# Religeous pet peeve: spreading of religeon **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 21, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837 "2003-07-21T02:36:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/21 "2003-07-21T03:59:14Z")
I enjoyed the Hell out of [Meggido](http://www.8x.com/films/megiddo/). Talk about Shock and Awe ! Some of these religious films are a real ripsnorting good time. Maybe the downtrodden masses in Iraq could use something fun, and slightly controversial, to slip into their VCR’s. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/22 "2003-07-21T04:01:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*Good grief, Lobsang. Your last posting in this thread displays an incredible lack of understanding of what Christianity as a whole is. You have merely **preached** your interpretation of (beliefs about) one aspect of one branch of the whole and have decided to **preach** about how bad it is. Now, why should you be allowed to **preach** that but others now allowed to **preach** their beliefs? \*\* All I remember doing is saying I don’t believe I am going to some horrible place. (not “and you shouldn’t too”) that’s not preaching is it? I am expressing my dislike of something. I am _ranting_. I am not _preaching_. I am not saying what people should and shouldn’t believe. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/23 "2003-07-21T04:01:50Z")
**Ben** , I don’t know. I don’t know what if God said that sexual molestation was necessary to avoid hell – in a way, I’m content to be glad that that’s not the case. Also, I think it is important to respect the beliefs of others, even if they are such as Christianity. Certainly it is not necessary to accept them, but why cause needless confrontation and anger? ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/24 "2003-07-21T04:06:46Z")
Somehow, **Squink** I don’t think the Iraqis would be amused by this. Do they have a version of Mystery Science Theater on Al Jazeera? What I want to know is why don’t these people focus their attention here instead of bothering the Iraqis? I would love to seem some evangelists hanging outside the NYSE lecturing to people about how evil it is to act the way the Enron execs did. How come I never see that? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/25 "2003-07-21T04:10:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lel \* > \*\* > > \>SNIP\< > > why cause needless confrontation and anger? \*\* An excellent point. Regardless of your personal belief system. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/26 "2003-07-21T04:16:52Z")
Others have said it better than me (what’s new?) Some of the comments from viewers in the link say it well… > [@](#): > > Trying to sublimate the dominant religion in another country is, if nothing else, an insult to the sensibilities and belief systems of its indigenous people. It’s exactly what starts wars in the first place. > **Eric, US** > [@](#): > > These people are so arrogant! It really annoys me when anyone thinks their religion is better than someone else’s. Why don’t these Christians convert to another religion first, just to see how insulting it is - before they go around giving the “natives” the “benefit” of their religion? > \*\*P Fatania, England \*\* > [@](#): > > Most of these evangelical groups funded by rich US sponsors and influential Christian right have an agenda of converting Iraq to Christianity by any means. They believe their intentions are noble and compassionate. Having said that, I am baffled by their lack of compassion on the humanitarian side. Do they care about the deteriorating law-and-order situation, soaring unemployment, lack of power and water etc. in Iraq? > **Nachiketa, US** ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/27 "2003-07-21T04:21:19Z")
**lel** (and others making the same point) If I absolutely believed without doubt that someone will spend an eternity in a horrible place I probably _would_ feel compelled to convert them or (save) them. It just frustrates me that it happens. And that people apparently do believe an unsaved person is going to a horrible place. ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/28 "2003-07-21T04:24:29Z")
Okay, all my fellow Christians! Listen up! You know that whole last commandment thing? What some call the Great Commission? Yeah, well I’ve just received word that we gotta knock that off. Turns out that **Lobsang** doesn’t WANT us to make disciples of all nations. Right, and he doesn’t want us to suffer little children to come unto Jesus, anymore, either! Yeah, so forget what that Savior guy said and heed the words of **Lobsang** from now on, 'kay? Yeah, I know we won’t ever get another Mother Theresa, but that’s alright, because at least **Lobsang** won’t be getting irritated anymore! What? Oh, what about that whole bit about us being blessed when men revile us and persecute us for the sake of Christ? Yeah, nevermind that, looks like it’s better to remain un-blessed than to annoy **Lobsang**! :wally ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/29 "2003-07-21T04:29:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lel \* > \*\*Also, I think it is important to respect the beliefs of others, even if they are such as Christianity. Certainly it is not necessary to accept them, but why cause needless confrontation and anger? \*\* So you respect all belief systems? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/30 "2003-07-21T04:33:24Z")
