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01/26/2005: "Vulgar Display of Condescension"
I don't really talk about my religious beliefs much anymore. I used to, all the time, as many of the people who read this blog and have known me for years will attest to. There are many reasons for the change in my demeanor, none of which I will get into now. But for the record:
I am a Christian. I believe in the divinity of Christ. I sincerely believe that his teachings, when followed as they were meant (not necessarily as they have been), would make the world a better place.
Pretty much everything that comes after that is organized dogma, and although I was raised a Baptist, I consider myself non-denominational at best, and I find attending church to be a struggle because of my differences with Church positions on many things. Further complications arise from my political beliefs, which differ strongly from the so-called "Christian Right." Oh, and I like to cuss like a sailor, which tends to alienate me from traditional Christians.
That's my background as an educator in this matter. Now, it's time for a little Intolerance 101.
Two examples:
"Jesus is Lord . . . of Metropolitan Washington, Virginia, and Maryland." Now this is funny, mingboggling, exasperating, and borderline imbecilic, all at the same time. For reasons I hope are obvious to everyone.
"Only herd animals need a shepherd." Ah yes. A fine example of something that is not funny, sadly not mindboggling, most definitely exasperating, and you can probably guess how I feel about the last one.
The symbol of the shepherd in Christian imagery refers to the concept that a person as an individual has limited knowledge and control of the things around him or her. The shepherd, being God, is the only one who can properly provide guidance for navigating this funky rollercoaster called life. It is the ultimate act of humility to accept that you are not in control and that the only one who has any control is God. It is one of the most noble and peaceful and beautiful aspects of Christianity.
You don't believe in God? Or just not the Christian God, or Jesus? Fine. I make my decisions, you make yours, and I will neither criticize nor deride you for yours. I understand that others who fall under the umbrella of Christianity might, and I would humbly suggest that fair and acceptable criticism of Christianity would probably lie in that direction.
But to degrade the core concept of the shepherd and his flock in such a condescending manner is a stunning display of ignorance and intolerance from someone (who I gather from my admittedly infrequent readings of his posts and blog entries) who probably prides himself on his "tolerance". If I were to drive around with a bumper sticker on my car that said, "Mecca is that way" with an arrow pointing down, would that be any more or less intolerant?
There are plenty of silly and ludicrous and frustrating things that Christians do that you can make fun of to your heart's content and many Christians like myself will never say a word against and might even join you in a laugh or a rant. But there is a fundamental difference between attacking the negative and perplexing things that Christians (and practitioners of other religions) sometimes do, and attacking the spiritual core of any religion in a pathetic attempt at personal superiority. And to paraphrase (and with more apologies to) my friend Raul, if you can't understand that difference, you're part of the problem.
Replies: 6 Comments
on Friday, January 28th, Kicking Bird said
Having owned twelve cars in my life, and having never owned a single bumper-sticker, I am wholly unqualified to discuss the qualities and intentions of the bumper-sticker owner...But since I am even less qualified to discuss religion, let's discuss bumper-stickers and their owners instead:
Today I saw a bumper sticker on a cheap, beat-up Kia in a parking lot: It read "Some town in Texas is missing their idiot". Now we all know who they are referring to, and the joke is funny, and to those of us on the right, it is meant to offend. But I wonder how much lower on the totem-pole this bumper-sticker-owner must be than town idiot, when they are driving a crappy Kia? C'mon, if you wanna offend me, at least put an offensive bumper sticker on a nice car.
And on that note, does anyone who owns a "nice" car put a bumper-sticker on their car?
I'm more disturbed that Elf got mad at a bumper-sticker...No matter what it said. It's a bumper-sticker; consider the people who use those things for their intended purpose! Consider the source! Consider--Ah, I'll stop while I am ahead.
But I must make one exception: I once saw a bumper-sticker that I would HIGHLY consider putting on any of my current vehicles: It said--
"I like to snatch kisses and vice versa"
Now that makes more sense to me than visualizing whirled peas or finding out your kid is an honor roll student at some cruddy public school...
on Friday, January 28th, Vampire Elf said
Man, I had a really good Baptist joke that I can't seem to remember. Suffice it to say, a liquor store was involved.
To Juls I would say that I can laugh about Christianity a great deal, and have. For whatever reason, this particular thing set me off on this particular day. I have thought about why I find yours to be funny and the other not so, and i have come to a distinction, but I doubt that my distinction would be agreeable to everyone, and anyway, I certainly didn't need to be so rash about the way I chose to express my anger. But it has brought forth such a powerful and enlightening discussion, which is a very nice side to it all.
