Following up on my 'The Passion of the Cracker' post , PZ Myers has gone through with his threat. The actual event is towards the bottom of the post. Most of the post talks about the interesting history of the cracker and the yellow star the Nazis used in WWII, and about the various threats and such he received.
I admire Myers because he isn't afraid to go head first into this debate and stake out a very clear and controvsial position. I don't have that kind of balls and I'm not sure I would draw such a stark line as he has. I've often said that I admire people of faith when it stays a personal faith, I find that kind of dedication very cool indeed. However, I do agree a lot with Myers on how expecting others to share your beliefs about a cracker or whatever else is disrepecting another's belief.
It is a hard topic to find agreement on.
Finally, the forth comment in the close to 2500 comment thread is awesome. It states, simply: 'Well this is going to be epic.' 2500 comments and gaining, yea, that's a bit of an understandment.
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This thing takes a couple readings. My first impression though is that this arrogant fellow is a self justified by his book smarts as religious folk may be by their faith. What exactly is his point or purpose for all of this?? If it is to make people question their religious practices, he surely chose a potentially aggressive way to do so.
The cracker is a symbol, just as the flag, the inverted cross, the girl for the womens restroom - a symbol. But for some, symbols hold meaning and not necessarily the one that history created. I can't say many practicing Christians know that Jew story with the cracker and few to none hold that intent when taking communion. If you know that a symbol has meaning, can't one respect that without agreeing with the belief? If he can't, I mean really, make the battle on equal plane. Cut up a cow in a HIndu land, piss on a Budda statue, have sex with a prostitute in a temple of whatever religion you choose, burn your marriage license, and desecrate whatever other symbol you can. Not because you're making a stand or expressing a different point of view, or trying to educate others, but rather because you don't give a shit for what others believe and feel that your lack of such beliefs makes you more entitled or superior.
I'll read this whole thing again and think, but right now, this guys sounds like a bitter ass who has a serious ax to grind with Christianity. Maybe he's got his own issues.
Ok, rereading after I have slept helps. :-) But it is hard to wrap one's head around. Let me ramble for a minute and contradict me or share a different perspective if I am way off base.
He does make some very valid points where the mob mentality has taken over man's freewill, but I don't think that has been the exclusive right of the Catholic, but rather, man.
And yes, many hate crimes have veiled themselves under the guise of religious necessity.
But, this fella still seems to have a major ax to grind - especially with the Catholic faith. ( not entirely unjustified) But, you think he could just be smug and sit in his chair laughing at those who fully revere something as little as flour and water.
He says this at the end: "By the way, I didn't want to single out just the cracker, so I nailed it to a few ripped-out pages from the Qur'an and The God Delusion. They are just paper. Nothing must be held sacred. Question everything. God is not great, Jesus is not your lord, you are not disciples of any charismatic prophet. You are all human beings who must make your way through your life by thinking and learning, **and you have the job of advancing humanity's knowledge by winnowing out the errors of past generations and finding deeper understanding of reality.** You will not find wisdom in rituals and sacraments and dogma, which build only self-satisfied ignorance, **but you can find truth by looking at your world with fresh eyes and a questioning mind."**
This, ironically is his religion to which many ascribe. Not to cleave to religion, but rather to cleave to the never-ending search for truth through observation. A noble, but futile task as perhaps "truth" can be subjective where man is concerned. Can one really find "truth" or fact where fact can be seen??
I think about what my "philosophy" on religion or sometimes, what my religion is. Perhaps it really can be just a belief. But this man seems to hold a rather powerful belief himself, just not a religious one. Just read the starred sections.
And lastly, I agree with him. No one can find all the wisdom through and sacrement and dogma, but one may find peace in them.
And any religion, sect or otherwise that makes a man relinquish free thought is furthering a political agenda, not a spiritual one. But, it is the choice or fear of the man himself to follow.
Although I appreciate his intelligence, and his sharing of fact, I still believe my first impression is an arrogant, self- justified man. But maybe this act causes some to think, but more than likely, it just created hate in those that needed to expand understanding and a little gentle education instead.
Shared the story with my 13 year old son.
I wanted to rant a bit, on the cracker stealer, the church, the writer.
He smirked and said, "Silly."
I prefer his response and echo it here. Oh, to be simple.
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