Standing up to Bullies, Grownup Style

Read Time:4 Minute, 36 Second

Bullying is in the news on a daily basis. Kids and teens being bullied into depression, sometimes even pushed so far that they take their own lives. But what doesn’t make news very often is the fact that adults are bullied as well. Adults like me.

If you had asked me 8-12 months ago about my faith, I would have said I was a liberal Christian. Being a liberal Christian made me happy, my faith brought me joy and peace and serenity. Then I started being attacked by two groups, two groups, ironically who are diametrically opposed when it comes to faith. I was attacked and bullied by fundamentalists and atheists.

Liberal Christians are under almost constant attack from the far right. We’re told we are going to hell because we support a woman’s right to choose, we believe in evolution and marriage equality and we don’t see the poor as “toe fungus.” I’ve had far right Christians inform me that my son should be taken away from me, I should be killed and that people like me are why God doesn’t protect America anymore. People like me were responsible for 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina. I’ve been called a bitch, a traitor, a Satanist, a heathen, a fag lover, a dyke (much to the amusement of my husband), a baby killer and evil.

As the attacks from the far right became more violent and more hateful, I really started listening to what people like Pat Robertson and Bryan Fischer and Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum and Paul Ryan and the rest of them were saying. And I realized that I didn’t want anything to do with their God. That God was not the God I learned about in school or heard about at church. This was a totally unfamiliar deity, and I did not care for Him at all. Fundamentalists began pushing me off my path.

Earlier this year, I wrote an article for Mad Mike’s entitled “Why I believe in God.” There were five comments, three of which were supportive, one was correcting a typo, and then there was this:

You’re about 3/4 of the way to sanity. If you were born in Saudi Arabia, would you believe in Jesus? No! If you were born in India, would you be a Christian? No! If you were born in China, Israel, Sweden….Not likely. You believe what you do, only because you’ve been indoctrinated into that culture, not because it’s true. With over 3000 denominations of Christianity all fighting amongst themselves as to how to interpret their bible, don’t you wonder why your Jesus never wrote anything and supposedly had others write for him decades after his death. Do you really believe people can come back to life and that zombies arose during the resurrection? Do you really want to worship a sky-father who imposes evil and suffering on innocents? Over 30,000 children a day die from dehydration and starvation. You can’t be so self-centred and arrogant about being special and Jesus/God watching over just you at any particular time. Cognitive dissonance must abound within your mind. But, thanks for being so honest and straightforward about your beliefs. I HOPE your light keeps getting brighter and your vision clearer as you mature and become more enlightened about the world of reality. Take Care!

I’m self-centered. I suffer from cognitive dissonance because I have witnessed actual miracles, which I write about in the article. I’m arrogant because I believe in God. So, on one side, we have right wing Christians insulting me because I am a liberal Christian, and on the other side, we have atheists telling me I’m self-centered and arrogant. Atheists have also called me weak, ignorant, stupid and childish. I’ve had one atheist suggest that believing in God and going to church will lead me to join the Tea Party. He was “joking,” but in that charming, passive aggressive way that makes me want to scream. I heard from more atheists on Facebook and allowed their bullying to push me further from the path of my faith until I believed I was an agnostic.

Last Friday, I was looking through our little local newspaper and I came upon an ad placed by our local Episcopal church. They were showing “For the Bible Tells Me So,” a powerful documentary about the way fundamentalists treat the LGBT community. I froze. A church in this town was showing a film that did not demonize gay people, did not compare them to Satan, did not falsely link them to pedophilia and supports marriage equality. And I remembered why I AM a liberal Christian.

I will not kowtow to anyone. If you’re an atheist and you think I’m stupid or weak or arrogant, whatever. If you’re a right winger and you think I’m evil and a baby killer, whatever. Having faith makes me happy, believing in God brings me joy and peace. If standing up to bullies on either side of this issue causes people to stop reading my articles, fine. If a few atheists and quite a few fundamentalists are going to attack me, go right ahead. It’s tough to tell teenagers to stand up to their bullies if I can’t even stand up to mine.

