Student Kidnaps the Eucharist... PZ Myers to the Rescue!

The BBQ Pit
121

Selling one lot of four Catholics, lightly used…

I think that most people think that assault and death threats are thoroughly unreasonable reactions to the situation. Funnily enough, so is blaming every atheist for PZ Myers being a dripping asshole or blaming all Catholics for these guys being violent, reactionary fools.

It’s just fucking rude, all right? I don’t shit on your dining room table, you don’t screw with my weird little rituals, no matter how silly you find them. When did it become so acceptable to be a raving prick? That includes the death-threatters and Myers both. This behavior is about as mature as a nine year old boy screaming “I’M NOT TOUCHING YOUUUUU”.

122

I wasn’t arguing against it being rude; I was trying to reason out whether it’s stealing in a moral sense.

Compelling, but for some reason a doubt lingers in my mind. Would taking a Bible from the Gideons to level my coffee table be a similar lie by omission? It feels different; perhaps the level of expectation (as opposed to hoping or wanting) is different. In both situation, the priest / Gideon wants you to treat the object in a particular way, but the priest has a stronger legitimate expectation that you will do so. Does that make any sense?

And now that more information has been brought to light, I’ve gotta say that committing assault to get a cracker back that you willingly gave someone who was not intending to harm or annoy you in any way is insane. (Assuming, of course, that he’s telling the truth.)

123

Yeah, I get that only a few people threatened him with death, not the Pope.

Except you all got your panties in a bunch, not because people threatened to kill him, but because he threatened to disrespect a cracker. Who’s the bigger asshole, the guy who threatens to disrespect a cracker, or the guy who threatens to murder the guy who threatens to disrespect a cracker?

124

If the church didn’t inform him of the conditions, then as soon as he accepted the gift it was his. You can’t prove that they informed him of the conditions, so you’re shit out of luck. I love the way you’re so fast to pull the slick lawyer shit out on someone else’s argument, but refuse to shine the same light on your own.

No, they didn’t threaten him, they actually assaulted him! And continued to do so after he repeatedly told them to get their hands off of him! I don’t know what theocracy you live in, but in Indiana law stopping a sacreligious act is not a defense for battery. There is absolutely no justification for anybody in that church to have put their hands on Cook. But feel free to continue to defend the indefensible. You’re doing your profession proud.

125

[tap. tap.] this thing on? [tap.tap.]

126

Simple solution, the Pope issues a new edict: “The Host is sacred only when on Church grounds. You take it past the doorway, it’s a Triscuit. You wanna piss on a Triscuit, knock yourself out.” Problem solved.

127

A handy phrase for those of us in the laity as well, at times—although now I’m worried I may owe significant royalties.

And can we all agree candidly that the wafer is the lamest of breads? Hipper denominations are offering their Edible Christ as brioche, sun-dried tomato focaccia, and low-carb wrap. Still no bagels, curiously.

128

I’m not defending the church leader’s use of force, but the way you talk here makes it sound like something truly awful happened. One lady grabbed his wrist and tried to open his hand and get the wafer back. Inappropriate but hardly something to go home to mommy and cry about.

129

At one Episcopal service I went to, Christ’s body and blood was chocolate and champagne. Sacrilicious!

130

Funny, I feel the same way about the taking of the wafer. But apparently some people think it’s worth killing over.

131

No I didn’t. I’m well acquainted with the liturgy. Are you confusing my posts with someone else’s?

132

By the time of their first Communion doesn’t every Catholic know what the conditions are?

133

Conceptually, this is basically a case of flag burning. Desecrating the icons of zealots.

Generally speaking, I am in favor of flag burning. I’m opposed to attributing too much importance to mere things.

Also, generally speaking, I don’t do flag-burning-like activities myself, because I’m aware there are maniacs with pitchforks and torches out there. But I support the right of those who burn flags to do so.

134

Yes, and I think everyone is in agreement that those people suck. What else do you want? A Papal apology?

135

That’d be nice. I’d like two please.

136

Alright. I’ll submit the paperwork and in 400 years you will have your apology.

137

Of more relevance, it isn’t a defense in Florida either.

Anyway, Mr. Cook has returned the [del]body of Christ[/del] cracker.

On the one hand, I’m delighted that my school gets to be in the news for something other than hazing (in the interest of full disclosure, I’ll mention that I’m a member of one of those fraternities); on the other, it sounds like everyone involved in this story deserves a good punch in the mouth.

138

Umm… yes, I did prove it.

“Take this, all of you, and eat it.”

It was said about 7 minutes before Cook got his wafer.

Or did you miss that part?

You probably missed that part, since you’re a moron.

I even included the alternate theories of habit evidence and business practice to prove that those words were said.

You probably missed that too, since you’re a moron.

For someone who hates lawyers so much, you don’t seem to spend a lot of quality time around them.

139

You mean “allegedly four.”
I have no basis for any rational belief that this blowhard has actually been threatened with death.

140

:smack:

Yup. Sorry about that.