All those churches in every town are proof of persecution

[MineralMan]

of Christians. They are forced to hide their worship in fortress-like buildings with Windows that block the view from without. Inside, their secret rituals involve incantations from ancient tests. In some, ancient languages prevent outsiders from learning their secrets.

The indoctrination of their children also takes place in closed chambers, using secretive measures to disguise their methods. Ancient stories are told, using symbolic figures which somehow adhere to a cloth background. They can quickly be removed if marauding persecutors invade.

Strange music emerges from chambers though pipes full of air, and all know the secret melodies and words.

All this secrecy is needed to conceal what transpires within those walls, since hordes of non-believers wait outside to profane their rituals or break into their safe places and destroy everything. Yes, Christians face persecution. Only secrecy and camouflage can prevent destruction.

Wait.. is that right? Hmm...

[Ron Obvious]

1. This seems relevant

[MineralMan]

2. Well, natch!

[Igel]

16. But it's not.

You'd get a similar kind of pie chart for the RSA in 1985 if you put down race/ethnicity instead of religion. Try making that sound funny.

The USSR at the height of support from some Americans would have been the same, with the periwinkle part "non-Communists". In Estonia, the purply bit would have been "Estonian", and in Siberia "Indigenous".

Some (D) would have the same kind of pie chart with the periwinkle part labeled "Democrats".

It's clearly not the case that majority = free from oppression.

Leaving aside that, like Islam, Christianity is hardly monolithic.

[MineralMan]

17. Look at that sharp point, poking into the Christian majority.

Danger. That spells danger. Yes, indeed. Or something...

[Cartoonist]

3. The music isn't secret

Some of it is good.

[Major Nikon]

4. ...

[Docreed2003]

9. "What I heard...was a jingle jangle...of a thousand lost souls"

[saidsimplesimon]

5. Did I miss a thread or comment

from someone claiming persecution? Has there been an attack on atheists? This is clever sarcasm and am I missing something?

Are you referencing the "priest holes" of Henry VIII?

[Major Nikon]

10. You missed a lot of them

One of the regulars here is really concerned about the persecution of Christians, to include himself.

[saidsimplesimon]

13. Thanks for the heads up.

[MineralMan]

12. Nope. I just wanted to introduce a different thing.

Complaints about persecution of Christians are pretty common, and not just here on DU. They always seemed pretty ridiculous to me, given the churches on just about every other corner here in St. Paul, MN, so I thought I'd riff on that.

[cachukis]

6. Holy cadookilas.

That were a goodun.

[rzemanfl]

7. And they're not even allowed to pay taxes on those places. n/t

[TheBlackAdder]

8. Open an atheist meeting house in town and we'll see who becomes the persecuted ones.

[MineralMan]

14. A guy would have to have deep pockets to do that.

Empty buildings generate no revenues, and an atheist meeting hall would be an empty building. If I owned such a thing, even I wouldn't bother to go there, really.

[TheBlackAdder]

18. That's right. Atheists don't require constant affirmation and support of others to validate beliefs.

[MineralMan]

19. Not only that, atheists really have no central theme to gather them together.

No scripture, no clergy, and no dogmatic beliefs to maintain. What would they talk about, really? Why would they gather together at all? There are no myths to reinforce, no atheistic music to play, and no rituals to perform. What would they do at such a place?

Now, perhaps if there was a bar in the sanctuary...it could compete with the VFW hall down the street, but I doubt it.

[TheBlackAdder]

20. Bar yes. Don't forget add a roller disco :-D

[MineralMan]

21. I don't know about the roller disco thing.

What about insurance? That would cost plenty, I'd think, for such risky behavior. Who's going to pay? I can't imagine that passing the collection plate would work very well.

The more I think about it, the more I'm sure I want nothing to do with such a venture. I'd rather stay home and read my atheist scriptures. Really.

[marylandblue]

22. I created an atheistic religion for you

Central Myth: The Big Bang
Related Holiday: On Big Bang Day, January 1, set off a
nuclear weapon . Chant "We thank you oh Big Bang, which created the stars and the planets for life." Selected Readings from "A Brief History of Time."


Central Prophet: Darwin, of course.
Related Holiday: Darwin's Birthday. On this day, all atheists face the Galapagos Islands, and say "Of course we evolved, what designer would have run a sewer through a recreation area?" Enjoy a meal of terrapin soup.

Saint: Christopher Hitchens .
Holiday: Hitchmas on December 25, because he had a sense of humor. Decorate with creches of famous atheists. Socrates comes down the chimney and gives books of philosophy and science to all the children. Children ask why they can't get toys like other kids. Explain to them that Santa Claus is a myth but Socrates is real and he has no time for irrational games.

