Do what you like in your homes, or the privacy of your church, BUT you have no right to inflict your beliefs on others.
It is happening more and more these days and it may well signal the beginning of a REAL battle between those who embrace scientific research and those who rely on faith to determine how they see the world.
I know for many people this is not an either or scenario, but as the fundamentalists and religiously intolerant continue to push forward their agenda of making America into a theocracy I do not believe the middle ground will remain a viable position for many to take as the war heats up around them.
There is only no middle ground for those "Christians" who take the Bible literally or interpret it to fit their beliefs. The rest of us embrace real science and Christ. It's stupid to think every Christian is anti-science.
ReplyDelete"There is only no middle ground for those 'Christians' who take the Bible literally or interpret it to fit their beliefs".
DeleteI agree with you except for the last part of your sentence, " Interpret it to fit their beliefs". I believe it would be more accurate to say, 'to fit what they want it to say'. There is just a small difference in meaning, but it seems like the evangelicals like to interpret what the Bible says to meet their own moral beliefs that they feel everyone should be forced follow.
I have loved this man for years. Don't mess with him. He is too smart for any of those idiots on the fringe.
ReplyDeleteWhat we need to do is go after these fringe dwellers & knock them off their high horse & away from any policy making positions.
I 1000% agree with Tyson.
ReplyDeleteMy issue at the moment is being accosted in parking lots with people with pamphlets and trying to preach to me. They'll pray for me -- Thanks, but no thanks. That's my first response. The problem - they don't accept the 'No Thanks' but keep on preaching, keep on physically threatening by not leaving you alone.
In fact, my new response is that "when you have to go out 'pimping' your religion in parking lots, it's not a religion but a scam."
It has become a few times so confrontational in that they would block you and not allow you to get to your vehicle, that I've called law enforcement and had 2 people charged as I got their vehicle info when they ran and I will carry it out to the end. A few I've also threatened to run them over if they don't get out of my way and leave. I've filed complaints with the police, the mall owners, the head offices of the stores, letters to editors which have been published, etc.
And the religious fanatics can't understand why some like me are disgusted with them and 'religion' so much. The fact is - their so-called 'religion' is not real. They're like Palin, they're grifters and really have no truthful knowledge of religion. We've all heard them spew the BS.
They can tell me all they want that I'm going to 'hell' because in reality, we're already there having to listen to their BS.
Wow - good for you! I'm in the northeast and have never seen people in parking lots, etc., but they will come to the door and the look on their faces when I tell them I don't believe Jesus is God is incredulous.
DeleteI agree with Tyson too and am going to spread the word.
T
I've never encountered anyone in a parking lot except someone who had a petition against gay marriage. I told the person that I thought everyone should have the right to pursue happiness and that, if a gay couple wanted to marry, it was none of my business and "more power to them." She walked off in a huff.
DeleteOn another note, I consider myself a Christian and a believer in science. And I really like Neil DeGrasse Tyson!
Beaglemom
Completely absurd way to try and change people's minds about religion: accost them as they go about their daily errands? Freaking genius.
DeleteWhile I appreciate your honesty with these people,
if they are trying to "turn" you to religion,
you can always say, "I'm Catholic/Jewish" even a Satanist! Who cares?
My guess is they will be much less likely to try and turn you FROM a SPECIFIC religion, but who knows?
Frightening that you had to call the cops.
When they knock on my door I tell them, I'm sorry, but I'm a Vegan," or some other nonsensical response. Then I laugh at their puzzled expressions as I close the door.
DeleteAbsolutely the right answer, Carli! They're too embarrassed to admit that they don't know what you're talking about, and probably too stupid and uncaring to even try to look it up.
DeleteLuckily here in "Canuckistan", we only have the occasional door-to-door JWs harrassing us. It's good to reside in a "live and let live" country (and with universal healthcare). I wish it were the same for my dear American neighbours.
My favorite thing to do when they knock on my door is to say "Oh, thank Festivus you're here!! I was in the middle of a spell and realized I need a few things!! Would you mind if I cut a lock of your hair and used your toenail clippings?? Wait right here & I'll get some scissors...
DeleteThen I shut the door and wait...it usually takes about 10 seconds before they leave.
I find one of those air-horns works quite well:
Delete"Have you heard the good-" BLAT!
"Did you know Jesus-" BLAAAT!
"Bless-" BLAAAT! BLAT! BLAT!
"Bu-" BLAAAAAAAAAAAT! BLATBLATBLAT!