To Cubefarmer, of course your apology is accepted, and I would hope that you would not feel to bad about being defensive. If someone came after me like that, man, would I be defensive as all get out.
Please don't think for a second that I am not bothered by the "mindless"-ly faithful who seem to equate faith=politics and leave little room for reason. I have found that this trend tends to follow most big groups of belief, such as Republicans and Democrats. There are people who believe what they believe after long, considered thought about matters and then there are those who check the daily memo to see what they are suppose to believe. It is heart-warming to know that you are of the former, though it should not have been a surprise to me since you are a friend of Sarachkah's. Silly little Elf.
I have also made the purchase of God's Politics. I have dwelled on the thoughts and lessons of the past two days a good bit, and it seems absolutely appropriate to continue forward with instruction from a source like that. I expect to find it an informative read.
You kept my hotheadedness from getting the better of me with your thoughtful response. Thank you.
To Sarachkah, I ask, are you sure you didn't mean one of your flavored people? Because if so, I would like to be cranberry-grape. ;) Right back at ya.
I'm now going to attempt to have a restful and peaceful weekend and I wish the same to everyone.
on Friday, January 28th, cubefarmer said
Elf,
I have learned from this exchange too and now can understand why Sarachkah called you "one of my favorite people."
I had some secondary thoughts as well after my first somewhat defensive reaction. I think you are right: I was being disingenuous to imply that the bumper sticker primarily provided "an opportunity for introspection." Like you said, it is designed to elicit an immediate, usually visceral reaction (that is, except for the segment of the population who wouldn't even get it, which I'm afraid might include a large number of Christians...).
It was useful to me to hear from someone literate who has a deeply held Christian faith. After ruminating (hmmm...like a cow?) on your words for a while, I could understand more clearly your perspective that the bumper sticker is condescending. You sound like someone who has a very "mindfull" faith, something personal and well-considered. I am too often subjected to people who have a "mindless" faith, that does not seem to be based in the word of Jesus but in the intepretation of his word by modern-day shepherds like Jerry Falwell. Even worse is those who appear to have a "selfish" faith that seems to dovetail neatly with the Republican agenda. This second group ranges from my born-again little sister (who I love to death but who thinks George Bush truly has a mandate from God to attack Iraq) to Star Jones who inanely said "Jesus saves" on national TV because SHE got out of Indonesia just before the tsunami wiped out hundreds of thousands of godless heathens.
OK, I have to back off before I get into a full-fledged rant here. This is all a clumsy attempt to get around to an "I'm sorry" to you for offending you. In my own selfish view, I saw that bumper sticker as an oasis in a sea of "Got Jesus?" and "Jesus on Board" proclamations and didn't reflect on its denigrating message to the silently devout and truly humble. Apparently, I've got to read up on my "word" as well. Toward that end, I've ordered the book "God's Politics" which I've heard is a good analysis on how both the left and the right get it wrong.
So, apologies accepted and I humbly ask that you accept mine as well. I'd rather not drift into the "typical Christian denigrator" category, since that would signal my final descent into lazy, cynical, knee-jerk liberalism and also because doing so would alienate me from many people who I love and respect. I appreciate good people like you keeping me on more mindfull path.
on Friday, January 28th, juls said
Well, let's get a 3rd party's 2 cents on this, i.e. mine. Being raised Presbyterian, and attending a Southern Baptist school until 8th grade, I consider myself a Christian, believing in Jesus and the Holy Trinity. But I too struggle to find a church home because of my liberal tendencies (although the UU is too liberal in regards to dogma or lack thereof for me).
I think my reaction to the bumper sticker in question would have been to laugh, just like at someone at my workplace who has a bumper sticker that says "The only problem with Baptists is they don't hold them under long enough." I know these stickers are meant to offend people, but if we Christians can't laugh at ourselves, then who do we laugh at? For example, the movie "Saved!" cracks me up.
For me, being a Christian is simple. Jesus tells us to love one another, and do unto others as we would have them do unto us. I have no problem with the idea of him as a shepherd and us as his sheep. This world is crazy enough, and divine guidance is always welcome.
on Thursday, January 27th, Vampire Elf said
I really need to make this comment block bigger, don't I?