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About Post Author

Erin Nanasi

Erin Nanasi is an avid underwater basket weaver, with a penchant for satire and the odd wombat reference.
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Sandra
11 years ago

Well, all I wanted to do was leave a brief comment that said, “Way to go, Erin…I really liked this piece. I can relate.” And then I started reading all the responses. Wow.

But yeah…Way to go, Erin! I really liked this piece…and I can so relate!

Dale Fisk
11 years ago

I’ve read the article, and the attendant responses, and I have to say that Ms. Nanasi created this vortex by calling out atheists for reasons that are not immediately clear other than meanness. Certainly this is free speech and I support that most vigorously but you can’t believe you can then just walk away, up the high road. Those who disagree with you are bound to share their thoughts and opinions. The fact is you became defensive and obstructive and that was unfortunate. If not interested in the thoughts of others as they separate from yours then simply ignore the comment. What is not addressed is not credited.

11 years ago

“Erin, I have not, personally, seen any bullying that you have exhibited.” Then you thin
bellowing and fussing” is not bullying? Admittedly, she has not done it on here. I even commented that I respected that. But, by her own admission, she does engage in bullying sometimes. So what? nearly everyone does at times.

What I took exception to was her then trying to “spin” it so that it meant something different than what she actually said. Especially after my comment that she didn’t pretend to be anything other than human. OK I also admit that I was a bit torqued that she made me look a little foolish after I had just spoken up for her.

I always try to be completely honest so people will know that when I compliment them, it is how I really feel and I’m not trying to curry favor with them. Likewise, when I say something negative, it is how I actually see things and I am not being a troll or deliberately disagreeable. Yes, this approach has cost me friends, but never my integrity. As George Washington is credited with saying, “It is better to be alone than in bad company.”

Marsha Woerner
11 years ago

All right, I’m now doing it too, but this is utterly ridiculous! Everyone insists on their own points of view and their own interpretations, not to mention, “The Last Word”. If you insist on misinterpreting or interpreting everything as an insult, then you will continue to find the world insulting! And, of course, everything being WRITTEN instead of SPOKEN and observed, takes on nuance out of our beautiful language. Erin, I have not, personally, seen any bullying that you have exhibited. Everything that I have read that you have posted has appeared well reasoned and insightful to me, personally. On the other hand, I was constantly bullied as a kid, and I have LEARNED to interpret EVERYTHING, in the best possible light, because my own soul cannot take the hits. Erin, I respect all that you’ve posted, and some comments takes significantly less twisting to turn them into a positive. I am in agreement, keep on keeping on! And to all, if you try and interpret everything positively, you may not always be right in your interpretation, but life will be a lot easier for you, and those whom you MISINTERPRET can see a better way (all right, that last part was just kind of stupid, but I ran out of steam…)

greenlight
11 years ago

I felt like this thread could really use a comment where someone wasn’t trying to call someone else a bully, so… how ’bout dem Bears? Peace and love, all.

ArmyMom0f1
11 years ago

JAMES. MOVE the eff on. Now you’re just being a jagbag.

I’ve read this entire comment string in one fell swoop and I see one butt hurt whiner (Jason) and one obnoxiously arrogant mo-fo. (James)

Either of you don’t like what I have to say about this, you can kiss my lily white Irish A$$. Because I don’t CARE whether you do or not!

Now MOVE ON. No one cares what your opinion is except YOU.

I don’t believe in the fairy tale book of fables and myths written eons ago by old white guys with long grey beards that they named “Bible” just so they could control the masses of low information sheeple, but I also don’t really give a flying F*** whether or not Erin does or doesn’t believe in it. I respect her for her wisdom and values about LIFE (and politics)

Why the F*** do YOU care? You ARE being a bully, because you continue to need the last word in order to FOIST YOUR BELIEF (or non-belief as the case may be) upon everyone ELSE here.

NONE OF US CARE whether you believe in your big toe or pray to your ear wax or crotch lint. Doesn’t make you any more or less bat$hit crazy than Mike Huckabee or Tom Cruise or BabaRabaMuthaKrishna.

MOVE ON DUDE.

Reply to  ArmyMom0f1
11 years ago

Who made you the internet nazi so you can tell everyone else what to do?
You are coming over like the arrogant asshole you clearly are.

