AWKWARD ZOMBIE

Because thatll hurt the feelings of the almost everybody in the whole west that celebrates it? Like it or not, the majority getting mocked by the minority may not be "okay", but its still not something to be upset over. They already have everything else, what do they have to whine about?

So, I'm not allowed to get my feelings hurt when someone mocks my religion, and then my reaction to said mockery?

That ain't very fair, majority or not. I'm not willing to just stand in place and take constant insults aimed at beliefs that are very important to me.

It might not be okay, but there are still legitimate reasons (or causes or whatever you want to call it) like Wry Bread's that exist, and either way, dumb jokes don't affect the upheld and protected status of Christianity in western society.

You have the right to feel offended, but you ARE the majority, and already have plenty of social privilege based on that alone. A bit of mockery from people who have less than you do wont take away from that. This is speaking on a social level, on an individual level its always going to feel like crap when someone mocks what you care about, but it isnt persecution by any standard

I never said it was persecution. I know I'm a lot more privileged than many people. I just find it slightly rude and hypocritical for someone who I've previously seen to be all about preaching 'tolerance', 'acceptance', 'respect' and 'equality' insulting another religion like that. I don't understand how Christianity qualified as an exemption from 'respect' just because it was a majority.

Simply because it IS the majority. It influences social policy the most, it virtually dominates all aspects of pop culture in one way or another, and is incredibly affluent and powerful, and in a lot of cases, tries to use it to opress. Most minority groups are still struggling behind from centuries of christian opression, and their status is still often looked down upon and treated like its worth less. Christians dont get the protection other groups get because it doesnt need it. It only increases the bitterness when someone says "Well those guys who treated you like crap arent REAL christians, we're the real christians". It doesnt work like that. You dont have to feel guilty for being a christian, the actions of the hate groups arent on you, but the faith has been used as a weapon before, and will again, and right now, your group isnt vulnerable to any retaliation.

I don't know if Stranger's point is to try and make you feel better for your prevalence and not feel bad about being made fun of, but I can KINDA see the point in that (if that's even it.) First off, I wholeheartedly agree that just because you're in the majority, it doesn't mean you should be expected to just let that stuff schluff off of your shoulders. You do have the right to feel offended by things that offend you. The other person being a Christian shouldn't give you a free pass to rail on them and try to have a laugh at their expense. My little group of friends and I may have some touchy humor, but we make sure to be careful of it, and don't freak out at anyone we might offend because "they shouldn't be offended".

At the same time however, I also think it'd be a good thing to develop some kind of thick skin. I'm not saying to ignore everyone as their words cut into your soul, I'm saying to try and identify when your friends are just trying to be humorous with it, and when they're really "trying" to be offensive. Try asking them to cut it down on the religious jokes when you're in the room, and if they do, you'll know it's the former rather than the later when they say that type of stuff.

The point Im trying to make is that a christians feelings might be hurt by an insult towards their faith, but the sheer size of their group means that they have no victim status, there's no social penalty to go with being a christian. Being a muslim, jew, atheist, buddhist and just about everything else means that you are disenfranchised and both looked down on and treated as less.

The way you phrased this reminded me of something I'd seen recently



(Of course, not suggesting that the sides to this argument are representative of or limited to the two parties)

Basically, the way I see it, Christianity is the man on the left. Just because others get a box doesn't mean he should be getting one too. And just because other faiths should be getting protection from discrimination, it doesn't mean Christianity should, because, again:

I think the "social penalty" that Cori would argue for is generally feeling offended, and hurt when people throw you under the bus for a good laugh, or even when it's serious, which is worse. I don't think being able to say "We're the majority, we're in charge" to yourself will count for much hen you're feeling pained by people mocking an aspect of your character.

Besides, no one should feel the need to victimize anyone, no matter how victimized they see themselves.



It's not a matter of wanting protection, though, it's a matter of not wanting to feel hurt, which everyone should have a right to. People shouldn't feel the need to hurt others just because they're in the majority, and "don't need that protection". You're still being an booty to someone who probably doesn't deserve it completely unprovoked.

I mean, had this hole thing started with Cori sharing a few religious jokes that were just as, if not more offensive to a couple of minority religions, that'd be different, but I'm guessing (hoping) such isn't the case.

Having your feelings hurt isn't a social penalty, it's an individual issue.

No one has a "right" to make fun of anyone else, but thats never stopped anyone before, the topic was WHY christians dont get protection from being mocked, and I answered. A christian will feel hurt like anyone else from being made fun of, but they also wont suffer the social stigma that usually comes with that kind of mockery. A social penalty isnt about your feelings, its about your status and benefits you have in society, somethig a christian will have more of than any other group.

You ever had your feelings hurt? It's a pretty big issue nonetheless. Besides, it was established in a psychological study that feelings of ostracism are comparable to physical feelings of pain. Given that each person is their own individual capable of feeling this pain, it doesn't matter one bit what sort of majorities anyone is in.

Besides, the point still stands that you shouldn't want to, or knowingly hurt anyone...no matter the justification.



That doesn't somehow justify the initial mocking. If you tell a joke, and someone find it offensive, you apologize and move in (especially if that offense wasn't intended). You don't try to say that just because that someone is in the majority of the thing being mocked, they should just take it, and honestly anyone trying to use that justification is just going to look more like an booty to me.

Short version: I agree it may be a reason, but it's a very shitty reason.

That still wasnt part of the argument though, its still about WHY christians dont have protection, not wether or not they deserve to be mocked. Im an anti-theist myself, Im opposed to ANY form of organized religion, but making fun of someone to their face, and keeping it up when they get hurt makes you a jackass regardless of the joke subject.

I understand cause and effect, but we still get to judge whether a cause should or shouldn't be used as justification. Ideally, no one would get offended, ever, but such is the case, and while that may be a reason behind it in the back of the offender's head, that doesn't mean they should use it.

For example, someone may be fat because they eat way too much food, but you'd never say that in polite company.