Cross-posted: Tolerance

[missjeanevil]

There was an interesting reaction to the fact that the Jesuit university, Boston College, decided to re-install crucifixes in their classrooms. I'm not sure when they were taken down, but accounts seem to indicate it was post-Vatican II. Deacon Greg Kandra, at his blog "The Deacon's Bench" posted an article, and a self-described BC alumnus "Matt"

Comments

[ansatecross]

Well, as an atheist who went to Catholic school where there were *gasp* crucifixes on the walls *and* we said the Lord's Prayer before class (I'll give you a minute to catch your breath from the horror), I'll just say that these people are idiots. I didn't go to a Jesuit school expecting the priests would start wearing scarves to make me happy. I said the Lord's Prayer along with my classmates not because I felt pressured to but because I had a genuine respect for my classmates, instructors, and the religion they all had in common, even if some men throughout history have blemished the ideal of. Religions don't offend me; it's some of the folk who follow them who offend me. Contrary to what the gentlemen at BC seem to be implying, no one at school ever tried to convert me. In fact, they encouraged me to seek my own answers and come to my own truth. They explained to me that religion isn't going to any church or believing in some higher power or any of the things most people seem to think of; it's about *faith*: having it, finding it, maintaining it, even losing it. It's an intensely personal thing that isn't threated by what's on a wall or what's in a book (or in who that cute guy or woman in the lumberjack shirt are sleeping with or want to marry or whether the woman writing this entry has a penis or not). I remain an atheist thanks to U of D not because they revolted me but because they showed me what it means to have faith, and how to recognise when you don't have it, and how lip service is demeaning to all of us; and political correctness really is just lip service. It says, "I worry about appearing to offend you so I will change my behaviour so you see how wonderful I am." It's not about actually not wanting to offend, it's not about actually changing behaviour and embracing tolerance. It's all about looking good for the neighbours. And, as they say, screw that. If it's not real, I don't want it. I think most of us are wise enough to expect crucifixes and collars and habits in a religious intitution here, or yamulkes or what have you. And to imply that I would be offended if I walked into such a place and found such things...is the height of absurdity.

[madamcod]

Good point Jae.

We all kinda want to look good and be seen to be 'hip' and 'relevant', but I still think this is about power as well, and the fact this implies they know better than the people affected. You have a grasp of what having 'faith' means and where you lie on that subject. But those who invoke their idea of 'P.C' do so out of the need to control I think.

Like you said, to imply that you would be offended by religious symbols in a place of worship etc, is actually very demeaning and insulting to your intelligence. It goes to show that those who would 'assume' that about you and the average common sense person, lack that very thing themselves.

But next time I walk in to MacDonalds, I'm going to get offended by the clown because..... ;)

*Hugs*

BuggyXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[missjeanevil]

You pounded that nail right in, Jaelyn.

I had to laugh about the comment about the guy in the lumberjack shirt though. Now I have an image of a lumberjack bursting into a lecture hall during exams and bursting into Monty Python's lumberjack song.

And you just KNOW I'll have that song stuck in my head all tomorrow. :)