So by being annoyed that some christians are going to insult thousands of muslims I’ve managed to earn a big sarcastic post in which my name is bolded many times and I am called a ‘Putz’ at the end. Nice. ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/31 "2003-07-21T04:38:32Z")
In Tygr’s defense, lots of people bold the names of other posters as a matter of course. That being said, he’s making His4Ever’s favorite argument: Don’t hate me for what I believe, because I believe what I believe, and that’s what I believe. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/32 "2003-07-21T04:40:55Z")
Go **Tygr** go! ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/33 "2003-07-21T04:42:22Z")
In fact, when people talk about obnoxious behavior on the part of certain Christians, you’ll basically hear one of two arguments: 1.) Christians who act like that aren’t acting like real Christians. 2.) Christians who _don’t_ act like that aren’t acting like real Christians. Which argument you get depends on the behavior of the Christian making the argument. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/34 "2003-07-21T04:43:01Z")
I forgot about the standard of bolding names (I do it myself 98% of the time) but the larger font and the number of times it is done makes it look very sarcastic. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/35 "2003-07-21T04:46:50Z")
Sarcasm? In the Pit!!! Say it ain’t so!!! ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/36 "2003-07-21T04:53:09Z")
> [@](#): > > Lobsang wrote: > > But It enrages me when… > > A) religeon is preached children, taking advantage of their impressionability. A lot of ideas and issues are pressed upon children. Eating habits (to eat meat, or not to eat meat?), political issues (come on, you KNOW you are going to influence your kids politically), and so on. I think that trying to “convert” children _away_ from their parents’ religion is a touchy thing to do, but does the idea of influencing children “enrage” you in general? Why? Are you not also equally enraged that parents have kids who are taught political values, or dietary values, etc.? Or that schools influence kids? Because they do. We all do. We all influence “impressionable” kids. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/37 "2003-07-21T04:57:15Z")
Well, **Lobsang** , it frustrates me too. I just say they’re free to spread their religion, and I’m free to ignore it and/or gripe about how it drives me crazy. **Ben** , how about I just say that it is important to respect the beliefs of others in the sense that I’m not a fan of openly denigrating their beliefs, unless they are harmful to the life of adherents? It’s a very weak form of respect, but I don’t think it’s necessary to be confrontational or angry with adherents of other beliefs, unless it would save their lives, either here or in an afterlife. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/38 "2003-07-21T05:07:11Z")
You make a good point **yosemitebabe**. It doesn’t ‘enrage’ me when the dietary habits are influenced. it might irk me a bit deliberate influencing is happening in general (I think people/children should be left to make their own judgements and choices, with a bit of unintentional influencing - which is probably unavoidable) But I respect parents who want their children to eat healthily. But this is not such a black and white issue - Keeping with the idea of influencing children, It really irks me when some mothers force their children into those creepy beauty padgeants (for instance). I realize I am being a hypocrit (by expressing my anger - I am in some way doing that which I am angry about - preaching my beliefs) but should we shut up and LET things like this happen, or should we fight fire with fire? ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/39 "2003-07-21T05:14:57Z")
You raise an interesting point **Yosemitebabe** , but Christianity is just a tad bit hypocritical in that respect. You know if I and members of my circle came into a school or daycare or whatever and attempted to convert children to Wicca, the religious right would cry bloody murder. But when the tables are turned, it’s no big deal. It’s just a little “touchy”. I _hate_ witnessing, but I understand why people feel compelled to do it. I just wonder what would happen if some Wiccan “witnessers” (I’m happy to say that you’d never see such a thing) knocked on some Christian doors. Would be very interesting indeed… ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837/40 "2003-07-21T05:22:55Z")
How 'bout fighting fire by sticking your fingers in your ears and running in a circle shouting “_ **LA-LA-LA-LA-I-CAN’T-HEEEEEEEEARRRRR-YOOOOOOOU!!!** _” Hm? Because you don’t want to? Funny, I don’t want to ignore a tenet of my faith. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religeous-pet-peeve-spreading-of-religeon/189837.md?page=3)