You can kiss my also Irish ass You obviously d care because you have taken the time to post a deliberately obnoxious, antagonistic comment.

Tell me, exactly what have I said that is not true?

As I have pointed out, I have respected and agreed with different things Erin said. But she is the one that is so locked in on bullying (perhaps for good reasons) that she cannot see anything except that.

You’re continual use of all caps shows that you have to shout to make your points. As I said to Erin, shouting is a form of bullying.

What you mean is you hope I will believe that you do not care, even though you have made it absurdly obvious that you care so much you have to be a total asshole with your post .

Here’s my advice to you, go fuck yourself you stupid piece of shit.

Lynne Kelly
11 years ago

Can someone please explain to me why it is so important to some people that everyone believe as they do? Erin has said that her religion brings her a measure of comfort and makes her happy. At no time did she insist that her beliefs were “right” and others were “wrong”. Not once did she attempt to make anyone believe as she does. What difference does it make if she believes in God and you do not?

Believe it or not, demeaning her because you disagree with her beliefs IS, indeed, a form of bullying. You don’t believe in God? That’s cool, but it doesn’t make you any “better”, more “intelligent” or in any way “superior” to anyone else.

To be perfectly honest, your attitude makes you appear petty and judgmental.

11 years ago

Erin’s goal in writing this (I think) was to:
1. Share her experience with us in an open way as the site encourages us to do.
2. Allow all of us to share our opinions back.
3. Create a very interesting and controversial exchange of opinions.
ERIN ACCOMPLISHED ALL OF THIS THROUGH 44 REPLIES!
Erin, you do what you do very well. Don’t give up.
Carol

JRN
11 years ago

Stop attacking Erin.
I recommend others take a skeptical approach to religion, but approach it, as we would rather live our lives believing there is a God and die to find out there isn’t, than live life as if there isn’t and die to find out there is.
I read Erin’s thoughts on paper and listen intently to her beliefs. I have little doubt in her conclusions.
I recommend others who doubt her conclusions take another approach.

Reply to  JRN
11 years ago

Pascal’s Wager again. This has been destructed so many time I am always surprised when someone tries to sneak it through again. Is your god so addled he would be fooled by someone pretending to believe, “just in case?” If so, that’s no god, it’s a rather poor illusionist.

As always, I ask. “How do you know? Where is your proof?”

FYI, beliefs are accepting as true something for which there is no supporting evidence and even much evidence against it. Many of us prefer knowledge that can be supported by evidence. We are confident enough in ourselves to say, “I don;t know” instead of “god did it” when presented with something for which no rational explanation is yet available.

The “god of the gaps” is being squeezed into smaller gaps as knowledge increases and superstition is discarded. That is what happened to the flat earth ideas and the earth-centric universe.

11 years ago

As I read each reply here, the theme was the same no matter what side of the opinion you were all on: let’s see who can be most hostile and win the battle of the words in order to feel like the winner. When angry emotions get in the way of our thoughts, there are only losers…no good exchange of ideas can happen when hostile emotions cover up the important philosophies TRYING to be communicated. Looks like we all need to practice having disagreements on line. And it looks like Erin and Jason need a group hug.

Jason
Reply to  Carol Maietta views
11 years ago

Carol, I only wish that were possible. I doubt it is, she has her heels dug in so far she doesn’t see that she is creating herself a canyon to stay in. I am done though….if this site wants to block me, turn me into a villian, Erin can go ahead. I won’t be here to read it.

Jess
Reply to  Jason
11 years ago

Here is the deal with the internet, I have found Jason. If you take it way too personally, you will be hurt by one thing or another every single day. Some days everyone is all about agreeing here, then there are others when we might be at each other’s throats. It’s a little Mad community Mike has built up here and well, Mad says it all I think. I will say no more than that.

Reply to  Jason
11 years ago

Jason you are welcome to post here anytime you wish. Erin Nanasi no longer writes for this website. She quit, somehow blaming me because I allowed readers to disagree with her position. I agree with your assessment of her. Again, no one will block you from commenting here and I hope you continue to do so.

