Both Friendly Atheist and Atheist Ethicist have nice, calm posts on the recent PZ Myer's Wafergate situation. For slightly more vitriol, PZ Myers has a number of posts on the issue over at his own blog, each with a staggering number of comments.
I have to agree that Myers' response to the (relatively) small number of religious fuckwits extremists issuing death-threats over the "kidnap" of a communion wafer was misjudged. It was inevitably going to stir up more fuckwits extremists and annoy those Catholics who were on the right side of the issue. Where he made a misstep, in my opinion, was simply in his request for readers to "do what it takes" to get him some consecrated communion wafers. As Alonzo Fyfe points out, this is advocating dishonesty and (a very weak form of) theft. He is, of course, quite free to buy such wafers (or even find a sympathetic priest to supply him with one) and then do whatever he likes with them.
As with the recent Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, any misjudgement on the part of Myers, however, has been firmly overshadowed by the response of the bloodthirsty crazies. What wafergate exposes is little to do with religion (that, I'd argue, is simply the focus of their madness), but simply that sadly there are a large number of people with a very weak grasp on reality.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Wafergate
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9 Comments:
Then they better get a grasp on reality, because I'm sick of religion being 'untouchable.' Everyone who was offended or in some way unhappy with Myers' satire needs to a) get the joke, and b)get over themselves.
Matt,
Why didn't you post this over at ISOHP? Because of the language?
I agree that PZ is very rough around the edges at times, and he fuels the immaturity of his readers who are even more radical. But many times, I like and agree with what he says about religious traditions.
Why do they get so angry? Because no one wants to be called wrong, especially if it rings true. Many people would rather die to be right than admit that they are wrong. Especially when it comes to their religion... They put their whole identity into the belief that they have; and if they have to question that, they have to let go of who they thought they were.
Letting go of ourselves is the toughest thing anyone can do... because it requires a certain kind of death.
Anon,
Well, I'm "unhappy" with Myers actions, largely because I think they've generated more heat than light.
Linda,
The post didn't seem substantial enough to warrant going up on ISOHP.
The more I think about it, the more I find myself disagreeing with Myers on this. Those issuing death-threats should be exposed and ridiculed, no doubt about that. But his actions are aimed at Catholics as a whole - not just the minority of extremists who deserve it.
Bloody hell, my comment has been deleted by my own lack of word verification ability.
But my point was this, writing as a religious extremist myself (ie I'm not an atheist): this guy is a wanker, his actions are no threat whatsoever to any real God who was crucified and who came back from the dead and can surely cope with some twat taking the piss out of him, and left-footers who threaten anyone with death should be hunted down and jailed, just like anyone else (one would hope). There is no right not to be offended (and this doesn't just apply to religious people, incidentally, but to all sorts), and there is no right to be respected, if you are a publicity hungry dickhead with more time than sense. So I think he is an idiot but I'd certainly fight for his right to do what he did, or at least write a mild letter to the Torygraph. JC did not appear on this earth (if he did at all) to be respected: he wasn't in his lifetime, there is no reason why he should be now.
I think that's what I meant, at least.
Matt,
Here is, so far as I know, the original story. Apparently, Webster took the Eucharist from Mass in order to show his friend. And, for Catholics like myself, it is a very important thing. It is our greatest way of growing in God's grace, and is an expression of Christ's covenant with everyone and our acceptance of that covenant. The best way to communicate this sense of importance is probably not to "steal" it from a Mass. At least, the way I read the article, Mr. Webster was just trying to share his faith with a friend and did something inappropriate. And, once it was pointed out it was inappropriate to just take the Eucharist from Mass, he returned it. No problem.
Unfortunately, there was some hysterical reaction. I wouldn't make too much of it though, since the folks who make it in the news are the ones who shout the loudest. I mean, what counts as a "worldwide" reaction? At least a few people around the globe got upset about it. Big deal.
Timmo,
That's why I'm not impressed by Myers' response. I can see the point in ridiculing those making threats, but aiming to piss off all Catholics just seems counter-productive and distasteful.
Matt,
Yeah, PZ Meyers really displayed an ugly side. This one might be the worst, I dunno. What a classy, honorable, and understanding treatment of the incident that is! He seems embittered by religious people and is just using this incident to unleash his grudge.
The problem seems to be that Myers' main point of contact with religion is his dealings with creationists, who are distorting, spreading ignorance and (sometimes) outright lying about a subject he's obviously passionate about. When he deals with them on his blog he's generally an interesting and informative read. When he moves on to other areas (such as the Webber situation) he's often just crass.
Fair enough, Matt; but that's hardly a valid reason for being a twat, more of a time honoured excuse for bigotry (oh well all the x people I've met are arseholes and you're an x person so...).
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