The Culture of Offendedness?
Albert Mohler, Monday, July 27, 2009 [if you don't know who he is, refrain from this link until after you've read the article]
A new and unprecedented right is now the central focus of legal, procedural, and cultural concern in many corridors--a supposed right not to be offended. The cultural momentum behind this purported "right" is growing fast, and the logic of this movement has taken hold in many universities, legal circles, and interest groups.
The larger world received a rude introduction to the logic of offendedness when riots broke out in many European cities, prompted by a Dutch newspaper's publishing of cartoons that reportedly mocked the Prophet Muhammad. The logic of the riots was that Muslims deserved never to be offended by any insult, real or perceived, directed to their belief system. Unthinking Christians may fall into the same pattern of claiming offendedness whenever we face opposition to our faith or criticism of our beliefs. The risk of being offended is simply part of what it means to live in a diverse culture that honors and celebrates free speech. A right to free speech means a right to offend, otherwise the right would need no protection. [continued]
Tags: culture of complaint, free speech, hate speech, offendedness, surprise
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Susan Stanko on -
How can someone so logical be associated with Dobson?
-
-
Permalink Reply by Susan Stanko on
-
Sounds like he accidentally stumbled on logic in this case
-
-
Permalink Reply by Фелч Гроган on -
If I was to define the essence of Islamism in one sentence, it would be "they demand the right to be not offended". Of course, historically, when they run out of things to get offended about, they start murdering each other, so it might not be a bad thing.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Leo Horovitz on -
Overall, a well written article, but one thing really annoyed me. That fact that people complain about religious symbols in public places is not (at least not generally) because they are offended by it, but because it is seen as an endorsement by the government of one particular faith over others (or no faith at all). If it was just a matter of being offended, you would see just as many complaints about religious symbols being displayed on peoples private property, which would indeed be ridiculous.
It is a question of secularism, which does not mean endorsement of atheism, but government neutrality toward religious matters. -
-
Permalink Reply by Bud Simpson on -
There is an article in today's Kansas City Star about a Sedalia, Missouri high school band whose "Brass Evolution" T-shirts depicting an ape-to-man progression with ever-improving brass instruments were recalled because some parents didn't want their children exposed to evolution in school.
LINK
Dim. It's getting harder and harder to live around here. -
-
Permalink Reply by Dre Smith on -
Religious symbols themselves do not belong on public land or in public areas period. They belong on private areas and private lands. If we are going to continue with this nonsense of letting religious symbols being on public land then frankly I want to see ALL RELIGIOUS symbols on public land not just all the damned giant plus symbols scouring the landscape. And that way when it becomes far too too cluttered they'll have no choice but to remove them and place the their the only symbol Americans can truly appreciate and care about.... $$$$$$
-
Members
-
Patricia Online
-
Two Cult Survivor Online
-
matthew greenberg Online
Blog Posts
War on Christmas in May
Posted by matthew greenberg on May 21, 2013 at 12:18pm 3 Comments 0 Likes
i've got no problem with everyone saying "merry christmas" on christmas day. however, they've turned it into an entire holiday season where it lasts a month or more. in those situations it should be perfectly acceptable to say "happy holidays" or call it a…
Continue
My first funeral as an atheist
Posted by Two Cult Survivor on May 21, 2013 at 11:30am 0 Comments 0 Likes
I posted the bulk of this on another thread, but wanted to add some context separately.
I finally confronted my faith and embraced the fact of my atheism late last August, 2012. Days after I revealed my "epiphany" to a few friends who knew me from another message board, my sister died from Lou Gehrig's Disease (which pissed her off because she hated catching a disease from someone she never f---ed).
THAT was my sister, understand? She was a beautiful, life-loving, potty-mouthed…
Continue
Death of a family member
Posted by Larry Taylor on May 20, 2013 at 8:15pm 10 Comments 2 Likes
OK. I am venting. My mother died two weeks ago. She was a “god fearing christian.” Before her death she refused all medical treatment. She wanted to be left alone. She even refused to speak with my brother who is a methodist minister. He is a pip, let me tell you! I suspect she did not believe, but a woman born in her time could not and did not state her actual beliefs. This is the opening salvo to all christians; FUCK YOU! I had so many people come and tell…
Continue
Unbelievable!!!!!!!!
Posted by Christy Stewart on May 20, 2013 at 2:17pm 6 Comments 0 Likes
This probably should not have shocked me as much as it did (especially since I am in Texas). I actually thought my coworkers were playing a joke on me because they know I am an atheist. Sadly, this was no joke. This actually happened.
I work in a psychiatric hospital. The doctors who admit patients are general MDs. (Psychiatrists see patients after admission) Yesterday evening we received several calls from irate parents. A new doctor who was doing admissions yesterday actually…
ContinueEvents
© 2013 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: Richard Haynes.
