# Alabama Christians with a persecution complex **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 25, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571 "2003-08-25T18:58:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/1 "2003-08-25T18:58:57Z")
[http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20030825/ap\_on\_re\_us/ten\_commandments\_5](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20030825/ap_on_re_us/ten_commandments_5) We all know about the infamous “Ten Commandments” case in Alabama. The 11th circuit court of appeals ordered the monument removed. Demonstrators have reacted by vowing to “lock hands and drop to their knees” when workers come to move the monument. Why don’t we give these fundies a fucking cross, so they can nail themselves to it? Don’t they realize they could have the monument moved to a church lawn nearby and look at it their hearts content? Don’t they see that the very fanatacism they are displaying is exactly the reason why religion and government must be kept separate? ---
**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:** [August 25, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/2 "2003-08-25T19:14:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blalron \* > \*\* > Don’t they realize they could have the monument moved to a church lawn nearby and look at it their hearts content? Don’t they see that the very fanatacism they are displaying is exactly the reason why religion and government must be kept separate? \*\* No, no they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/3 "2003-08-25T19:15:28Z")
No. They don’t get it. To them every bad thing is because ‘we forgot God’ or ‘We’ve abandoned God’ and they don’t understand that if we would all just do what the pastor says everything will be peachy. At least after we’re dead. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/4 "2003-08-25T19:21:46Z")
I think their cause is wrong, but they are peacefully protesting and engaging in peaceful civil disobedience. And I think it’s a good thing that we live in a country where people can engange in civil disobedience without having to worry about being tortured or killed by the government. It’s also a good thing that we live in a country where, if the government takes an action that people think is wrong, the people do choose to protest peacefully, instead of becoming violent. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/5 "2003-08-25T19:30:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Don’t they realize they could have the monument moved to a church lawn nearby and look at it their hearts content? Don’t they see that the very fanatacism they are displaying is exactly the reason why religion and government must be kept separate? C’mon these are the same troglodytes who think the Left Behind series is an accurate forecast of the future. They’re primitive idol worshippers who are so clueless that they do not know that their putative god, Jesus, said to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and render unto God the things that are God’s. Their insistence that the legal system of Alabama recognize the primacy of the Judaeo-Christian deity (although I’m sure the godly folk on the courthouse steps would prefer to ignore the “Judaeo” bit) is IMO direct disobedience to God’s commands. Moreover, I find it hilarious that these hayseeds who are so zealous to keep the stone image in the courthouse are actually violating the Ten Commandments (specifically the injunction against worshipping graven images). ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/6 "2003-08-25T19:50:57Z")
**Captain Amazing** , you’re right. A point all too often overlooked. As for “worshipping graven images”, as much as I disagree with those folks I don’t think that’s what they’re doing. A Torah is just a lot of old parchment wrapped in a fancy rug, a statue of Jesus is just plaster and gilt, a Sikh’s turban is just some fabric, but I’d be upset if I thought someone was trying to take it away unjustifiably. ---
**Author:** ![cole\_burner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@cole\_burner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cole_burner)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/7 "2003-08-25T20:15:41Z")
These inbred idiots are a waste of space and oxygen. If a bulldozer came in to move the monument and crushed them all, the average IQ in the country would go up. If God is all-powerful, let him put the monument back. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/8 "2003-08-25T20:22:43Z")
These people can’t think beyond the concept of “God good! Me like!” Notching up the brain to the next gear to understand far more complex concepts such us sep. of church and state is too much work, or simply beyond their capabilities. All they see is “God-thing being taken away! BAD! BAD!” ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/9 "2003-08-25T20:27:42Z")
> [@](#): > > These inbred idiots are a waste of space and oxygen. If a bulldozer came in to move the monument and crushed them all, the average IQ in the country would go up. Now, now, why all the hate? They’re not hurting anyone by expressing their views. I think they’re grossly superstitious and ignorant of the the religion they’re supposedly defending, but that merely calls for some mocking laughter and distribution of library cards to help these dolts get an education. There’s no call for hating folks merely because they express a viewpoint that we disagree with. ---
