You have it exactly backwards. Christians are trying to persecute homosexuals. We, the sensible part of the nation, are fighting persecution from Christians.
Armchair martyrdom.
I’ll admit that when it comes to the way some Christians oppose gay marriage, persecution might be a factor.
Note to self: Get Flyer a mirror for Christmas.
Bricker,
Would you say that 9/11 truthers are persecuted on this board?
Name a group that isn’t persecuted by that definition, Bricker. Is that what you think we’re talking about, or do you think we’re talking about oppression and victimization, words with meanings that the OP also mentioned?
No kidding. Why is it ok for christians to tell me I’m going to burn in hell, but I can’t tell them they’re rude assholes.
Christians on this board give as good as they get. Can you say the same would be true for atheists on most fundamental Christian message boards?
So, everybody then. By that definition, the christian segment of society in America is a top contender if not the leader in oppressing people.
Mean Secularist: “I don’t think your religious views entitle you to force others to live by them.”
Persecuted Christian: “HOW DARE YOU!!11”
Whatever Mormons are, it is something fundamentally doctrinally different from what all Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christians are – it’s like the latter are all at this table over here, and the Mormons are at that table over there (while the JWs and Adventists and Christian Scientist sare just kind of hovering around looking for a seat).
Sure.
My prior messages quoted the Google dictionary definition of the word. So far as I am aware, Google’s dictionary is intended to apply to “real life.”
Are Christians on this board subject to hostility and ill-treatment?
:rolleyes:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=17245225
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15439301&postcount=24
Yes.
Yes, we are.
Yes.
This is asinine. You prove this thread perfectly.
Also, how did I not make the cut for your examples? 
On this board, or in the world at large?
On this board, people who reliably support the political left are not generally persecuted, even if they’re unable to understand logical argument or offer logical argument. People who would be torn apart by vicious commentary if their rhetorical efforts were used in another direction tend to get a pass from the SDMB when their opinions are in line with those of the prevailing board culture.
In the world at large, almost any group can be said to be persecuted in certain circumstances.
What other groups are persecuted on this board then(using that definition)?
Perfect example.
Here we are in Great Debates.
“This is asinine,” is not an argument remarkable for its cogency. It has no substance whatsoever.
But it’s on the correct side, so I’ll be the only one to point this out, and there will not be a crowd of follow-on comments about your lack of ability to understand or participate in debate, as there would be if, say, magellan offered up a similar comment in defending his point of view.
Conservatives.
Woo-peddlers. (Which, by the very name I assign it, means I’m joining in that particular exercise of persecution, since I imagine they’d prefer to be called ‘adherents to alternative medicine,’ or something).
Of course it is; OTOH, it is also subject to apologetics and witnessing. As in society at large.
What other groups are persecuted on this board then(using that definition)?
edited to add: And thank you for setting the persecution bar so low that it should come with a sign that reads: “PLEASE CALL YOUR LOCAL PERSECUTION BOARD BEFORE DIGGING HERE.”
So the word has absolutely no meaning? I’m persecuted because I’m an Obama voter and I occasionally visit right-leaning message boards?
No, if words have meanings, then “persecuted” has a certain threshold that extends beyond casual name-calling, at least that’s how I’ve always understood it.