Feb 07 2010
Sunday Sacrilege: The War on Cows
Many religious folk feel their beliefs are under attack. The supposed war on Christmas being one example. But if non-believers are waging a war, what is under attack is not people but cows. Sacred cows.
Are cows sacred? Only in the minds of believers. It is thought that makes cows sacred. So in reality, the target of the warfare is a type of thinking. Thinking that elevates something to a cherished, “you must honor and never critique” sacred status .
Those who cherish the Christian part of the Christmas holiday may feel that others are disrespecting their holy day. Yet the day is only holy in their minds. Asking others to change their thinking because it conflicts with their own is pure arrogance.
My thinking trumps yours because I feel really really strongly about mine.
If there is a cultural battle occurring, I see the real issue as that of free speech. And this is what I believe: if you can’t tolerate the public criticism of your religion, keep it out of the public square. To insist that all other thinkers play by the rules of your thought is frankly egocentric and dictatorial.
What to do? One way to protect free speech is to exercise it. Especially when is is unwelcome.
But that’s just my thinking. Feel free to express your own.
[cartoon thanks to atheistcartoons.com]
