# Again, a few "Christians" who give the rest a bad name **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 5, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390 "2003-07-05T16:30:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/41 "2003-07-05T23:44:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Millen \* > \*\*I don’t mind, I am not a Fundamentalist Christian. \*\* Well, then: choose your battles wisely, and don’t hijack posts. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/42 "2003-07-06T00:00:23Z")
My wife’s brother was a big gamer in high school, and one of his teachers was apparently concerned enough about his soul to call their mother and talk about it one night. This teacher had a kid who was about the same age as my BIL. “It’s 9:00 on Friday night,” my MIL said. “Do you know where your kid is?” The teacher, of course, did not. “Well, mine is sitting with all his friends at my dining room table, and he will be all night.” I love my mother-in-law. 🙂 Oh, and here is the obligatory link to “Dark Dungeons”, which has the high honor of being the Chick tract least in touch with reality: [http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0046/0046\_01.asp](http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0046/0046_01.asp) (“I don’t want to be Elfstar any more! I want to be”) Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/43 "2003-07-06T00:10:05Z")
**Millen** ’s offense taken at the word fundie and her faux authoritative tone in informing us of her “official” actions (which is hysterical considering how long this poster has been a member) is so over the top that I’m wondering if we’re bearing witness to an all new kind of short bridge-dwelling monster. That’s the only way to explain it. That, or you’re gonna feel _really_ stupid not too long from now, **Millen** … :wally: ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/44 "2003-07-06T00:22:41Z")
Maybe we could call that unreasonable, close-minded, mean-spirited subset set of fundamentalist Christianity ‘phundies’ ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/45 "2003-07-06T00:23:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > \*\*At the risk of a hijack (and please, **do not** post to this linked, long dead thread), we have gone over this before: > [Wildest Bill brings up an interesting point about the term ‘Fundie’.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=88512) > > However, while “fundie” _may_ be insulting, (and we certainly do permit insults in the **Pit** ), it is more used as shorthand. It is, perhaps, a bit dismissive, but hardly in the category of racial or ethnic epithets. (Anyone ever see **FUNDIE** spray painted on a church wall?) I am a papist who has used both papist and mackeral-snapper on these boards, and I have laughed out loud at ignorant people who have attempted to use papist as an insult. Fundie is not even based on a hate phrase or a disrespectful word, being merely a contraction of the word certain conservative Christians use to identify themselves. What’s next? Are we to ban “pubbie” when referring to Republicans? “Libbie” when referring to Liberals? Is “commie” hate speech? > > This whole hijack is simply silly and, I suspect, is intended more to see who will rise to strike than to actually point out a problem. \*\* Just for my own clarification, because I didn’t know what papist meant, I looked it up and got this: pa·pist (p³“p¹st) n. Offensive. A Roman Catholic. [New Latin p³pista, from Late Latin p³pa. See POPE.] --pa“pist or pa·pis“tic (p…-p¹s“t¹k) adj. --pa“pist·ry n. I’m confused how people are ignorant for thinking this word is an insult. But then, I didn’t know what a papist was, SOOOO…maybe you can explain it for me another way? I do feel there has been a lot of Christian Fundamentalist bashing here lately, most deserved…but speaking as a Christian, occasionally I do get upset about it too. People making fun of the fact that Christians believing in the devil and the “little man in the sky”. I thought we had tolerance and respect for all people here. ivylass, your family’s situation is reprehensible. Your BIL and SIL should definitely chat with the pastor, and hopefully come to some resolution. It’s true that Christians can be overzealous about things they see as evil. My best wishes to you and your family. ~J ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/46 "2003-07-06T00:36:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > “Fundie” is just shorthand for “fundamentalist Christian.” Yeah, we know, and Jap is shorthand for Japanese, and Chink, one syllable, is shorthand for…, and Frog, is shorthand for… **Mllen** , I’m with you man. but you are wasting your time here. You and I are both not fundamentalists, but we can see when a group is targeted for derision as commonly as fundamentalists on this board that these objects of derision suffer the worst prejudice and hate of any group including extreme Islamists within this community. > [@](#): > > **Millen** , you are a donkey-raping uncle fucker. How’s that for hate speech? (And 5 will get you 10 the moron won’t be able to identify the quote) \*\* This from one of the most respected posters on this board. I don’t get it, but I hope it is a friendly joke. ---
