Take your apocalypse and...

[Slytovhand]

Sorry Sylvia, cop out!!

But as Boozy said, the onus of responsibility is not on the victims to overturn prejudice. People are responsible for their own beliefs, no one else's.

So... who does?

Humans are responsible for humanity - not just the ones we happen to like or agree with.

Do we just sit back and watch other people get oppressed because 'they aren't our lot, so we don't have to interfere'? That's pretty much summed up the world's attitude for decades everytime a war has started up somewhere - it's not involving us, so we can safely ignore it.

The 'victims' are the ones needing solidarity and support, and as Pedersen said, the bullies aren't just going to go away because you ignore them. Ignoring them is what keeps them going... it's a tacit way of implying that what they are doing is ok - sanctioned even.

If you keep ramming down their throats that (and I'm being specifically relating to Phelps/Westboro etc as my examples...) what they are sprouting is NOT what Christ was on about, then you just might get them to see the error of their ways.

Are we still on topic???

[AdminAssistant]

the bullies aren't just going to go away because you ignore them. Ignoring them is what keeps them going... it's a tacit way of implying that what they are doing is ok - sanctioned even. If you keep ramming down their throats that (and I'm being specifically relating to Phelps/Westboro etc as my examples...) what they are sprouting is NOT what Christ was on about, then you just might get them to see the error of their ways.

You really think that Fred Phelps or his followers could see the light and change their ways?

Have you ever come across a street preacher? You know, the ones who stand on corners and wave a Bible around and yell that everyone is a sinner? The ones who used to come on campus would specifically target women. If a woman walked by, they'd yell that you were a tramp/hussy/whore because you were wearing jeans or sandals or whatever. They'd yell at guys with long hair. Nutjobs, basically.

When people yelled back at them, they would just say, "How can you know? You are in the hands of Satan! You do not know the Lord our God! You are a vile sinner! *blargity blarg*" or "This is how I know I preach the true Gospel! Because vile sinners attack me for spreading the Truth!" It NEVER did any good. Phelps and his group is the same way. And perhaps MANY Christian groups have released statements condemning his actions, but as Raps said, how would we know about it? It's not news. And I can't think of a single denomination that has aligned itself with them.

And, I've personally wasted more time than I like on the topic. I don't ask other groups to caveat their beliefs, and I shouldn't have to either.

[Rapscallion]

Anyone. Anyone with an interest in public education and promoting truth and tolerance. Anyone who wants to correct the misconceptions of the small-minded should do so, and I applaud them for taking on such a daunting task. Some of these people may be members of the group being misjudged, and others may not.

This reminds me of one of my biggest beefs with all the medical information going around these days. One doctor is in the media saying everyone should check for symptom X, and another says symptom Y should be checked for regularly, and of course there's always good old symptom Z. Symptom Z - ooh, that's a real killer.

It's information overload. Just how many things should I research regarding my health? In a similar vein, how many things should I research about the many different religions? I've got a basic grounding, but I don't see why I have any duty to search through a mythology to work out whether they're nice or not, despite my bad experience with one person of their group who happens to be a nutjob.

But if someone wants to keep their head down, mind their own business, and believe in Allah/Christ/whatever, I'm going to let them. I'm not inclined to fault them for not being vocal activists for religious tolerance, just because some nut jobs they've never met claim to be connected to them in some way.

I'm generally happy to go along with this for the rank and file, but the leaders of the various religious groups are the ones with the training, education, experience, and time to condemn the actions of the nutters.

Rapscallion

[Slytovhand]

You really think that Fred Phelps or his followers could see the light and change their ways?

Actually - yes!

Maybe not Phelps himself, but certainly there are other people in those sects who do manage to wake up and see the light. At some stage, something hits their brains that what they are preaching is actually directly opposed to what they are supposed to be preaching.

Not everyone is completely brainwashed... nor are they gone so far that it's not possible to return to sanity.

Ok - Phelps and those up towards the tops of those groups are less likely to, but that's because they've got too much invested in their ego - they have to be right or look really really stupid... and ego's don't like to look stupid.

But you never know! I have faith.....hahahahahahaha

You keep asking them enough times "What did Jesus say?" and eventually it may hit.

And no, I don't think you should have to do any caveating - but that wasn't the OP... it was about the nutjob groups, disrespect, and intolerance.

[Sylvia727]

Humans are responsible for humanity - not just the ones we happen to like or agree with.

Yes. Exactly. All humans are responsible for humanity. A Christian and a Muslim are equally responsible for correcting prejedices against Islam. The Christian doesn't get to bow out and say, "well, it's his belief, let him defend it". If a stereotype about a religion is affecting your community, then it's affecting your community, no matter which religion is under attack. If you happen to know that Phelps does not represent Christianity, then you have a duty to correct that misperception wherever you encounter it, regardless of your opinions on Christ and Christianity.