# Religious Pilgrims vs. The Airport **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 12, 2001, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947 "2001-08-12T22:06:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/21 "2001-08-13T17:24:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Broomstick \* > **I do belong to a minority religion whose practitioners are sometimes referred to a "witches"** **AHA!** So the wench admits it. Hold her down while I run and get the duck and my Exorcism for Dummies bell, book, and candle set. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/22 "2001-08-13T17:34:19Z")
> [@](#): > > AHA! So the wench admits it. Hold her down while I run and get the **duck** and my Exorcism for Dummies bell, book, and candle set. Obviously, you’ve studied Sir Bedivere’s, “There Are Ways of Telling If She’s a Witch.” Chapter I: Witches:Wood or Stone? Chapter II: How To Tell If She’s Made of Wood Chapter III: How to Tell If She’s Opal Chapter IV: No, She Didn’t Turn You Into A Newt ---
**Author:** ![NutWrench](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nutwrench/32/20193_2.png) [@NutWrench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutWrench)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/23 "2001-08-13T17:38:25Z")
Well logically, if she weighs the same as a duck, she’s made of wood. And therefore . . . ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/24 "2001-08-13T23:34:00Z")
Well, c’mon guys - the fact I use the name Broomstick and I fly didn’t give you a _ **clue?** _ ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/25 "2001-08-13T23:40:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NutWrench \* > \*\*Well logically, if she weighs the same as a duck, she’s made of wood. And therefore . . . \*\* A WITCH!!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/26 "2001-08-13T23:41:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by goboy \* > \*\*these people worship power devoid of a morsal code. \*\* The correct spelling is “morsel”. And actually, Catholics has strict rules regarding a morsel od bread. ::d&r:: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/27 "2001-08-13T23:42:54Z")
\*%&#@ Gaudere’s Law! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/28 "2001-08-13T23:50:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by goboy \* > \*\*For the life of me, I can’t tell the difference between Christians and Satanists. Judging by the behavior of the pilgrims, these people worship power devoid of a morsal code. The pilgrims, and a great many Christians, seem to worship God because they are afraid of going to hell after death, not because they want to be examples of charity, forgiveness, and mercy. \*\* Please. Please let’s just reflect a moment here. I have read the Bible cover to cover (morbid curiousity, I guess) and found that there are some pretty straightforward rules of conduct. There are many people who actually _do_ strive to adhere to those rules found in the newer bits (aka “New Testament”, basically Matthew to the back of the book), even when contradictory. These Christians - who are Christians in the true sense of the word - are generally quiet, peaceful, non-obnoxious people of good moral character. Let’s not besmirch such fine people with brush we use to tar **FROTHING AT THE MOUTH HYENA-LIKE RELIGOUS RABID FANATIC WANNABE LYNCH MOBS** - OK? Seriously folks - I wasn’t fucking pissed off because these folks were claiming to be Christian (a debatable point in their case) but because they were being _ASSHOLES_. Prehensile rectum shit-shooters. Goat felching buttweasels (with apologies to goats, felchers, and weasels - I’ve been dying to use that insult on _someone_). Bascially displaying some of the worse qualities of human nature that lead to such niceties as happened in WWII or in Cambodia’s killing fields. But that has _nothing_ to do with being Catholic, or Christian, or worshipping Jesus or Yahweh. It has to do with being a Bad Person™. OK? It’s my thread, I don’t want it to turn into any stripe of religion bashing because that is Way Uncool. Bashing **RABID RELGIOUS FANATIC ASSHOLES** - that’s different. Bash all you want. Fuck so-called religious pilgrims who can turn what would otherwise be a beautiful disply of the freedom to worship in public into a hatefest and excuse for abuse. While we’re at it - Fuck the Taliban. Fuck the idiots (Palestinian AND Jew) who make “Holy Land” mean “shot up with bullets”. Fuck all the others who hate and kill in the name of religion. But don’t lump the good souls in with the bad. OK? OK. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/29 "2001-08-14T02:02:38Z")
> [@](#): > > These Christians - who are Christians in the true sense of the word - are generally quiet, peaceful, non-obnoxious people of good moral character. I have never understood the equation “true Christian=being nice.” It seems to me to be a Christian one need only subscribe to a set list of beliefs. A faithful Christian who is a complete jerk is still a Christian. In addition, the assumption that Christian=nice person suggests the corollary, not-Christian=not-nice, which I also don’t buy. There are nice and nasty people in every religion, including Christianity. Many of the people on this board are good folks and faithful Christians, and I apologize for offending them. I shall save my anti-religion rants for another thread. Oh, and it was “b]moral\*\* code” in my previous post; I just can’t type. ---
**Author:** ![RoboDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@RoboDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoboDude)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/30 "2001-08-14T02:52:17Z")
> [@](#): > > I have never understood the equation “true Christian=being nice.” It seems to me to be a Christian one need only subscribe to a set list of beliefs. According to the New Testament, one of the main ones is supposed to be “Love thy neighbor as thyself”. Unfortunately, many fundamentalists see it as secondary to “Anyone whose beliefs don’t coincide with yours is to be demonized with extreme prejudice” which AFAIK isn’t even in the Bible. Note to self - If travel through Indiana on August 12 becomes necessary for any reason, then design, build and mount car-mounted teargas cannon. ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_Rubin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billy_rubin/32/3622_2.png) [@Billy\_Rubin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Rubin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/31 "2001-08-14T02:57:52Z")
