# Oliphant cartoon lampoons "speaking in tongues" ... out of bounds? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 17, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049 "2008-09-17T21:38:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049/121 "2008-09-18T22:39:44Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > And I am in understanding … and yet I think “religious phenomenon” is a little off. Phenomenon? Kinda. If an emotional reaction can be a phenomenon. Religious? No, except for the context. That is, I pay no credence to any sort of divine intervention to kick of the scat-fest, as it were. “Religious” does not have to automatically mean “supernatural.” “Religious,” in this context, describes a specific kind of mental/emotional state. Whether it’s really caused by the Holy Spirit or has a natural, psychological explanation, it’s still fair to call it a “religious” state of mind. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049/122 "2008-09-18T22:41:05Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > That can mean a lot of things. Specifics, please? By most Doper standards, I disrespect those borders also. What did you mean when you said it? ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049/123 "2008-09-18T22:46:18Z")
Not sure why religion is such a taboo subject in so many countries. To me, lampooning it is no different to doing it to any political and/or sporting affiliation. What’s with all the ‘respect’ for what are clearly some far out in left field concepts such as ‘speaking in tongues’ or ‘snake handling’ – or Creationists for that matter. Loons and willful ignorant are loons and willful ignorants no matter what they chose to call themselves. Mass hysteria is more like it. Call them as I see 'em. * * * **J Batty** , welcome back. Missed your infamous cape. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049/124 "2008-09-18T22:49:02Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > **J Batty** , welcome back. Missed your infamous cape. 😉 Thanks! I was thinking the same thing you were, except in my head it was more like, “yeah, well it still sounds goofy to me.” ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049/125 "2008-09-18T22:50:21Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > Not sure why religion is such a taboo subject in so many countries. To me, lampooning it is no different to doing it to any political and/or sporting affiliation. Given the level of hysteria associated with polotical and sporting affiliations, I’m not sure what you’re saying here. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049/126 "2008-09-19T01:16:28Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > What did you mean when you said it? You’re the one who accused her of disrespecting the boundaries. What do you mean? By the standards of many Dopers, I disrespect the boundaries. “In God We Trust” as the national motto, “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, the “Ceremonial Deism” in much of public life, voluntary student-led prayer in schools- not bothersome to me. Mr. Separation himself Thomas Jefferson said & did things as President that would rile up the Ultra-Separationists of today (attending Sunday services in the Capitol building?!?!) Now, politicians invoking their faith as a reason they support certain policies COULD get a bit hairy, but even then, I don’t see that as totally out of bounds. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049/127 "2008-09-19T08:53:54Z")
Meh, no outrage here. It was probably somewhat offensive but so what. If you bring your religion into your politics, then it’s fair game. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049/128 "2008-09-19T10:41:36Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > You’re the one who accused her of disrespecting the boundaries. What do you mean? No, I’m not. \*\*DSeid \*\*said it, and you said “I have no problem with any of that.” ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049/129 "2008-09-19T11:30:38Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > No, I’m not. \*\*DSeid \*\*said it, and you said “I have no problem with any of that.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049/130 "2008-09-19T20:41:12Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Now, politicians invoking their faith as a reason they support certain policies COULD get a bit hairy, but even then, I don’t see that as totally out of bounds. Does it matter which faith they cite? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049/131 "2008-09-19T22:19:25Z")
**FriarTed** I think other threads have covered Palin’s positions (or what we each believe or deduce they are) in some detail so I will defer discussing them here. I am however interested in hearing more exactly about where _you_ would draw the line. Voluntary student led prayer in school. (Since you brought it up.) I am assuming during class time and with the time marked off as for that purpose by school staff. Do you care what prayer is being said? “Christ our Lord” is fine? If it is a school in Dearborn MI which is 70% Muslim, is the Adhan, the call to face Mecca, requiring that students first go out of the classroom and appropriately wash up, assume the positions of prayer, etc., also okay as something to seperate off from class time by school staff so long as it is student led and those minority Christians can sit there quietly instead? Do the Wiccans get equal time if they so desire? Should religious teachings about creation get equal billing in a science classroom with theories of evolution? Is “doing God’s work” a sound basis for foriegn policy including going to war? Thanks in advance for fleshing out your position. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oliphant-cartoon-lampoons-speaking-in-tongues-out-of-bounds/464049.md?page=6)