We have a group the frequents the bus station. They wait until the busiest time to start preaching. Ringing bells, blocking you from entering the buses (Bus drivers have had to shove them out of the way), shoving the paper in your face.
DeleteI usually was fast enough to avoid them. But they will try anything.
Luckily the main stop is moving from a public space to a space owned by the bus company. Which means, they will not be allowed to do this any more.
I've had them come to my door, but never been accosted or harassed in public. I like some of the ideas in this thread! Thanks for the tips.
DeleteNot too many churches bring scientists in to preach their knowledge on Sunday, why does the church think they can preach their beliefs everywhere?
ReplyDeleteI'm tired of the religious fanatics' motto "do as I say, not as I do."
Since we're in the science realm...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tE5XJzZ-Rw&feature=
Tyson is a member in good standing of the reality-based community. :)
ReplyDeleteYou won't get an argument from me.
ReplyDeleteReason causes doubt. This was discussed surprisingly candidly (although in allegorical form, of course) in Genesis. The knowledge of good and evil- we also call that reasoning- will sow the seeds of doubt. You begin to think too much, you are "cast out of the garden-" you are no longer protected by the bubble of belief that precludes such fundamentals as scientific scrutiny.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I think you can be Christian and not think like a cultist. But it's the analogy that seems most accurate when I consider the really staunch believers I've met who can't tolerate even the slightest questioning of their faith. It's hard to believe there are people who drive cars and take medicine while at the same time castigating science as a "religion." That's the paradox of sentience, I guess.
Unfortunately, there are those who feel that is not only their right, but their duty, to push their religious beliefs on others.
ReplyDeleteAs the bumper-sticker says:
ReplyDeleteDon't pray in my classroom
and I won't think in your church
I have to get that bumper sticker.
DeleteDr. Tyson = Pure Awesomeness
ReplyDeleteWorthy successor to Carl Sagan's sorely missed voice of reason in an
Increasingly unreasonable world.
Eigtheeism Rocks!
Imagine Sean Harris teaching our children. Um, no thanks. http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/05/02/north-carolina-pastor-sean-harris-urges-parents-to-man-up-and-punch-effeminate-children/
ReplyDeleteAs far as this Christian is concerned, it is not an either/or proposition. Our future depends on fighting for science and reality.
ReplyDeletetyson is smoking hot in mind and body.....(smile).
ReplyDeletei actually take offense that science is maligned in churches and sunday schools. it creates a disconnect from reality and gives unwarranted permission to dismiss and disregard the physical laws of this planet and universe.
and if they truly believed god created all of this for them -- why on earth are they so determined to not understand the incredible and fascinating details?
I would vote for him for President.
ReplyDeleteThe scariest thing about the fundamentalist influence on education is the effect it's having on textbooks that are used all over the country. Texas is one of the biggest purchasers of school textbooks and, therefore, the educational publishing companies cater to their biggest customer by leaning their curriculum material far to the right.
ReplyDeleteThe right wing takeover of education in Texas will spread far beyond its borders unless they are removed from power (not likely in my lifetime) or other states put up enough of a protest.
I am hereby issuing a lifetime invitation to Neil DeGrasse Tyson to come and teach in my classroom, my school playground, my backyard patio, my kitchen, my car, my spare bedroom closet...anywhere he would like to come and speak would be just fine with me!
ReplyDeleteAnd if he doesn't want to speak, he is even welcome to just stand there and look smart!
Neil's one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteI've often wondered what makes some people feel the need to cite verses from a book I don't believe in to try to "change" me or make their argument for religion vs atheism?
The whole "ignorance as policy" meme has gone WAY too far. The ignorant cousin humps that want everyone else to be as stupid as they are have become a threat to our national security and our very existence.
ReplyDeleteIf we dumb down our curriculum in our schools, where is the next generation of scientists, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, researchers, et al., going to come from? These assholes want to enslave us to the Chinese not only for manufactured goods but for intellectual capital as well.
It is LONG past time that we quit coddling these arrogant, ignorant simpletons and KEEP THEM THE FUCK OUT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION! Call them out as the imbecilic buffoons that they are. The cost of indulging these clods has gotten too expensive. We cannot endanger our future by continuing to tolerate these cretinous fascists and their peawit conceits.
Fortunately, we've got passionate and REALLY smart people like Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson who won't let theocratic fascist ignorance take over our educational system. I might just have something to say about it as well.