Erin Nanasi
Reply to  Carol Maietta views
11 years ago

If I did that, I apologize. It just seemed that attacking me for writing an article about being attacked was a bit ironic. And I really don’t believe I bullied anyone. However, I think James’s comment, which I have pasted below, was completely unnecessary. A good friend of mine coined a phrase earlier, Fundamental Atheists. I see I have bumped into two here in James and Jason. Oh and James? Fox News does what you did in that comment: “I’m not saying that you’re lying…” I don’t lie, James, but I know when I am no longer welcome somewhere. So, adieu.

“How interesting now that I’ve called you out on your admitted bellowing and fussing that you suddenly have to “qualify” what you meant. That sounds like Romney or most other politicians, trying to spin their remarks after they realize they have foot in mouth disease. I’m not saying that you’re lying, just that qualifications after the fact lack the credibility of plain speaking.”

Reply to  Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

I was trying to be nice. You are trying to be obstinate, shrill and unbending. SO I’ll will say it. You’re a goddamned (pun intended) liar. You say one thing, then when called on it, immediately “interpret” it to excuse yourself from responsibility for your comment.

Yes, you did lie and I am calling you on it. Like it or not, I don’t care. I have agreed with you on other issues and praised your comments. But on this one, you have shot yourself in the foot.

As far as being a “fundamental atheist” that’s more BS. I have often said, “If presented with undeniable evidence on any issue, including religion, I would change my position.” What would it take for you to change your position?

Like so many people, when confronted with their errors, instead of being large enough to admit it and move on you run and hide. I have lost much, if not all, of the respect I held for you. Try to remember, I am the one who said, “So let’s cut Erin a bit of slack. She’s as human as the rest of us and doesn’t pretend to be otherwise. I consider that to be a plus.” I have to now admit, it looks as though I was wrong about that.

Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

Thanks, Dad, Jess, Joe and everyone else for your support. I knew this piece would garner attention, and I appreciate the respect and the kindness. Whether we agree or not, it makes me really happy that we can still be nice to one another.

John Brock
11 years ago

I can of nothing more personal than one’s relationship with his or her God (on non-God if that is the case). Christians are called to spread the Good News and, unfortunately, many of us get it wrong and spread the bad news (you are bad because you are different being the most frequent case of this). But we are called to love one another and most of try to do this (most of us fail, too). Tolerance is a high calling but we have to try.

Jess
11 years ago

Erin, keep on keeping on doing what is right for you and forget what others have to say. You don’t have to answer to anyone except your own conscience.

Reply to  Jess
11 years ago

I’m with you on that one Jess, then again the fact that Erin writes with impunity at MMA probably supports that position 🙂 I like diverse opinions, from all points of view. We even had republicans writing here for a while but they sort of dropped off, mainly due to a lack of reader support. I wish that hadn’t happened because I love a good fight 🙂

Jason
11 years ago

What hurts even more, Erin…is that your own pride won’t let you see how wrong you are. Yes, standing up to a real bully is a good thing, using a misunderstood post to inspire it and put me on blast in the proccess, how does one even let that go.

Erin Nanasi
Reply to  Jason
11 years ago

Jason, if you had not come over and outed yourself, no one would know you were the person who made the Tea Party comment. So I find it really strange that you are blaming me for something you did. Unless someone gives me permission, I never use their name in an article. As to my “pride,” I don’t even understand how that enters into the equation. I’m proud of my son, I’m proud of the loving family of which I am a part, I’m proud that I have survived some pretty horrible experiences and I am proud to write for Mad Mike’s America. How does pride in any of those things make me “wrong?” Finally, as a survivor of what I call ultimate bullying-sexual assault and domestic violence-I can assure you that out of all my faults, and there are many, I don’t bully. I yell, I argue, I fuss and I bellow, but I do not bully.

Reply to  Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

What!? You are saying you fuss and below and those are not bullying? They are an attempt to force your views without facts or logic but by intimidation and aggravation. You don’t think that is bullying?

We have very different concepts of bullying. Not all of it involves physical threats. It can be misusing your position or authority ans well as refusing to consider another’s point of view. That doesn’t sound very liberal or christian to me.

