Please stop the stereotyping of those with religious views and attempting to use religiosity as a slur

[glenn1]

There seems to be an unfortunate trend here lately to universalize the religious in general, and Christians/Evangelicals in particular. In some cases you may feel it's "shorthand" for someone who holds the POV/policy/position you're talking about.

Please discontinue this practice unless the thread of topic at hand is specifically addressing a religious topic. It's both obnoxious and pandering when you attempt to turn such individual and private topic as religious faith into some sort of monolithic construction which all its members embrace. It's even worse when after identifying a particular group, you then presume to know in advance what members of that group think. No matter how thinly you attempt to slice the target group, you're still not going to be able to be generic enough to cover the spectrum of viewpoints that your targets will hold. A Pentecostal "snake handler" has as about as much in common with a Quaker in terms of faith as a Hassidic Jew does with a Hindu. Even to presume that if we were to talk about a particular denomination, it's absolutely insulting to think that members of the faith would share some robotic, hive-like common opinion about most political questions.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

:thumbsup:

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: glenn1
Topic Title: Please stop the stereotyping of those with religious views and attempting to use religiosity as a slur

There seems to be an unfortunate trend here lately to universalize the religious in general, and Christians/Evangelicals in particular. In some cases you may feel it's "shorthand" for someone who holds the POV/policy/position you're talking about.

Please discontinue this practice unless the thread of topic at hand is specifically addressing a religious topic. It's both obnoxious and pandering when you attempt to turn such individual and private topic as religious faith into some sort of monolithic construction which all its members embrace. It's even worse when after identifying a particular group, you then presume to know in advance what members of that group think. No matter how thinly you attempt to slice the target group, you're still not going to be able to be generic enough to cover the spectrum of viewpoints that your targets will hold. A Pentecostal "snake handler" has as about as much in common with a Quaker in terms of faith as a Hassidic Jew does with a Hindu. Even to presume that if we were to talk about a particular denomination, it's absolutely insulting to think that members of the faith would share some robotic, hive-like common opinion about most political questions.

When a Religious Group is no longer in control of our Government (now a Republican based Christian Theocracy) then you would have a beef, until then the march towards Revolution and the drums against said Theocracy will beat louder everyday they continue to control.

 

[gsaldivar]

Originally posted by: glenn1
There seems to be an unfortunate trend here lately to universalize the religious in general, and Christians/Evangelicals in particular. In some cases you may feel it's "shorthand" for someone who holds the POV/policy/position you're talking about.

Please discontinue this practice unless the thread of topic at hand is specifically addressing a religious topic. It's both obnoxious and pandering when you attempt to turn such individual and private topic as religious faith into some sort of monolithic construction which all its members embrace. It's even worse when after identifying a particular group, you then presume to know in advance what members of that group think. No matter how thinly you attempt to slice the target group, you're still not going to be able to be generic enough to cover the spectrum of viewpoints that your targets will hold. A Pentecostal "snake handler" has as about as much in common with a Quaker in terms of faith as a Hassidic Jew does with a Hindu. Even to presume that if we were to talk about a particular denomination, it's absolutely insulting to think that members of the faith would share some robotic, hive-like common opinion about most political questions.

:beer:

 

[AntaresVI]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: glenn1
Topic Title: Please stop the stereotyping of those with religious views and attempting to use religiosity as a slur

There seems to be an unfortunate trend here lately to universalize the religious in general, and Christians/Evangelicals in particular. In some cases you may feel it's "shorthand" for someone who holds the POV/policy/position you're talking about.

Please discontinue this practice unless the thread of topic at hand is specifically addressing a religious topic. It's both obnoxious and pandering when you attempt to turn such individual and private topic as religious faith into some sort of monolithic construction which all its members embrace. It's even worse when after identifying a particular group, you then presume to know in advance what members of that group think. No matter how thinly you attempt to slice the target group, you're still not going to be able to be generic enough to cover the spectrum of viewpoints that your targets will hold. A Pentecostal "snake handler" has as about as much in common with a Quaker in terms of faith as a Hassidic Jew does with a Hindu. Even to presume that if we were to talk about a particular denomination, it's absolutely insulting to think that members of the faith would share some robotic, hive-like common opinion about most political questions.

When a Religious Group is no longer in control of our Government (now a Republican based Christian Theocracy) then you would have a beef, until then the march towards Revolution and the drums against said Theocracy will beat louder everyday they continue to control.

 

[jimkyser]

Originally posted by: glenn1
There seems to be an unfortunate trend here lately to universalize the religious in general, and Christians/Evangelicals in particular. In some cases you may feel it's "shorthand" for someone who holds the POV/policy/position you're talking about.

Please discontinue this practice unless the thread of topic at hand is specifically addressing a religious topic. It's both obnoxious and pandering when you attempt to turn such individual and private topic as religious faith into some sort of monolithic construction which all its members embrace. It's even worse when after identifying a particular group, you then presume to know in advance what members of that group think. No matter how thinly you attempt to slice the target group, you're still not going to be able to be generic enough to cover the spectrum of viewpoints that your targets will hold. A Pentecostal "snake handler" has as about as much in common with a Quaker in terms of faith as a Hassidic Jew does with a Hindu. Even to presume that if we were to talk about a particular denomination, it's absolutely insulting to think that members of the faith would share some robotic, hive-like common opinion about most political questions.

