Today I had a weird sort of conversation that I wanted to post briefly about. I often share stories on my facebook, with or without personal comments. I have no idea how many people in my friends list actually read it (and would not be surprised if some of them have blocked me, if only for the sheer volume of things I share! *L*). The stuff I share includes news stories, special interest sites, blog posts, etc. on just about any subject that I think others might find interesting.
In my life, I try to maintain friendships and acquaintances with people who hold a wide variety of views, including some who's views I find so bizarre, the only reason I continue any contact with them is because without them, I would have no idea that there are really people out there who think this way. Most, however, are not in the extremes (nor are they as vocal as the ones that *are* in the extremes).
Recently, I shared this article without any personal comments.
To quote part of it:
Evangelical Christian children of immigrants feel they cannot openly practise their religion, and worry that Christianity is no longer a guiding force in Canadian society, while Muslims say they are free to follow their faith in this country -but face other forms of discrimination....
“They feel like there’s prejudice against religious people: ‘I can’t pull out my Bible, I can’t talk about my religion without getting shot down. I don’t even mention it for fear of getting a bad reaction.’ “
Now, as someone who's spent quite a bit of time enjoying the Get Religion blog, I find myself asking questions I normally would not have thought of - such as how they went from talking specifically about "Evangelical Christians," (which they neglect to define) to just generic "Christians." They only talked to 350 people, too - a very small sample. Also, why did they just approach first generation Canadians? The article brings more questions to my mind then it answers.
Still, the article talked about something I have long observed myself - and not just limited to first generation Canadians; that Christians are not free to express their faith due bigotry and harassment against them. This in a country where the majority of the population is one form of Christianity or another. Lord knows, I have experienced it myself, many a time.
What amused me, however, was the very first comment someone had made about this article, with no sense of irony at all, quoted part of the article, followed by an anti-Christian put down! When I pointed that out, it was justified because...
...the writer has a gay son.
Oh, and as an atheist, she experiences anti-atheist bigotry.
Talk about proving my point!
Every now and then, people make comments about how one group or another is the victim of the "last acceptable prejudice." Well, I find there are quite a number of groups that it is acceptable to be prejudiced against. More than acceptable - prejudice against these groups is actually encouraged and considered completely necessary and justifiable. Groups such as fat people. White people. Males. Conservatives. Heterosexuals.
And, of course, Christians.
What would be amusing, if it weren't so incredibly sad, is that pointing out these prejudices so often results in people (especially the self-proclaimed "tolerant") jumping in to say how attacking these groups is not prejudice at all, because it is justified by whatever their pet cause is. Likewise, expressing bigotry against any of these groups is often used as a way of demonstrating one's own tolerance and moral superiority.
Somehow, that fact that they are proving the point escapes them.
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