Jason
Reply to  Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

I am not talking about that stuff, Erin. There you go twisting my words to fit your agenda yet again. You have dug your heels in and even refuse to rationally understand what you have done. Yes, I did post, because had I not, you would have had 20-30 people commenting who saw what was said on facebook, and assumed you were just right, no questions asked and I probabably would have gotten some hate mail. I stood up to defend myself from that. I tried to take the high road from a bully once before, the rumor that got spread around destroyed me for years because of that asshole. I had to stand up to you. You didn’t bother to talk to me on your page or with a private message, that is the truth, you assumed the worst about me because you didn’t understand my posting. I tried to take the high road, let it go and give you space for awhile……now instead….it has had to come to me having to defend myself on this site from you. I don’t hate you Erin, I am hurt by how you treated me, how you can think so little of me that you’d assume the worst about me….especially when you know a good amount of my story, what I have gone through, my ptsd, my being bullied, abused and molested, and you can assume from mt high that you are just right and I am a bully, wow…..it really makes me sad. You aren’t as liberal as you think you are, Erin.

Erin Nanasi
Reply to  Jason
11 years ago

Jason, I’ve mentioned comments I’ve received on Facebook before, and not once has anyone ever asked “Who said that?” Ever. So, again, I’m still not sure why I am being blamed for you telling Mad Mike’s readers that you’re the person to whom I was referring. And, again, I’m not bullying you. As a satirist who uses sarcasm exactly the way it was intended to be used, I recognize it instantly. Your comment on my joining the Tea Party wasn’t funny, it was a generalization, and if you noticed, I did address it on my wall. I know hundreds of liberal Christians, and none of them are anything like fundamentalists.

As to James-I bellow at the computer when Mitt Romney tells another lie or another right wing politician tries to qualify rape. I fuss over little things like how clean my bathroom is or how expensive apples are at the store. Not sure how that’s bullying.

Reply to  Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

How interesting now that I’ve called you out on your admitted bellowing and fussing that you suddenly have to “qualify” what you meant. That sounds like Romney or most other politicians, trying to spin their remarks after they realize they have foot in mouth disease. I’m not saying that you’re lying, just that qualifications after the fact lack the credibility of plain speaking.

Jason
Reply to  Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

I didn’t say it as a generalzation, it was a joke in the idea of “the thing you would never actually be”. If I were better with this phone, I would have left a wink, and most likely this whole thing would have blown over because you would have understood the context of the joke. That is why, you should have at least come and asked me what I meant….that is why you are wrong. You have failed to grasp context in my joke…..and made me out to be a bully over it. Whatever though, this is my last posting…..if you want me blocked, turn me into some evil creature for whatever purpose it suits you, go ahead. I am used to being the most hated person in the world.

Joe Hagstrom
11 years ago

Not trying to make light of your post Erin. In matters of faith it’s faith vs. no faith. They rarely end up with mutual understanding. The God who lives in my heart is patient, compassionatte and understanding and forgiving. I don’t believe athiests or Buddhists or Muslims or anyone else of good conscience is going to hell.

Jess
Reply to  Joe Hagstrom
11 years ago

I want to go to “hell” dammit, because I would not be able to put up with all that harp playing and angel wings for an eternity. I would purposely poke out my own eardrums so I didn’t have to hear it 😉 As an atheist I don’t believe in god/s but more power to the person that does, if it gives them something to hold onto to get through the day.

Joe Hagstrom
Reply to  Jess
11 years ago

The Beatles and Def Leppard are going to Heaven Jess. Don’t worry.

Jess
Reply to  Joe Hagstrom
11 years ago

If we can add Johnny Depp to that, I’m good 😉

Joe Hagstrom
11 years ago

People don’t need God or the devil to make them either good or bad. We are capable of great good or evil without them.

I’m a liberal Christian as well. Maybe not as liberal as some in these parts but I’m proud of my liberal cred and have no problem outing myself as a practicing Roman Catholic. Like JFK.

About the bullying? Message boards are not known for their friendliness and civil discussion. Bill O’Reilly just says people that disagree with him hate America. I made a cottage industry on my old local blog calling deluded right wing fools deluded right wing fools. Thus is the risk we take when we put our views online.

