Obviously you’re new here. People denegrate Christianity on the actions of a few allllll the time.
Well, then please explain. I’m all ears.
Absolutely. I’ve made that point many times here. I’m an equal opportunity atheist; I hold all religions to be fraudulent. You can can slam Christianiry with my approval.
I’ve given a lengthy explanation of the caste system in Hindu theology in the “Ask the Hindu” thread in GD. If you would like to take exception with my characterization, you are welcome to do so there. Briefly, though, since the Mahabharata, which is most certainly a Hindu text, has several passages and stories which denounce the caste system, I think I’m quite comfortable in my statement that from a theological point of view, it is not correct to make the blanket assertion that Hinduism holds the caste system up as a virtue. With one of the sacred texts explicitly denouncing it, your statement is falsified.
Well, I find some posters here who are Christian seem to be very nice people, so I have no wish to offend them in such a manner.
Next time, Zenster, try the “thousand tentacles of Cthulhu.” I’d love to see who comes out to protest that one. 
Hmmm…Cite?
Not that I don’t believe you, just that I haven’t run across that tidbit before and I find it kind of curious. Malaysia doesn’t strike me as a great fit for al-Qaeda, overall, though I’m sure they have their supporters there. Frankly if I had to guess ( based on no solid info whatsoever ), I’d be more likely to suspect THE major hotbed to be in more sympathetic areas like northern Pakistan, or more disturbed areas like Chechnya.
- Tamerlane
As to the OP, I think it ill advised. Idol hands are the devil’s workshop, you know.
The Dread Cthulhu has no tentacles, blasphemer!
Unless there is a more accurate word than ‘tentacles’ for those, that is.
Hey! Great dread Cthulhu! When you awake, eat elucidator first.
Well, if Cthulhu was only going to eat stupid people, we’d all be cultists.
Then again, if Cthulhu was only going to eat stupid people, who’d be afraid, really?
I have a tough time disagreeing with Zenster. This arms dealer, if all I’ve heard is true, deserves to be taken out and shot… and that’s assuming he can’t buy himself a few years of life with some valuable information about his other customers.
I mean, if I can’t condone the butchery of hundreds of innocent men, women, and children on RELIGIOUS grounds… how the hell am I supposed to feel when this scumbag does it for money?
And yes, I said “does it for money.” Far as I’m concerned, if he knew that a terrorist intended to use it on a commercial airliner, and he’s still willing to sell the thing, he might as well go out there and pull the trigger himself, as far as guilt goes.
Let me reiterate what I said earlier. You have clearly pointed out some of the decadent aspects of Hinduism and I fully agree. I am as furious as you are when I see that the caste system continues to flourish in some parts of the country (legality of which is only on paper) and I understand that it is the religion’s followers who spawned this devilish inequity. That said, I don’t see why you bring all that up here. Bright N Shiny was offended with a statement and as a Hindu, he voiced it. What fucking relevance does the ills of Hinduism have unless you are explicitly saying: “Given that you endorse all the various ills of Hinduism, you have no business getting offended over a humorous statement”. This is exactly what you seem to be saying with the lines quoted above. You are assuming he glosses over the greater horrors visited on real people and gets his panties in a wad over this.
Let me phrase it another way. What if Bright N Shiny was an active social reformer who is fighting vehemently to eradicate the ills of Hinduism? Can he then have the “right” to feel offended?
Hmm, you do have a point.
BrightNShiny made an excellent point way back here. This, I think, is an unfortunate omission. Couldn’t somebody go start one?
And while I’m spectating, I want to commend Enderw24 on use of the phrase “fuck all.” Now that’s slang!!!
Pass the popcorn…
BrightNShiny made an excellent point way back there. I think it’s a serious omission. Can’t someone go start this thread?
And while I’m spectating, I just want to commend Enderw24 on use of the phrase “fuck all.” Now that’s slang!!!
Pass the popcorn…
Damn, I need to cut my fingernails. That double post was the direct result of a nasty sideways-fingernail Windows command typo that somehow posted the reply and then backed up to the point where I’d just quoted BrightNShiny, & I figured I’d better rewrite it.
Good thing I don’t work for GW, I’d’ve accidentally bombed Lisbon by now–“What? Didn’t you get the pictures of my new puppy? I thought I hit ‘Send’?”
:smack:
Wouldn’t it have been more appropriate if BrightNShiny had started his own thread stating his indignation over this particular thread’s title?
As it stands now, Zenster’s original subject matter has been overwhelmed by a discussion of religious sensitivities and aspects of Hinduism.
It just strikes me as being inappropriate.
The problem is, BrightnShiny simply mentioned in passing, without any vitriol or swearing or anything, and everyone ASSUMED that he was ‘making a big deal’ out of it, when in actuality, I read it as “just so you know, some folks will find that portrayal offensive”. I don’t recall him ever asking for action to be taken or the thread closed or whathaveyou, it was OTHERS constantly dragging him back in.
BRIGHTNSHINY, people around here are just as offensive where Christianity is concerned as they have been with Hinduism here. Some portion of Dopers are way down on religion, and their distaste for it overrides their sense of civility. (And some, like ZEN mean no offense but just make the occasional ill-advised remark.) It’s a topic that does, with depressing frequency, make otherwise decent people act like assholes.
Some will tell you you’re being over-sensitive, which you’re not, or “blowing the whole thing out of proportion,” which you’re not. But if you’re going to hang around here, especially in the Pit, you’d better get used to some disrespect of religion, both yours specifically and religion generally.
For my part, I basically quit talking about religion on the Boards. It frustrated me to be told repeatedly that I must believe in a bunch of stuff I don’t believe, and that Christianity “means” a bunch of things it sure as heck doesn’t mean to me, or to millions of people like me. And it disappointed me to discover that people I formerly respected I could no longer respect, because their prejudice again any religion was IMO knee-jerk, irrational, and deeply incivil.
So I think your OP was legitimate, but I’m not surprised at the reactions. I’m not saying you’re wasting your breath by objecting, just that you should get used to it.
Jodi, I appreciate your comments. I originally was mildly miffed by the thread title, but it was the subsequent posts that really got me riled up. jarbabyj is spot on in his post. But, perhaps you are right. The pit may not be the place for me.
There are usually many interesting threads concerning religion in GD, and perhaps that is the better place for religious discussion.
PLEASE take it to GD then. I’m taking offence at the hijack of an otherwise great BBQing.
As for the OP. I think the ancient torture of 1000 cuts would suffice… People like this deserve to be tortured. Too bad we are a civilized nation…
Tee hee.
Her post.