Addendum to the last post...Or, we should be nicer...and LOUDER!

This started as a quick, cute addendum, then it got a mind of its own.

Addendum:

It is also interesting to read through the comments on the fan site and on YouTube. You get to learn that the cast are all believers, except for Brian "Mr .Deity" Dalton. But it is a reminder that, just like Atheist, religious folk are not some caricature. They are professionals, enjoy good comedy, and appreciate the valid points being made.

Just as do a lot of Christians who comment on YouTube. It is sometimes hard to remember as you read comments on science blogs, or see attacks from various self-appointed leaders and experts on faith, that in various religious groups there are those that are actually sane.

There are many that are open and inclusive. Dalton goes with his wife and kids to a Lutheran church, for material, and his wife (Lucy) suffers through this. We have a long list of interfaith marriages that work fine. And as an ex-Lutheran every sermon I heard was rather tame, middle of the road, and about being a better person...though I took a lot of naps and day dream trips. Still, there is humor there. Sometimes even self aware humor for the pious that can enjoy what work like Mr. Deity can bring out.

It is just something to bare in mind. Sometimes in describing Christians, Muslims, or just religious folk, a broad brush is not truly warranted. There are Muslims that don't want to destroy America and make it a caliphate, or stone there daughters for wearing makeup, or refuse to let you bring a dog in there home. And there are Christians that don't shun science, appreciate secular governance, have respect and love for homosexuals, and don't want to ban dancing (Yes, that even counts for some Muslims.). People can be complicated, but still be good neighbors and friends. But we have out troubles.

The trouble remains that the loudest voices in many of squares ends up being the worst of these groups. Whose louder, the Christian who appreciates the complexity of abortion, or the one who demands it be banned in any form? Who's louder the Muslim who thinks Sharia law is outdated, or the one that demands it be enforced in a given country? You can bring into this the question of which gets time more often on the news?

I have no trouble with people being Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. I have a problem when people decide there tenets need to be used to impinge on me, on countries, on society. We can all have are little beliefs, but society is so much more of a complicated beast, through which we synthesize out certain key rules we use to live with one another. We aren't nomadic groups, we aren't small villages strewn across vast wastelands, we just don't need this strong armed garbage like, perhaps, a more primitive and ancient society felt it needed. We have grown up (Yes, I have been watching Star Trek TOS this weekend, why?). We can be quite diverse, and even multicultural, yes I said it, I don't care if some want to whine about the term.

We can be a diverse society, that develops certain rules all must adhere to. We just need to stand up and be loud and clear when things are not right. When the human rights arm of the UN is used to try and quiet descent on religious practices and abuses, we need to be heard. When sharia law is being applied in a country, we need to be heard. When evolution is being shoved out of science classes, we need to be heard. Internationally done to the local level, activism is important. Too often the loudest voices in general discussion of matters is the pious and close minded one. This is also true of science matters. Who chimes in the loudest to PBS when they do shows on evolution? Who writes in or phones the papers about science texts, ten commandants monuments, etc.? Not us. Compared to Muslims or Jews, secular Americans are a far larger percent of the populace, yet we are so much more quiet.

Are we truly as apathetic as they say?

I think not.