Erin Nanasi
Reply to  Joe Hagstrom
11 years ago

Aw, Joe, I needed that. Thanks. 🙂

Baker48
11 years ago

I’m an atheist going on 30 years, and I can promise I bully no one. I don’t believe in the existence of a deity or super-being, but that doesn’t mean I treat believers with disrespect, although I am astonished at the number of intelligent people who actually buy into the nonsense that is organized religion. Frankly speaking the atheists I know are much better people than most of the christians I know. Regardless, I don’t bully the christians. I just feel sorry for them, as they do for me.

Erin Nanasi
Reply to  Baker48
11 years ago

Baker, I don’t feel sorry for you. I have a lot of Facebook friends who are atheists who respect liberal Christians and are respected in kind. My husband is waffling between liberal Christianity and agnosticism, and he and I get along just fine. The point of the article is that the people on the far right who have attacked me and the atheists who have attacked me are using the same play book. Superiority. Right wing Christians tell me they are morally superior to me while atheists tell me they are intellectually superior to me.

And much like right wing Christians lump all Muslims together, the atheists who have attacked me lump all Christians together. A few things I have been told about all Christians are they are ALL terrorists, they are ALL stupid, they are ALL violent, they are ALL conservative and they are ALL insane.

I knew that posting this article at Mad Mike’s would draw the rancor of our many, many atheist readers. If you want to stop reading my writing, fine. Just keep visiting and enjoying Mad Mike’s America. Thanks.

Baker48
Reply to  Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

I’ve no problem with what you have written and will not stop following what you write. You also did not “draw my rancor.” I despise bullying in all forms, whether it be white on black, black on white, gay on straight, straight on gay, and atheist on christian or christian on atheist. As to following MadMike I have been a fan for years and will continue to be a fan. What separates him from the masses is the diversity of the postings and the writers, and that is a rare commodity. Keep doing what you’re doing.

Jason
Reply to  Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

Erin, you did not draw my rancor, you have hurt me. Yes, I am hurt that you could think so little of me knowing what you know about my life and what I have been through. I am hurt that you didn’t have the self awareness to even ask me a question privately or even on your page to clarrify what I meant if you were confused by what I meant. I have lost respect for you, because while I was content to back away and let it go, you put me on blast in front of thousands of readers. Who is really the bully, Erin?

Jason
Reply to  Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

Wow, so now you delete my comments to make youself look right? Wow….how sad. Lemme guess, next step is that I am also banned, right? That’s ok….you stay on mt high…

Reply to  Jason
11 years ago

Jason none of your comments have been deleted. Only I can do that and I guarantee I did not.

Jason
Reply to  Professor Mike
11 years ago

I thank you for that. My posts didn’t show up for 20 minutes after I typed them, that is why I thought what I thought, honest mistake. Unlike some people, I can admit my mistakes.

Reply to  Jason
11 years ago

No worries Jason. Curious as to the browser you’re using. It makes a difference. Thanks.

Reply to  Professor Mike
11 years ago

FWIW, I am using Firefox 16.0.2 and, sometimes, my posts don’t show up for a while, either. Even more curious, I get email notifications with the text of other people’s posts and when I go to the site, they are not there, yet.

This is hardly limited to MMA, I have seen the same thing on other sites, too. As I sometimes remark, if we know how complex the internet really is, we would not be surprised that it doesn’t always work as we expect but that it works at all. 🙂

Reply to  James Smith
11 years ago

I don’t have that problem James, then again I’m running Firefox on a Mac. Doesn’t get any better than that 🙂

Reply to  Professor Mike
11 years ago

Curiously enough, that’s exactly what I am using, OSX 10.6.8 on a 2.66GHz iMac with 6 GB of RAM. Even more curious on your very post, I received the email notification a few minutes before your post appeared.

Oh well, it isn’t as if this was a crisis. 😀

Jason
Reply to  Professor Mike
11 years ago

Whatever is my android phone. That is how I get internet.

