> Orwell, who famously believed that it was not possible to
> be "both Catholic and grown-up," was a rather good example
> of the gibe that the residual religion of the England in
> the 20th century was anti-papalism.
Speaking of gibes, what is it with the devout, on both the left and the right, that feel this need to impute atheists with the accusation that their beliefs are 'religious'? I mean, really, it can only be said with the intention to insult, as it has no descriptive power and in fact serves to obscure the doubters' actual views.
The question came up a few weeks back as to why The Left is so hostile to religious faith. Well I don't speak for The Left, but my personal story is: raised liberal socially active Catholic --> agnostic --> atheist w/o much opinion as to whether religion was a net evil or good --> actively hostile to religion (at least the monotheisms) and believes it on balance to be vile. After that last 20 years of right wing Jews and Xtians polluting the political discourse and having lived those 20 years in various parts of the Bible belt, I'm fucking sick of people's religion. People where I work have no compunction about having religio-political crap on their wall like Pompous Creepers posters and Pat Robertson effluvia. We even had one of the Phuds here recently do a bicycle ride for Jesus sponsored by Focus on the Family for crissakes and littered everyone's mailbox with invitations to sponsor him. I almost puked.
Can you imagine the uproar if I were to hang Chomsky's picture and some choice quotes on the wall? They'd have a fucking hissy fit. But they can hang the their religio-fascist stuff all around and we're just supposed to think it peachy. Oh yeah, then they play all victim like the culture somehow is hostile to their superstitious nonsense.
Please. I've had it with the religious playing victim in this offensively religious society.
BTW: yes, I still know devout Catholics that do good social and political work, but I now believe they do it in spite of their religious views, not because of them. Somehow, enough of their humanity isn't damaged by the nonsense that they still have decent feelings and respect for other human beings. And no, we don't usually talk about religion...
-- no Onan
"superior sound quality"