It occurred to me as I was driving home from work last night that my little burst of "righteous anger," if you will, was probably more directed at you than it should be. After all, anger is an emotion more conscientiously wielded when it is controlled. And even Jesus himself only turned to serious anger on one occasion, and the Peace Church hasn't forgiven him yet.
So, cubefarmer, I am sorry. I apologize for jumping to conclusions and misconstruing your own personal view of the bumper sticker. I suppose I could have and even should have asked you about it, but I was kept from doing so by a sincere desire to not turn Sarachkah's blog into a religious battle zone. I obviously had no such qualms about doing so here. (hah)
However, the basis of my anger towards the bumper sticker still stands. Do you really think it was designed primarily to provide "an opportunity for introspection"? Seriously? It's a bumper sticker. It's designed to elicit a specific gut-level reaction from a specific audience - in this case two. Smug agreement or offended anger. I think I’ve proved pretty well that it works quite effectively at inducing the second one.
I still think the bumper sticker is a vulgar display of condescension. If you have found that the more subtle meanings of the phrase appeal to your sensibilities, then fair enough. I agree that it can be and has been thought provoking. But I would also submit that to proclaim it one of your “favorite” bumper stickers without comment towards the more obvious and blatant meaning is to tantamount to implying tacit approval of the message, even if you did not intend such a thing. You, of course, can disagree with me on this. I am merely suggesting that it will continue to appear that way to people of similar mind to myself. I suspect that you could not care less, but if you would like to avoid the appearance of a typical Christian denigrator, I would ask that you at least consider this when mentioning the turn of phrase. Today, you appear to me as a reasonable, thoughtful individual. Yesterday you did not. My own assumptions are to blame, of course, but my whole point is that the sentiment that sticker expresses wants me to think that.
Finally, the vehemence of my post should not have been directed at you, and I certainly failed in at least some regard to that. Introspectively, I find that my own anger and lack of humility caused me to write a more pointed missive then was necessary to illustrate my point. Sometimes I am not as humble as I should be in deference to His divine guidance.
Again, my apologies, cubefarmer. I have learned much from this exchange and I hope perhaps you have too.
on Thursday, January 27th, cubefarmer said
Dear Elf,
To borrow a phrase, this really isn't my cross to bear so I won't bore you with a catalogue of my opinions on the teachings of Jesus; Christianity, both organized and unorganized; Christian iconography; and tolerance. What I will say is:
-- If forced to label myself, I would call myself a Unitarian Universalist and I was married in the UU church. However, I was raised Catholic and, with my Jewish-by-tradition wife, am raising our children with traditions from both the Jewish and Christian faiths. I do believe in God and have a strongly held humanistic faith. Which is all to say, I'm not a raging atheist or anything.
-- I agree 100% with your statement that "[Jesus’] teachings, when followed as they were meant...would make the world a better place." The horrendous number of people who have died in what they thought was service to his words and doctrine is both deeply depressing and distinctly infuriating to me.
-- In my comment, I said the bumper sticker was my "new favorite bumper sticker." I didn't say I considered it the most insightful commentary on Christianity ever written or even a supremely witty statement. What I would have said if pressed is that I think it is a somewhat clever turn of phrase that could, if taken the right way, encourage introspection.
-- I am a religious liberal. UU doctrine encourages self-examination and active questioning about accepted traditions and dogma (hence the old joke about angry townspeople burning a question mark on a Unitarian's front lawn). Mindless cohesion to ancient doctrine (or the latest interpretation of same) is antithetical to my belief system. There are not many bumper-sticker ready phrases available to religious liberals like me that get at that concept.
-- I am frankly stunned and amazed at the fever pitch of your reaction. In no way did I "post with intolerant pride about hateful condescension." My "vulgar display of condescension" consisted of transcribing 6 words that I saw posted on the back of a pick-up truck. The assumptions and condescension you reign down upon me for performing such a relatively benign act surprises me.
-- If you truly believe that "The shepherd, being God, is the only one who can properly provide guidance for navigating this funky rollercoaster called life" then couldn't a viable alternate reaction to that bumper sticker be: "Yes, I am like a herd animal following my Lord. This does not make me blind or dumb but simply humble in deference to his divine guidance." Or another viable response could be "Only wild animals (or savages) live without a shepherd." I guess my point is that the phrase is not inherently a "pathetic attempt at personal superiority," but as I said above, an "opportunity" for introspection and, it seems, self-definition.
