I have the impression that many religious think that secular means the absence of belief and that there's nothing there to offend in the same way that a crack about a burning bush offends the religious.
It's not cracks about burning bushes per se, but the implication that those who believe in the importance of that event (even as apochryphal) are silly and not too bright that's offensive.
What I was trying to convey is that I, among many, I presume, "believe in" humanity and that the religious can offend those beliefs, probably unintentionally. Anything that is dehumanizing offends my beliefs and much religious statement is dehumanizing.
My main point goes to this statement: If you believe in humanity, why is it so difficult to accept that most of humanity over the course of history has believed in a creator, etc? I would think that one who holds what is good about humanity in such high regard would have plenty of room in their belief system for understanding there is great peace and comfort that comes from religion.
What I listed in my post was the dehumanizing aspect of popular religion, the imposition of which, in venues such as graduation ceremonies, is contemptuous of my beliefs, which deserve being treated with seriousness, and for which I think forbearance is required, not in discussion, but in the public square.
I certainly agree that popular religion (ie. Christianity and Judaism) are leaking into many public venues where they don't belong and I can understand how that would be upsetting. I know it is for me.
As for zombies, there are religions in which zombies are prominent. I find them dehumanizing and I find intrusions of them into the public square contemptuous of my belief system.
I have no idea what you're talking about here. Haitian voodoo? |