How is this any different from stereotyping say Democrats or Republicans or maybe Hispanics or African Americans? People do it in their posts on this board all of the time. And it's wrong for the same reasons.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: glenn1
Even to presume that if we were to talk about a particular denomination, it's absolutely insulting to think that members of the faith would share some robotic, hive-like common opinion about most political questions.

Now that's funny! :laugh:

 

[Gaard]

Originally posted by: glenn1
it's absolutely insulting to think that members of the faith would share some robotic, hive-like common opinion about most political questions.

Why would that be insulting? Remove your rhetorical adjectives (robotic, hive-like) and the statement remains the same and, imo, is absolutely true.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: glenn1
There seems to be an unfortunate trend here lately to universalize the religious in general, and Christians/Evangelicals in particular. In some cases you may feel it's "shorthand" for someone who holds the POV/policy/position you're talking about.

Will you stop using the term democrat, republican, American, Iraqi? Labels have their use.

I usually refer to evangelicals / fundamentalists as a whole because they DO share values. If you are assuming by "fundamentalist / evangelical" that someone means "all christians" that is your problem and you are misreading. People like you get up in arms because you mistakenly assume someone like me is attacking all religious people or christians even though I usually point out I am targeting fundamentalists. In some recent threads I've had to repeat this ad nauseum because people can't read too well.

If someone calls a group "hive-like," perhaps you should address the issue head on and show why they aren't hive-like instead of trying to push your perverted form of political correctness.

 

[Crimson]

Religious hatred is openly accepted, and I would even go so far as saying its almost endorsed by the powers that be here at Anandtech, because its simply NEVER stopped. I am not even a very religious person, but I support many of the same positions that they do, and I find it absolutely disgusting the amount of bigotry thats allowed on this forum toward religious people. If the same hatred were applied toward gays, lesbians, blacks, mexicans, etc, the people saying it would be banned in a heartbeat. I'm absolutely certain I could take a post made by some in these forums bashing religious folks, and simply replace the words 'fundamentalist' with 'gay', and I would be banned before my fingers left the keyboard.

Thats simply not right, and I think the OP is making a good point in saying that the generalizations and hatred needs to stop. Bigotry doesn't only apply to gays and minorities, it also applies to the majority, or a large group. Anandtech should not allow it toward ANY group.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Crimson
Religious hatred is openly accepted

Please. People criticize gays in this forum. There is nothing hateful about using the term gay or fundamentalist in itself.

Your position is also laughable given that you openly hate on this board: do you recall telling anyone that you hope they rot in hell?

 

[Crimson]

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: Crimson
Religious hatred is openly accepted

Please. People criticize gays in this forum. There is nothing hateful about using the term gay or fundamentalist in itself.

Your position is also laughable given that you openly hate on this board: do you recall telling anyone that you hope they rot in hell?

Sure I remember, and it was well deserved.. Saying a W is the same as a Swastika is horribly insulting to one particular religious group, the Jews.. My point stands, nothing was done about it.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Crimson
Sure I remember, and it was well deserved.. Saying a W is the same as a Swastika is horribly insulting to one particular religious group, the Jews.. My point stands, nothing was done about it.

LOL WTF are you talking about? I never said W is the same as a Swastika. Sounds like you must have told multiple people you hoped they burn in hell! :laugh: Hyprocritical hating clown. (This will be my last post to you on this topic since you are so incoherent).

 

[Steeplerot]

And assosiating a swazi with hitler and genocide is horribly insulting to some members of buddist and confusism, PC much?

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Crimson
Religious hatred is openly accepted, and I would even go so far as saying its almost endorsed by the powers that be here at Anandtech, because its simply NEVER stopped. I am not even a very religious person, but I support many of the same positions that they do, and I find it absolutely disgusting the amount of bigotry thats allowed on this forum toward religious people. If the same hatred were applied toward gays, lesbians, blacks, mexicans, etc, the people saying it would be banned in a heartbeat. I'm absolutely certain I could take a post made by some in these forums bashing religious folks, and simply replace the words 'fundamentalist' with 'gay', and I would be banned before my fingers left the keyboard.

Thats simply not right, and I think the OP is making a good point in saying that the generalizations and hatred needs to stop. Bigotry doesn't only apply to gays and minorities, it also applies to the majority, or a large group. Anandtech should not allow it toward ANY group.

There is certainly some truth in what you say, though I think you've grossly overstated it. More importantly, however, I suspect your "outrage" vanishes in a blink if I take your complaints and replace "Christianity" with "Islam". There are certainly many people here -- people on your end of the political spectrum -- who openly and entusiastically demonstrate religious hatred towards Muslims.

