NationStates Jolt Archive


Christian persecution?

Hydesland
30-07-2006, 17:27
Now, I am not a christian, and I have no problem with people criticizing christianity.

But recently there has been a huge increase in the amount of insults to christianity. I often see things like: christians have brain diseases, christians want to fuck the world over, christians are schizo freaks who are slowing down any intellectual progress within humanity (seriously)... and many other things like this which have no backing and are just genuine insults.

Now, if this were to happen very occasionly i wouldn't give a shit. But since this happens a lot, and since my parents and much of my family are strong Christians, I do find it offensive to hear that my parents are retarded with brain diseases.

I have seen people banned for saying much less about Islam, so my question is: is this sort of thing ok? Are you doing anything to stop it and is this sort of behaviour unnacceptable?

(I didn't dish out any quotes as I am not targetting anyone specifically, but I will if i have to)
Tactical Grace
30-07-2006, 17:32
Attacking religion is OK, though not if it is done in the form of an insult in lieu of a point.
Hydesland
30-07-2006, 17:36
Attacking religion is OK, though not if it is done in the form of an insult in lieu of a point.

So the above examples are not Ok then?
Tactical Grace
30-07-2006, 17:41
So the above examples are not Ok then?
I am not in a position to say. They are taken out of context, for all I know they may be paraphrased, exaggerated, and any number of things. I am merely stating the general consensus that there are no sacred cows, but people should use their common sense when they go about slaughtering cattle.
Intangelon
30-07-2006, 17:42
Now, I am not a christian, and I have no problem with people criticizing christianity.

But recently there has been a huge increase in the amount of insults to christianity. I often see things like: christians have brain diseases, christians want to fuck the world over, christians are schizo freaks who are slowing down any intellectual progress within humanity (seriously)... and many other things like this which have no backing and are just genuine insults.

Now, if this were to happen very occasionly i wouldn't give a shit. But since this happens a lot, and since my parents and much of my family are strong Christians, I do find it offensive to hear that my parents are retarded with brain diseases.

I have seen people banned for saying much less about Islam, so my question is: is this sort of thing ok? Are you doing anything to stop it and is this sort of behaviour unnacceptable?

(I didn't dish out any quotes as I am not targetting anyone specifically, but I will if i have to)
I believe that there are Christian elements behaving in ways that make me scratch my head in confusion and bemusement (and have met a few). However, for every Christian who is actually excited about the End Times and their possible start with the current Israel-Lebanon mess (for example), there are at least 20 who don't think that way.

The same thing goes for any large group of people. Like-titled groups are not always like-minded, whether they're Christians, Muslims, Republicans, Democrats, or whatever. You can't have a woven rug of humanity without the fringe. The problem is, the nature of humanity is to eschew the subtlety required to make and remember that point, especially when arguing.

The sort of thing you're talking about is not okay with me (like that matters), and as a form of pure insult in place of an actual point, it's largely not okay on NS, as His Modness, Tactical Grace just pointed out. If my suggestions were worth even a tenth of the electricity it takes this computer to generate and send them, I'd suggest reminding those who engage you with such a broad brush of this part of human nature, and refuse to rise to someone's bait -- that's what they want, and there seem to be a few more of that kind of poster here than there was a few months back, so it may seem more pervasive.

Either way, just hang in there, state what you believe and defend it honorably. The separation between you and those who are just out to scream and yell and be childish will be obvious to anyone who looks.

Best wishes.
Hydesland
30-07-2006, 17:48
I believe that there are Christian elements behaving in ways that make me scratch my head in confusion and bemusement (and have met a few). However, for every Christian who is actually excited about the End Times and their possible start with the current Israel-Lebanon mess (for example), there are at least 20 who don't think that way.

The same thing goes for any large group of people. Like-titled groups are not always like-minded, whether they're Christians, Muslims, Republicans, Democrats, or whatever. You can't have a woven rug of humanity without the fringe. The problem is, the nature of humanity is to eschew the subtlety required to make and remember that point, especially when arguing.

The sort of thing you're talking about is not okay with me (like that matters), and as a form of pure insult in place of an actual point, it's largely not okay on NS, as His Modness, Tactical Grace just pointed out. If my suggestions were worth even a tenth of the electricity it takes this computer to generate and send them, I'd suggest reminding those who engage you with such a broad brush of this part of human nature, and refuse to rise to someone's bait -- that's what they want, and there seem to be a few more of that kind of poster here than there was a few months back, so it may seem more pervasive.

Either way, just hang in there, state what you believe and defend it honorably. The separation between you and those who are just out to scream and yell and be childish will be obvious to anyone who looks.

Best wishes.

Very well put, but I just think that the mob..errr mods should make it clearer that this sort of behaviour isn't acceptable.
Greenpens
30-07-2006, 17:48
I'm not a Christian, either. But I don't like it when people criticize Christianity. How would you like it if someone made fun of your religion? I don'thowever like those extremist Christians and close-minded Christians (which people may stereotype as being a certain sect of the religion).

Jews shouldn't catch the rap either.

About the intellectual progress of humanity thing. Don't know, but visiting a certain part of Tennesse (the Pidgeon Forge and Gatlinburg area) all I saw were Christian bookstores. And looking through the selection you did not see books on open-minded themes (i.e. homosexuality or adultery being acceptable). I find that retarding of the worldly mind.
Tactical Grace
30-07-2006, 17:48
To clarify, it is pretty obvious that people should not flame others on the basis of their opinions. Being a member of any group neither shields, nor opens anyone to antisocial behaviour. But I would need some actual examples to work with, otherwise there is not much else I can add. All I can do here is repeat what the rule sticky in this forum says.
Hydesland
30-07-2006, 17:59
Ok, thanks for the information. I was very curious though because incidents like this are never reported, ever.
Katganistan
30-07-2006, 18:03
If you see 'em, report 'em. ;)
Hydesland
30-07-2006, 18:04
If you see 'em, report 'em. ;)

Will do :)
Catalinafleur
30-07-2006, 19:05
I think the reason why people have a tendency to think it is alright to insult Christians is because they have so much power in America, which is where many people who play NS live. While peple tend to automatically think torturing a kitten would be sick and cruel, trying to kill a dragon whether he's doing any destruction or not would seem far more reasonable, even if the same amount of sadism was actually shown. At least in the part of America I live in, Christianity has an amount of power that is quite similar to the dragon in my comparison where other religions seem more like the kitten. There are Christian churches on every corner where I live, and religious arguments seem like the strongest ones to put some laws and policies into place.

Arguments such as Bush being God's chosen president, because if God didn't want him to be president he wouldn't be are common place, and many Americans see no problem with attitudes such as this. Basically, I think the reason Christians are often persecuted on the internet is that many non-Christians are frustrated with the treatment they themselves recieved and are simply trying to dish out the same treatment in return. That, of course, does not make it okay, as there are many Christians who are good people, but that is why it is happening all the same.
Frisbeeteria
30-07-2006, 19:07
This is not a discussion forum.