Deity jokes
As he continues to operate a strict ‘no-comments’ policy on his blog, I am forced to wholeheartedly agree with Jeremy Keith’s comments on religion on here instead.
With such a large proportion of the leading proponents of web standards hailing from the US, there is always the risk that your favourite blog might suddenly drop everything to share their “testimony of Christ”; the current “book stack” meme is also uncovering many books of a decidedly flying spaghetti monster bent. It’s difficult to reconcile the respect one has for an individual’s work and contribution to the community when faced with their faith in something so patently ridiculous (yes, as in ‘worthy of ridicule’) as G*d. It also reminded me of a subject I meant to write about a while ago.
True colours
Welcome to amateur psychology hour.
I think that whatever industry you work in, and whoever your colleagues may be, for the sake of convenience you assume—whether consciously or no—that their attitudes, ethics, and beliefs are broadly in line with your own; and, in response, we all tend to keep to ourselves those opinions or beliefs that we know may be at odds with those around us. You can never really know if the guy at the next desk (or cubicle, if you’re American) is a raging homophobe, closet racist, or even owns the entire collection of Friends box-sets, unless he chooses to share that information with you.
In our online, hyper-connected community, relationships work in much the same way. We don’t really know each other, so I think we prefer to assume we are all pretty similar, and we don’t talk about potentially incendiary topics; hell, Jeremy could be a raving white-supremacist for all I know, but—when we meet in person—I assume he’s a lot like me because it facilitates that community. I feel it’s partly a ‘creative’ thing, too; artists/artisans have always been at the forefront of modern, liberal thinking, so I subconsciously ascribe those views to my peers, even though for all I know I could be way off base.
But what happens when this system breaks down and unwanted information seeps through? Well, it seems to me that religion gets something of a free ride in this respect. You can flame with impunity anyone expressing views that are sexist, racist, or any other type of -ist you can think of, but when it comes to faith, there’s this somehow universal understanding that we should “respect each other’s beliefs”.
Well, I’m a rationalist. If your belief or faith is important to you, then that’s great, as long as it isn’t used to justify wrong behaviour (in a “spare the rod, spoil the child” kind of a way), but my respect for you is going to slip a couple of notches as soon as any kind of ‘higher power’ starts getting the credit for anything.
This post was brought to you by the numbers 6, 6, and 6.
Update: Ethan is apparently also in agreement (at least I assume that is the part he is talking about).
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Comments
- Hayo Bethlehem
- 234 days ago
As a hardline-atheïst I agree. I loose respect real fast when fictional characters from a 1800 year old badly translated book filled with collected fairytales and stolen myths are invoked.
But one point remains. It’s his own site, on which he can do as he pleases.
- #2
- Mathew Patterson
- 233 days ago
Do you think that explicitly coming out to say you think that the idea of God is ridiculous is exactly the same kind of ‘unwanted information’?
Seems like it goes both ways.
- #4
- Hayo Bethlehem
- 233 days ago
If this is solely a webdesign blog, then yes. But this too is a personal site, where the owner can do whatever he wants?
I must agree there’s some irony here. Personally I think it best to leave god out of any professionally-oriented conversation.
- #5
- ben
- 215 days ago
Sounds like you are as passionate about your beliefs as others are about theirs. That’s fine. Just realize that you’re no different from everyone else, so be careful how you throw stones.
Frankly, I am less bothered by passionate people—regardless of their view—than complacent people. The one exception is when someone’s passion causes them to do violence to others and I am well aware that has been done in the name of God, gods, and NO god.
Think of it this way, if you’re right, then let them have their fantasy, just as children enjoy Santa Claus (or do you tell kids their is no such thing to make them cry?). If you’re wrong, then you’d better switch gears and find out who is right about a god, God or gods.
- #6
- Matthew Pennell
- 215 days ago
ben – belief is such a weak word, though. You might believe that the world is flat, or that your cat can talk to you; why should the belief in an omnipresent being who created the world be ranked as any more deserving of respect than other ridiculous theories?
- #7
- Dave
- 196 days ago
I pretty much agree with you – but the problem with all religions including no-religion – which is very much my stance – is that to believe (or not believe) you must feel you are right and therefore everyone else who disagrees or believes in something else must be wrong and needs to be persuaded to change. It’s a short step for some to thinking people should be forced to change – and that always means trouble. Be proud of your (non)-belief – but it’s only yours.
- #8
To be fair, I respect Andy’s faith; however, the passage Jeremy quoted riled me up a bit. Strictly speaking, “offer[ing your] deepest sympathies” to someone who doesn’t share your beliefs isn’t an especially Christian sentiment.