**Author:** ![Eilsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Eilsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eilsel)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/47 "2003-07-06T00:38:52Z")
Well said, J. I was actually thinking (amazing huh? LOL) that perhaps the threat of a law suit, suing each member _individually_ may help… ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/48 "2003-07-06T00:48:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DoctorJ \* > Oh, and here is the obligatory link to “Dark Dungeons”, which has the high honor of being the Chick tract least in touch with reality: > > [http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0046/0046\_01.asp](http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0046/0046_01.asp) > > (“I don’t want to be Elfstar any more! I want to be”) Dr. J “…you have been trapped in a dungeon of bondage.” Sounds cool to me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/49 "2003-07-06T00:53:59Z")
> [@](#): > > ## “Fundie” is just shorthand for “fundamentalist Christian.” > > Yeah, we know, and Jap is shorthand for Japanese, and Chink, one syllable, is shorthand for…, and Frog, is shorthand for… Are you seriously proposing to include “fundie” as a _racist_ epithet? What country is Fundia? > [@](#): > > ## quote: > > ## Millen, you are a donkey-raping uncle fucker. How’s that for hate speech? (And 5 will get you 10 the moron won’t be able to identify the quote) \*\* > > This from one of the most respected posters on this board. I don’t get it, but I hope it is a friendly joke. The reference is from \*_South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut_, a movie whose theme is that oversensitivity to language causes more problems than it cures. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/50 "2003-07-06T01:07:56Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Jaade_ > I thought we had tolerance and respect for all people here. In the _Pit_? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/51 "2003-07-06T01:11:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Millen \* > \*\*hopefool, this is not a joke, and I did report the post. \*\* You may not have been joking, shitwits, but you _are_ a joke. **ivyglass** has a real family problem, caused by people acting from irrational motives, & who are going out of their way to jump her BIL’s shit. Useful suggestions or supportive words were sought. But you don’t have anything helpful to add, so you pull this. :wally I’ve never noticed your sorry shit before, and if I never do again, good riddence! But hey, _have a nice day_! DOGTURD! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/52 "2003-07-06T01:11:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*In the _Pit_? \*\* Don’t take me so literally. 🙂 You are probably right though, I’ve been reading too many posts in the Pit lately. ~J ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/53 "2003-07-06T01:29:09Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m confused how people are ignorant for thinking this word [papist] is an insult. It is _intended_ to be an insult. It is a claim of some people that Catholics hold the pope in higher esteem than Jesus. However, it is such a silly claim and such a weak insult that people who use it generally make themselves look foolish by their use of it as an insult. (It is _quite_ popular among raving lunatics such as Ian Paisley and some (not all) of the people who broadcast from the Moody Bible Institute. Jack Chick would probably use it if he was not caught up in using other, even sillier, epithets.) * * * **grienspace** , there definitely is a certain amount of religious bashing that occurs on this board. Some of it is directed against all believers of any faith, some is directed against Muslims, some against Christians, and much of it against particular groups within Christianity such as Catholics or Fundamentalists or Mormons, occasionally someone will strike out at Jews. However, to claim that “fundie” is inherently insulting is silly. For one thing, it is used by at least three posters of long standing as _self_-descriptive. Certainly, as used by **ivylass** in the OP, it was indicative of a particular mind-set, not a general condemnation of believers. She was at particular pains to note that it was not the entire congregation and that her in-laws were seeking the support of the pastor in fighting off these charges. Getting upset over “fundie” is no more reasonable than getting upset over “papist.” It is simply not a serious affront. (Are you holding that “commie” should be prohibited on this board?) ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/54 "2003-07-06T01:34:46Z")
