The promised explanation

[torquill]

When I ran across the article in the Seattle PI about the atheist display that was put up near the Nativity scene in the Washington State Capitol building, I posted it to lily's -culturewar discussion. I was a bit surprised when one of the more moderate (and less religious) people there started bitching about how it was offensive, and I must have a bias toward the atheists if I didn't think so. I insisted that there was no bias, I simply felt that all groups have a right to state their beliefs, so long as they do not target a group or individuals in the process.

The disagreement stemmed from the wording on the placard: "There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." I said that was a general statement about religion, not targeting any group in particular. He said it was offensive to anyone who believed in a religion.

I finally narrowed it down to his view that when someone makes a generalized, strong, negative statement about something, he feels that implies a criticism of the people who hold a different view. Thus, saying "religion is bad" means you are stating that anyone who believes in religion, any religion, is stupid or evil. I handed him the statement from the poll: "Cars are dangerous and destroy the environment", and he replied, "that to me would imply I was either dumb, uncaring, or evil to own a car."

I thought he was being too sensitive, and said as much. I was curious, however, whether I was being insufficiently so, and put up the poll. It seems most of you feel he was being too sensitive about reading between the lines, at least on the metaphorical statement. That's good to know.

Comments

[packy.livejournal.com]

I think he was being too sensitive, though I wish I's spoken up at the time and said so. I was distracted with some stuff and didn't have the brainspace to chime in.

[catnip13.livejournal.com]

I think that your car analogy doesn't necessarily hold up, though, because I think many, if not most, car owners, see cars as a somewhat neccessary evil, and thus, are likely to be less defensive about it that they would be about a religious conviction. I own and drive a car, but I take steps to minimize the driving I do.