Sorry, I can’t agree with this. The choices presented deevee were to either reply with an “Amen” or delete the message. Since when does friendship only allow a single scripted answser? The original message, glurgey dreck that it was, that his friend chose to send was framed as a binary choice: either agree wholeheartedly or don’t reply at all.
That wasn’t just a stupid, artifical nonchoice. It was an anti-communication, and hardly the act of a friend. Friends don’t require rigid lockstep agreement on every single matter of individual belief. Yeah, it probably just started as a thoughtless pass-along of some glurge. The trouble is, the ‘friend’ stood by the ridiculous glurge.
I rejected my Christian indoctrination years ago for lots of reasons, not the least of which were that I flatout couldn’t believe much of it and–more pertinently–that the behavior of the supposed adherents of the religion were at such glaring, flagrant odds with its basic tenets. IIRC Jesus forgave imperfection but also required some highly inconvenient things like humility and tending to the hard endless work on one’s own faults before the infinitely more attractive option of scouring other people’s souls. IMO religion, like politics, can be fertile ground for the nastiest aspects of mob thinking, and this is just another rancid example of both.
deevee’s friend drew a line in the sand: either with us or agin’ us. No room for honest, principled talk, just a rigid yea or nea for every mindboggling bit of a far-fetched screed. That wasn’t friendship, and it certainly wasn’t what Jesus taught either.
IIRC Jesus also had a bit of a temper about those who distorted His teachings for their own ends. deevee’s honest, considered response hews much closer to the path He taught.
Because, moron, the religious beliefs aren’t the point. The emailing friend wasn’t rejected for his beliefs but because he verbally attacked the OP (and most of Canada) for not sharing those beliefs. Tolerance means rejecting bigotry, moron.
Our national motto is “A Mari Usque Ad Mare”: from sea to sea, as used on the Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Canada. Another possibility would be “Desiderantes meliorem patriam” - they desire a better country - the motto of the Order of Canada, also featured on the Arms.
Wouldn’t it occur to people that the national motto would probably be a) bilingual (no direct translation occurs in the French anthem) or b) in a third language (as the Latin motto)?
Translation: he (or the originator of the glurge in question) doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Throughout the entire letter. The whole thing is an attack on non-Christians and immigrants. It’s not some kind of harmless witnessing, it’s an expression of hate for anyone who thinks differently or has the temerity not to say “Merry Christmas.”
By insulting him, accusing him of being unpatriotic and demanding that he agree with the repugnant sentiments anyone who isn’t a Christian fundy.
deevee couldn’t have known how his friend would react. Dread a probable reaction? Yeah, but he still paid his friend the fine compliment of respect: honesty, hope and willingness to actually talk.
Grabbing responsiblity for how someone else acts is hubris.
Tempting, and sometimes caring about people is a slippery slope, but assuming full power for their responses is patronizing.
It goes back to that minding the motes in one’s own eye thing. Responsiblity is usually a real bitch, especially when mopping up for other people presents such an attractive diversion. Tsk, tsk, just lookee over there! Can’t have that, now can we? I’ll get right back to wrestling with my own piddling flaws when their mess is cleaned up…(<–familiar voice of rationalization there)
deevee’s friend isn’t a mindless puppet. Friends–and sometimes even esteemed enemies–can bone-deep disagree about all kinds of things.
I grant the impulse behind your point, DioBella, but draw the line of responsibility differently.
As I read the OP, his problem is not merely with the email, but with his friend having religion generally. If it makes you feel better, though, pull out the word “intolerant” and just leave it as “OP is a dick.”