Jason
11 years ago

Wow, call me out in front of the masses. Fine, go ahead. I was not bullying you, nor was I joking in any passive aggressive way. Yes, the Tea party line was a joke, but the rest of it was me saying my opinion about religion, it wasn’t about personal attacks against you. I am not sorry for what I said, I am not a bully for it, and that is why I removed you. You took offense for what I said about religion, throwing your family into it when I never said a bad word about them. I feel the same way about the christian religion as I do any other religion, religions are cults, a club for “if you believe my bullshit, you can belong to my club and give me money”, but if you don’t, well, we see where it got us, Erin. I went from fb friend, someone I thought you respected, because I did you, to my being labled a bully because you didn’t understand what I was saying. I just lost a lot of respect for you, Erin…you are so hyper sensitive that you see the evil where there is none. You are right, with that attitude, christianity is where you belong.

Reply to  Jason
11 years ago

Jason, I am inclined to agree with you. Erin is seeing evil where none exists, at least in the responses to her posts here. I do notice, like so many people, she ignores things she cannot rationally answer.

To be fair, I am certain she, as have I, been attacked verbally and perhaps even physically for her views. That would make anyone a bit sensitive. Even when you know that not everyone on either side can be pained with the same brush, most people know to go with the percentages.

If you had always been abused in some way by red-haired people, you would start to mistrust redheads, even if you personally knew some that were honest, decent people. So let’s cut Erin a bit of slack. She’s as human as the rest of us and doesn’t pretend to be otherwise. I consider that to be a plus.

11 years ago

It is bullying if it is not the truth. Apparently you either did not read, or were unable to comprehend my post. That is not my fault, it was very simply worded.

You would lose your wage. I am, and have been for over 50 years, a firm atheist. I have been attacked verbally and physically for my atheism. Yes, it is bullying when it is violent or untrue.

When someone is willfully ignorant or determinedly stupid, pointing out what they are is not bullying. It is a simple statement of observed facts.

You seem to go out of your way to be obnoxious and smug about it. I’m glad I am not that way. Considering that I have frequently agreed with your posts and praised your position on issues, I am disappointed that you have apparently chosen to misunderstand me on this one.

Bill Formby
Reply to  James Smith
11 years ago

James, I must disagree with the statement, “It is bullying if it is not the truth.”. It is bullying if it is meant to demean someone else because of their differences from you whether that is in appearance, life style, or yes, even religious belief. In your great intelligence you do not know whether or not there is a superior deity or not anymore than I. In taking the stance you are taking you are doing the same thing that right wing Christians are doing which is insisting that those who believe differently from you are wrong and ignorant. My preference is not to judge the belief of others. It bothers me not what you or Erin believe because you are both free from forced belief. I consider you both intelligent people, but your beliefs should be personal.

Reply to  Bill Formby
11 years ago

What are you saying? That we must not tell the truth?

How am I insisting that those that disagree with me are ignorant and wrong? All I said is, if it is the truth, it is the truth. If someone says I am bald. That is not an insult. It is a fact. I may not like it, but it’s still a fact.

Our beliefs should be personal? Then you are saying STFU about them? Exactly who was it that made you the arbiter of what can be said here or anywhere else?

Keep in mind that, when you assume the right to tell other people what to say and when to shut up, you grant them the same right with you. So please do not post anything, anywhere, ever again. Is that OK?

Erin Nanasi
Reply to  Bill Formby
11 years ago

In taking the stance you are taking you are doing the same thing that right wing Christians are doing which is insisting that those who believe differently from you are wrong and ignorant.

And that, Bill, was the point of my article. Two groups, so diametrically opposed, use similar tactics when dealing with liberal Christians. Not all, in fact, I have been attacked far more often and with much more vehemence and violence by right wing Christians than atheists. No atheist has ever threatened to kill me or my family, but right wing Christians have. The atheists who have attacked me have attempted to belittle me by claiming they are intellectually superior, just like the right wing Christians claim they are morally superior.

Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

So in your world, being told I am an evil baby killer by the right and being told I am weak and stupid by atheists is not bullying. James, I would wager you are at least an agnostic, and I would wager that when someone attacks you for your lack of faith, you recognize it as bullying. But, and I have found this with a few atheists as well, when you attack a liberal Christian, call them ignorant and weak and suggest that they will become a Tea Partier, that’s not bullying. What a neat way to view the world. Glad I don’t view it that way.

11 years ago

Being presented with facts is not bullying. Asking you for proof of your beliefs is not bullying. Evading either is intellectual and moral cowardice. Those are facts. A person can dislike them but they are still facts.

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