Weekly Sabbath: On Wednesday, because it's good to have a day off in the middle of the week, and since the religion requires it, your boss has to let you do it.
Celebration: Gather at the temple and offer up plastic babies to Satan while chanting in Elvish. It really freaks the Christians out.

Holy Books: Origin of the Species and The Satanic Verses.

Traditional temple design: stained glass windows and frescos showing evolving animals, protohominids, and supernovas. Steeple with a chimpanzee playing saxophone on top. The saxophone plays 5 times a day to remind nonbelievers not to pray.

Songs:
Imagine, by John Lennon
Hells Bells, by AC/DC
We Don't Need No Religious Education, adapted from Pink Floyd
12 Days of Hitchmas, traditional

Clergy: Scientists with a PhD may be ordained in the Church of Atheism by immersing themselves in a frozen lake on Big Bang Day. Legend has it that the Lady of the Lake will forever guard the scientist with a magical sword. Any scientist who can confirm this will become the Pope and gets to keep the sword.

Central Dogmas:
There is no God, so leave me alone.
If your neighbor really needs God to tell him not to murder, move.
There's a typo in your Bible tract.

[MineralMan]

23. Way too complicated. All you need is one thing:

"Really? No way!"

And then you walk on.

That's how my atheism works, except here in DU's Religion Group.

"That's Entertainment."

[marylandblue]

24. I spent years meditating alone in my man cave before an angel gave me this religion

So it must be true. We also have a credit union and free membership to Costco. Can't beat that!

[packman]

11. I heard they eat the body of some zombie and drink blood

[MineralMan]

15. It's all a mystery to me.

[Iggo]

32. He's a lich.

[guillaumeb]

25. I am still looking for those posts on DU about Christians being persecuted in the US.

[ret5hd]

26. Just swivel your chair and tap MM on the shoulder...

and ask him.

Unless you are both sitting in the same chair.

[guillaumeb]

27. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Conjoined twins?

[ret5hd]

28. Multiple personalities

[guillaumeb]

29. What if we are all aspects of the same personality?

[ret5hd]

30. I would prescribe a double dose of haldol

[guillaumeb]

31. Sound of laughing.

Very nice.

[Major Nikon]

33. ...

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/1218277262

[trotsky]

35. LOL @ gil

[Major Nikon]

40. Over and over

Still going.

[guillaumeb]

36. That is not persecution.

It is an observation of common practice at DU. There is a difference between persecution and intolerance.

[Major Nikon]

37. Please tell me how I just don't understand

Because that's exactly what you're describing. I get that you had to consult a UK published dictionary to find your subliterate definition for intolerance. So seeing as how you're such a fan of the Queen's English, I even threw in definitions from Collins and Cambridge for effect and damned if I can't find one that doesn't exactly define what you are describing.

So yes, please describe the difference Gil, because you seem to have those two words bassackwards.

per·se·cute
/ˈpərsəˌkyo͞ot/
verb
1. subject (someone) to hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of their race or political or religious beliefs."his followers were persecuted by the authorities"

persecute verb

per·​se·​cute | ˈpər-si-ˌkyüt
persecuted; persecuting
Definition of persecute 
transitive verb
1
: to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict
specifically : to cause to suffer because of belief

persecute
[pur-si-kyoot]
SynonymsExamplesWord Origin
See more synonyms for persecute on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), per·se·cut·ed, per·se·cut·ing.
1. to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, especially because of religious or political beliefs, ethnic or racial origin, gender identity, or sexualorientation.
2. to annoy or trouble persistently.


persecute
verb [ T ] US /ˈpɜr·sɪˌkjut/
to treat people unfairly or cruelly over a period of timebecause of their race, religion, etc.:


persecute
(pɜrsɪkyut )
Word forms: persecutes, persecuting, persecuted
transitive verb
If someone is persecuted, they are treated cruelly and unfairly, often because of their race or beliefs.

[guillaumeb]

38. Again with the ad hominem.

I accurately described observable behavior. A reflexive attack on any positive posts in the Religion Group. A behavior pattern extending back at least to 2014. A pattern that is still practiced by some who were active and exhibiting the behavior, and were called out for it repeatedly as far back as 2014.

[Major Nikon]

39. As expected you failed to back up your assertion when asked

So at least we have more evidence on how you demand proof from others, yet perennially fail to provide any. As if more were needed. So please stop pretending how you are all about substantive discussion cuz you obviously ain’t and just want to give sermons.

And in the very thread where you were busted for playing the victim, you continue to play the victim.

Please spare us from your self-righteousness. You’ve already far exceeded your quota.

[Permanut]

34. And we haven't even scratched the surface..

It's a good thing Jeff Sessions created the Religious Liberty Task Force to get to the bottom of this persecution, like the War on Christmas.

[Major Nikon]

41. The real reason for the task force...

Is to figure out how to funnel even more tax dollars to far right wing Christian groups.