--- In [email protected], Sal Sunshine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Dec 25, 2007, at 8:43 AM, authfriend wrote: > > > Why is it OK here on FFL to be intolerant of > > the religious impulses of others? > > Because we're mostly a bunch of phony hypocrites, Judy, and > you, with your amazing perception and ability to see through > all the crapola, have once again ferreted that out. :)
Naah. I just think we don't always realize that weird stuff like ice lingams can actually be a focus of sincere religious feeling. I've been influenced by an article I read recently on Slate.com which argued that Scientology wasn't a cult but a genuine religion (the writer was not a Scientologist)--that its beliefs were no more bizarre than those of other religions: http://www.slate.com/id/2171416/ > > I find far more offensive the Christmas campaign > > commercial of Mike Huckabee, with its stealth > > cross. I hope if I were a believing Christian I > > would be outraged that he had turned the symbol > > of my faith into something actively sinister. > > > > I'd far rather a few rich people spend their money > > to see a bunch of young men chanting over a piece > > of ice than contribute it to such a campaign. > > Why is it an either/or deal? I think Huckabee should be run out of both Christianity and politics on a rail for that commercial. Have you seen it? It's really disgraceful. What he says is openly religious, but then he's sitting in front of this empty bookcase that's been very carefully lit so that the edges of the shelves and sides seem to glow, and what you see is this subliminal white cross floating behind him. I wouldn't object if there were an actual crucifix, complete with bloody Jesus, in the picture. It's making the cross into something sneaky that just disgusts me. It's intended to go over the heads of nonbelievers while reinforcing Huckabee's purported devoutness in the eyes of his fellow Christians. Or, even worse, lead them to think the Holy Spirit led the makers of the commercial to film it so the bookcase formed a cross without knowing what they were doing, suggesting divine approval of the candidate. Huckabee denies the cross was intentional. He lies. (There you go, Shemp.) And what about TM not having any > religious overtones? My, how quickly we forget. The *technique* doesn't have any religious overtones unless you want it to. And if you do, you can give it the overtones of any old religion you like. So some TMO folks find Hindu/Vedic religious stuff appealing. So what? Not my bag, but they're entitled. > BTW, Merry Christmas. Thanks, and to you, and to all!
