February 7, 2006

Current events

It would appear that what we have here is a culture clash which has endured for centuries.

I am not religious in any sense. I belong to no organised religion. I could care less what you do to images of religious figures. In the early 90’s when there was controversy here about Robert Maplethorpe’s art being supported by NEA, I laughed real hard. He had shown, among other things, a picture of a Jesus-bearing cross submerged in a glass of urine. Since this was done to "get a rise out of people" I blew it off as the juvenile play "art" it was, but many people got bent out of shape about it.

I am Iconoclastic too, but am not overly impolite about it.

Not quite as bent out of shape as the fracas over images of Mohammed have shown us. Riots over a couple of cartoons in an obscure Danish newspaper? How fucking rediculous is that?

The anger must be so close to the surface there, to be channeled and directed so easily in such direly unflattering ways. If these people were protesting over something meaningful, I would perhaps sympathize. but c’mon- cartoons?

In college I took a number of Philosophy classes, one of which was the Philosophy of Religions. We studied the major religions of the world and I determined, regarding religions, that there are rational thoughts, based on what is; there are ir-rational thoughts, based on fantasy and desires, and there is non-rational thought, which is analogous to Faith.

In short, Faith is a non-rational response, one that cannot be proven or disproven, and is thus the source of much strife among people.

Religions in general are non-rational lines of thought.

All of them are basically formulas for getting along with and living with other people. To quibble over details and differences between these formulas is to entirely miss the points they make.

I don’t have "faith". Not in the christian sense anyway, and most certainly not enough to be upset by Jesus drowning in urine, or Mohammed wearing a bomb turban. I think the whole thing is beyond rediculous and verges on the contemptible.

It is difficult to see these riots over cartoons as anything other than bullshit or the people burning things and "protesting" cartoons as anything other than uncivilised morons in paroxisms over trivial bs.

In the continuing culture clashes between religions people show their true characters.

*****

Ana Rose

February 8, 2006

I have 100% faith in Jesus, as HE is my Lord and Saviour, and the only reason for living in this world. I often lose sight of that and fall victim to the worldly pleasures and selfish desires of my own heart though. But I wouldn’t raise a fuss about a disrespectful drawing or statue. In my opinion, if they want to be that stupid and disrespectful, then let them face the consequences from God.

I think it’s ironic that that way these people are protesting over this cartoon, the cartoon that displays them being violent, is rioting and violence. Wow! They sure proved their point!

TheWoodsprite

I think you do have faith, cuz faith doesn’t have to be “in god” per se. You seem to believe you have a purpose, though. That’s faith…at least I think so. Hmmmm, anyway…. I don’t like the fanatical religions, but at the same time I don’t like things that show disrespect for other people’s beliefs. Cuz I figure, I don’t like people do make fun of mine. So I can understand why they’d not….

..want their god or prophet depicted in silly ways in cartoons. I don’t like cartoons that make fun of ANYthing that lots of people consider a serious or dear subject, though. But I still have work to do; I still sometimes make fun of stuff that I regard as dumb, even though I realize this is being disrespectful. My goal is to just keep my mouth shut at those times! :o) hugs, Weesprite

I agree with you completely, NWC.

🙂

pretty_when_crying

I also agree.

Pool of Light

It only matters if you think it does…

Mapplethorpe didn’t create Piss Christ, that was Andres Serrano. Mapplethorpe had the big dick pictures and the one with the whip stuck up his arse.

what is the point of blocking people who can get to your diary without signing in? Honest question.

melondrop

February 10, 2006

I do believe. I would find it very offensive if someone did something to an image of my beliefs that was obviously an attack. If anything it was disrespectful and thoughtless. Do I think people should riot over it? No. Saying sorry goes a long way.

And I would not laugh over a pissed covered Jesus. It would make me sad and embarrassed for the person.

agamemnon

February 11, 2006

I don’t blame the muslims for being pissed about it, but rioting and killing is just plain stupid. As a group, the muslims have had a bit of a rough go lately, what with the extremists using the religion as a basis for idiotic violence. They really do not need to add to the problems like this. Anonymous noters kind of bug me a bit. How do you feel about them? See the one above…