion should be focused on not the memorization of facts or vocational training, but rather critical thinking skills. Someone’s higher education degree is not a guarantee of having been educated in, nor having any mastery of critical thinking. I would say successful mastery of critical thinking, sans compartmentalization, would be a vaccine and a panacea for faith indulgence.
Brian M
October 11, 2011 at 10:38 am
I hope so…yet does history really show this is the case? Many blazingly intelligent people have also been very religious, despite their obvious intelligence and rationality in other ways.
As you note, even with critical thinking skills the human mind has an amazing ability to compartmentalize, engage in special pleading, and accept cultural truisms. Being educted does not negate these tendencies in any way.
I don’t disagree with you and critical thinking is something we should all exercise-and it will help. All I am saying (and it’s a trivial point but not concern trolling) is that critical thinking will not eliminate religion…or other forms of harmful self indulgence. Heck…I have messed my own life up through self-indulgence, so I would know
Formally educated people often see “education” (pronounce the word with George Carlin’s sarcastic tone) as the “solution” to many problems.
PhillyChief
October 11, 2011 at 10:52 am
I believe there’s an equivocation afoot. Education does not necessarily = critical thinking training. Critical thinking is largely absent in education, formal or otherwise.
Also, citing history is problematic because it doesn’t take into account social pressures. For instance, do you really think there’s only one atheist currently in Congress? Do you really think Stark is the first one?
desertscope
October 9, 2011 at 1:20 am
Speaking of someone having “smeared some shit on himself” as Philly puts it, the book I am currently reading, A World Lit Only by Fire by William Manchester, has informed me of much that I never suspected about Martin Luther. For instance, I was not aware that Martin Luther engaged in feces fights with Satan. As a Catholic, I never knew much about the Protestants (or “Hellbound” in the parlance). Is this something the kids learned about in Protestant Sunday School?
PhillyChief
October 9, 2011 at 8:35 am
Katie: What the? MARTIN! Is this shit?! Why is your office covered with shit?
Luther: I was battling Satan, dear. He threw shit at me so I returned the favor.
Katie: Your office is covered in shit, Martin. Who’s going to clean this up?
Luther: Go round up some Jews to do it.
Katie: MARTIN!
Luther: What?
Katie: I’d rather have shit in here than those filthy Jews.
Luther: Ah, mein leibchen.
desertscope
October 9, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Delusional antisemitic coprophile. Every sect should have such a founder.