As for myself, I have no problem with Christians, including fundamentalists, as long as they are sincere and as long as they keep their beliefs to themselves. I have major problems with the hypocrites and the zealots who are determined to impose their beliefs on everyone else. Unfortunately, these are the very "Christians" who tend to be most visible and vocal, power- and money-hungry crooks who use religion as a smoke screen to mask their malfeasance.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

I'm going to have to agree with Crimson and glenn1 on this one. I'm not even religious either.

dmcowen674 deserves his daily

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger
As for myself, I have no problem with Christians, including fundamentalists, as long as they are sincere and as long as they keep their beliefs to themselves.

Fundamentalists, by definition, do not keep their beliefs to themselves. They take the bible literally and take the call to spread the word very seriously. It is part of their religion. So it doesn't seem like you could possibly not have a problem with fundamentalists / evangelicals.

 

[Crimson]

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: Crimson
Sure I remember, and it was well deserved.. Saying a W is the same as a Swastika is horribly insulting to one particular religious group, the Jews.. My point stands, nothing was done about it.

LOL WTF are you talking about? I never said W is the same as a Swastika. Sounds like you must have told multiple people you hoped they burn in hell! :laugh: Hyprocritical hating clown. (This will be my last post to you on this topic since you are so incoherent).

Well, I must have.. because I don't remember saying it to you.. But, since you are so anti-religion, surely being told to burn in hell should have no effect on you? Unless you are worried? LOL.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: Bowfinger
As for myself, I have no problem with Christians, including fundamentalists, as long as they are sincere and as long as they keep their beliefs to themselves.

Fundamentalists, by definition, do not keep their beliefs to themselves. They take the bible literally and take the call to spread the word very seriously. It is part of their religion. So it doesn't seem like you could possibly not have a problem with fundamentalists / evangelicals.

True in theory, but there are differing levels of evangelism. Most aren't obnoxious about it. They'll make an attempt or three to broach the subject, but will leave you alone if you say you're not interested. I don't mind that. We all have our personal passions; there's nothing wrong with politely sharing them.

 

[Caminetto]

I agree that there are a few here who tend to obnoxiously generalize about Christians. But I believe that the basic problem is that "Christian/Evangelical" used to mean someone of the Billy Graham type, who wanted to turn people hearts and minds to loving Christ and following the selfless ways of Jesus. That was an admirable calling if you disagreed with the principle of Jesus as the Son of God or that it was necessary to be ?born again?.
Now "Christian/Evangelical" means that one must evangelize attempting to change the country into "their" view of what constitutes morality, and they know just what Jesus wants for America based on their literal interpretation of the bible. They often forget that the harshest criticism handed out from Jesus was for the Jewish sect that took a literal interpretation of God's laws - "They know the law but not the spirit thereof".
This group also conveniently forgets that Jesus was adamant about not judging others unless they themselves wanted judged. It might do these late day evangelicals some good to ?get the log out of their eye so that they can see clearly the speck in others?.
BTW, I have yet to meet a modern "Christian/Evangelical" who was not a conservative republican. These dildoes have a hard time grasping that other people do indeed have morals and ethics and many of them are Christian.

 

[Kerouactivist]

dirty liberal etc....
culture of death....
culture of life....

In the end its all wordplay anyway....

Glenn you're just trying to set the stage of the debate......
Common kool-aid practice

 

[Kadarin]

Stereotypes don't exist in a vacuum, you know...

 

[jackschmittusa]

So, offer an alternative politically correct label for these Christian/fundamentalist groups that are adament that their religious views be incorporated into law. There does seem to be a number of them with nearly identical goals and aspirations.

And although, in truth, I feel that their beliefs are based on ignorant superstitions, I tend to disparage their actions, not their beliefs. I often detest what they do, not what they are.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Crimson
Religious hatred is openly accepted, and I would even go so far as saying its almost endorsed by the powers that be here at Anandtech, because its simply NEVER stopped. I am not even a very religious person, but I support many of the same positions that they do, and I find it absolutely disgusting the amount of bigotry thats allowed on this forum toward religious people. If the same hatred were applied toward gays, lesbians, blacks, mexicans, etc, the people saying it would be banned in a heartbeat. I'm absolutely certain I could take a post made by some in these forums bashing religious folks, and simply replace the words 'fundamentalist' with 'gay', and I would be banned before my fingers left the keyboard.

Thats simply not right, and I think the OP is making a good point in saying that the generalizations and hatred needs to stop. Bigotry doesn't only apply to gays and minorities, it also applies to the majority, or a large group. Anandtech should not allow it toward ANY group.

Religion is a belief unlike race, nationality or sexual preference. It's has more in common with political beliefs so mocking religion is no different than mocking someone for being a Conservative or a Liberal (something you do more often than most here) Religious beliefs shouldn't be held exempt from criticism if political beliefs aren't.

 

[arsbanned]

Originally posted by: bthorny

dirty liberal etc....
culture of death....
culture of life....

In the end its all wordplay anyway....

Glenn you're just trying to set the stage of the debate......
Common kool-aid practice

Exactly. The Christian fundamentalists in here routinely stereotype "dirty libs" as being part of the "culture of death". I suppose it would be a good thing if all generalizations stop.

This seems relevant