Glad to meet you. Hope we get to meet IRL someday. Hell, if you are so inclined I’ll meet you at Lansing airport for a pint of guinness sometime… I had guessed Griffith, but I thought, it can’t be that close!LOL! World is pretty small these days. We’ll have to start making plans for next year- after all, we have a whole lot of spectators to alert/arrange for charters. B. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/32 "2001-08-14T03:29:05Z")
Yo, Billy! Your profile says you’re not accepting e-mail off the boards, so if you _do_ want to meet you’ll have to e-mail me. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/33 "2001-08-14T04:00:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by goboy \* > \*\*For the life of me, I can’t tell the difference between Christians and Satanists. Judging by the behavior of the pilgrims, these people worship power devoid of a morsal code. The pilgrims, and a great many Christians, seem to worship God because they are afraid of going to hell after death, not because they want to be examples of charity, forgiveness, and mercy. \*\* Hey man, don’t impugn the Satanists like that. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![croaker67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@croaker67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/croaker67)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/34 "2001-08-14T04:11:50Z")
Religion above all makes a comic out of everyone. It just depends on your sense of humor. Please, just say no. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/35 "2001-08-14T10:12:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by matt\_mcl \* > Jeezus. I’ve been to demonstrations with **anarchists** who weren’t aggravating and disruptive like that. That’s because anarchists aren’t _organized_ enough to be this obnoxious. Anarchists can barely get organized enough to play frisbee, much less stage a proper pseudo-riot. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Kathara_ > Broom, PLEASE write to the Times ([www.timesonline.com](http://www.timesonline.com)) and tell them about the bullshit you went through. It’d make a nice change from all those “praise Jesus/ban homos” letters that appear every other damn day. Ya know, despite my ranting and raving here in the Pit, I’m not generally one to try and draw attention to myself. Given the tone of religous reporting in the Times, I’m not sure it would do any good. It wasn’t the _word_ witch so much as the _tone_ in which it was said. Have no interest in being labeled a party-pooping bad guy in what is still, in many ways, a small town. In what way would writing do any good whatsoever? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Broomstick_ > These Christians - who are Christians in the true sense of the word - are generally quiet, peaceful, non-obnoxious people of good moral character. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by RoboDude_ > I have never understood the equation “true Christian=being nice.” It seems to me to be a Christian one need only subscribe to a set list of beliefs. A faithful Christian who is a complete jerk is still a Christian. If you read their book, the newer half, you’ll see that a good Christian is supposed to believe that Jesus is either the son of God or God or both (which state is actually The Truth has been the root of many wars and other bloody disagreements, contrary to intensions of the Main Figurehead) and is also supposed to, as far as possible emulate Christ in behavior. Since I define someone to be “a good _(fill in the religion)_” largely by how closely they follow the stated beliefs and practices of their religion, it would follow that a “good Christian” would be one who believed in Jesus Christ as a divine being of some sort AND sought to model his/her behavior on this spiritual leader. If someone actually _does_ try to follow the behavioral example of Jesus as protrayed in the Gospels he/she may not be your favorite individual for playing darts and drinking beer, but he/she is going to be a non-violent, respectful-of-others, civilized person. In other words, “nice”. At the very least polite. Given that Jesus in the Gospels treated people of all relgions in a kind, decent manner and talked rationally to them; hung out with sinners and tried to convert them peacefully to his way of thinking by modeling better behavior as opposed to punishment and humilitation; and, when the army was sent in to arrest him not only refused to commit violence in the face of armed opposition but healed the wound of one of his enemies, forming a hostile mob that heaps abuse on those not participating in the same activities (probably half of those in the airport party were actually fellow Catholics - not that the fuckwads would know that) is simply not compatible with the professed aims of this religion. Of course, there _are_ Christian denominations that maintain belief is the important thing and the acts don’t matter because they won’t get you into heaven - but the Catholics don’t follow this line. With them, conduct _does_ matter. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/36 "2001-08-14T11:43:01Z")
Actually “Christian = Nice” would have as its converse “not Christian = may or may not be nice” I think you’re reading a bit too much into the statement there, **goboy**. pan ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/37 "2001-08-14T13:14:05Z")
Hey, I was born in Chicago. I’m still trying to figure out how _Indiana_ has a religious shrine worth a pilgrimage. What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/38 "2001-08-14T13:57:44Z")
Well, I was born in Missouri, but I went to college in Indiana, so I assume the pilgrims are just a little confused on the proper place to worship. I assume that at my shrine they are making the required sacrifices of Evian, Broadway original cast albums, and pictures of Russell Crowe. ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_Rubin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billy_rubin/32/3622_2.png) [@Billy\_Rubin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Rubin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/39 "2001-08-14T14:47:19Z")
You know, the patron saint of child molesters, that ancient Catholic tradition? b. [sub]Hey, stop throwing stuff! I’m a catholic too, y’know!!! Have a goddmaned sense of humor!!![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![alibey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@alibey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alibey)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947/40 "2001-08-14T16:58:50Z")
Might have to start carrying stink bombs in the glove box. Gets attention and is non-lethal 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-pilgrims-vs-the-airport/75947.md?page=3)