Thank you **tomndebb** , that clears things up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/55 "2003-07-06T01:44:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Millen \* > \*\*hopefool, this is not a joke, and I did report the post. \*\* Um, you DO know that saying, “I reported your post to a mod!” is ALSO frowned upon, dumbass? ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/56 "2003-07-06T02:04:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Um, you DO know that saying, “I reported your post to a mod!” is ALSO frowned upon, dumbass? \*\* Well, that’s it. I’m telling the mods on _you_! ---
**Author:** ![Millen89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Millen89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millen89)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/57 "2003-07-06T02:05:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jaade \* > \*\*Just for my own clarification, because I didn’t know what papist meant, I looked it up and got this: > > pa·pist (p³“p¹st) n. Offensive. A Roman Catholic. [New Latin p³pista, from Late Latin p³pa. See POPE.] --pa“pist or pa·pis“tic (p…-p¹s“t¹k) adj. --pa“pist·ry n. > > I’m confused how people are ignorant for thinking this word is an insult. > > But then, I didn’t know what a papist was, SOOOO…maybe you can explain it for me another way? > > I do feel there has been a lot of Christian Fundamentalist bashing here lately, most deserved…but speaking as a Christian, occasionally I do get upset about it too. People making fun of the fact that Christians believing in the devil and the “little man in the sky”. > > I thought we had tolerance and respect for all people here. > > ivylass, your family’s situation is reprehensible. Your BIL and SIL should definitely chat with the pastor, and hopefully come to some resolution. It’s true that Christians can be overzealous about things they see as evil. > > My best wishes to you and your family. > > ~J \*\* \*\*Jaade \*\*, thanks for the link. It was uplifting to see the numerous Dopers come forth and swear off using this offensive term.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/58 "2003-07-06T02:06:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > **Hate speech is attacking people for their gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, not for ideology.** Wasn’t the line once “race, color or creed?” I’ve no problem with adding gender and the rest to the list, but why drop “creed?” Mind you, I don’t have a problem with the names you list, including “fundies,” as they are, IMO, only mildly pejorative. But are you seriously saying that it’s OK to attack people because of their religious convictions? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/59 "2003-07-06T02:17:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > …there definitely is a certain amount of religious bashing that occurs on this board. Some of it is directed against all believers of any faith, some is directed against Muslims, some against Christians, and much of it against particular groups within Christianity such as Catholics or Fundamentalists or Mormons, occasionally someone will strike out at Jews. Sure, but 99% of religious bashing is against the fundamentalists by this board. Anyone taking on the Catholics or the Mormons or the Wiccans or the Muslims or any other religion will general be opposed by the mainstream posters of this board for being generalists or not totally informed concerning the object of their criticism. This applies particularly to Islamic criticism. But it is only the fringe posters who defend the integrity and honour of christian fundamentalists regardless of the merits of fundamentalist positions. > [@](#): > > Getting upset over “fundie” is no more reasonable than getting upset over “papist.” It is simply not a serious affront. (Are you holding that “commie” should be prohibited on this board?) \*\* I’m not arguing for any prohibition at all. I’m just reacting to what I have deduced over the past three years on this board, and that is that the most detested and reviled group in this community are the christian fundamentalists. If I’m to look out for the oppressed in my society at large, gays and visible minorities, then I see no reason not to apply the same concern for the oppressed within the SDMB community. BTW, my neighbour across the street is a true red communist. He’s as old as I am, sports a tatoo of Che Guevara on one shoulder and Lenin on the other. He visits Cuba every year. I would never refer to him as a Commie or a Pinko, because I respect him even if a don’t respect his politics. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390/60 "2003-07-06T02:20:13Z")
I believe fundie is just a term to describe someone who is a religious zealot. I also apply the term to Muslim fundamentalists, like Al Qaeda, or any other religious extremist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-a-few-christians-who-give-the-rest-a-bad-name/186390.md?page=4)