**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/10 "2003-08-25T21:15:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cole burner \* > \*\*These inbred idiots are a waste of space and oxygen. If a bulldozer came in to move the monument and crushed them all, the average IQ in the country would go up. > > If God is all-powerful, let him put the monument back. \*\* How insightfull! Yes, you are absolutely right. Becuase these people are religous and choose to express their disagreement with a court decision, they must be stupid. I’m sure none of them actually contribute anything positive to society either. What a bunch of thugs they are. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/11 "2003-08-25T21:18:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*These people can’t think beyond the concept of “God good! Me like!” Notching up the brain to the next gear to understand far more complex concepts such us sep. of church and state is too much work, or simply beyond their capabilities. All they see is “God-thing being taken away! BAD! BAD!” \*\* That’s probably true of some of the protestors, but the instigator (Moore) is no doubt aware that his actions are unconstitutional. However, he’s not playing to the courts, he’s playing to the Moral Majority types, because they’re the ones who vote in gubernatorial elections. Moore’s actions can be viewed as producing a campaign ad, which will be completed when the feds cart off the monument and walk over the protestors in front of the cameras of the Coral Ridge Ministry, who Moore has granted exclusive video rights in exchange for money. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/12 "2003-08-25T21:23:33Z")
I agree; Moore likely knows what he’s doing. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/13 "2003-08-25T21:35:26Z")
Gobear, somebody is hijacking you’re computer, and under your username, posting such contradictory bullshit as– > [@](#): > > . . . these are the same troglodytes . . . primitive idol worshippers . . . clueless . . . would prefer to ignore the “Judaeo” bit . . . –and– > [@](#): > > Now, now, why all the hate? They’re not hurting anyone by expressing their views. . . . What a two-faced hypocritical wanker: you just want to contradict whoever posted previously, and don’t give a shit WHAT you say. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/14 "2003-08-25T21:36:50Z")
Anyway. I agree that the protesters should certainly be allowed to protest peacefully, but they should be arrested and hauled off to jail when the bulldozers get there. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/15 "2003-08-25T21:50:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lissener \* > What a two-faced hypocritical wanker: you just want to contradict whoever posted previously, and don’t give a shit WHAT you say. \*\* Whoa up a minute there, hoss. **gobear** was responding to a post in which the author was suggesting the protestors should be ground to a pulp underneath bulldozers. In that respect, his responses certainly do indicate a level of tolerance greater by several orders of magnitude. Calling someone a “troglodyte” and “primitive idol worshipper” is much more tolerant than running over them with a bulldozer, and isn’t arbitrarily contradictory. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/16 "2003-08-25T21:51:04Z")
> [@](#): > > What a two-faced hypocritical wanker: you just want to contradict whoever posted previously, and don’t give a shit WHAT you say. If you are unable to see the qualitative difference between “these people are idiots” and “these people would benefit all of us by being crushed by heavy machinery” then you are a dolt. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/17 "2003-08-25T21:51:30Z")
I just watched an update on this story on Headline News. The protesters who want to keep the monument claim their first amendment rights are being violated by NOT having the monument there. What about the rights of the people who DON’T want the monument there? ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/18 "2003-08-25T21:52:44Z")
Generally, theocracy is a bad idea. Unfortunately, these people descend from the same religious tradition that gave us Calvin’s Geneva. They just refuse to learn. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/19 "2003-08-25T21:53:36Z")
Nope, **lissener**. The first set of choice phrases are what **Gobear** calls " mocking laughter" and derision. The comments about “hate” are directed towards wishes of being crushed by bulldozers. ---
**Author:** ![bagkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@bagkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bagkitty)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571/20 "2003-08-25T21:56:24Z")
Frankly, I am more than a little tired of fundies running around telling anyone who will listen how “persecuted” Xians are… to the point of wanting to herd them into a sports arena and let a few very hungry lions loose on them. There is a difference between “the nasty media refuses to allow us to monopolize all the newsbroadcasts and entertainment program” and “persecution”. This can probably all be attributed to my parents’ reaction to me whining when I was a child (“you’d better be quiet or we will really give you something to cry about…”), but Christ on a crutch, I’M TIRED OF THESE WHINGEY XIANS [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-christians-with-a-persecution-complex/197571.md?page=2)