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I think I decided something.
People used to say that you should never talk about three things in public: religion, politics, and...actually, I forget the other one. They are not considered appropriate subjects for "polite" conversation. Myself, I'm not usually too concerned about the social acceptance of my conversation for the simple face that when I'm conversing I'm almost always around people I consider friends.
I assumed that when people declared these topics "impolite" it was because people often feel strongly about them and some nasty, ugly disagreements can follow. Anyone who is paying attention to current politics knows that people get intensely divisive about such things. I consider that a good thing in theory, but a bad thing at parties.
So what's my point? I've decided that talking about the specifics of your religion in public is um...I don't want to say rude because that's a judgment call. But it's almost always TMI. I'm not talking about philosophical debate or comparison, nor am I suggesting that anyone should not divulge or explain their belief system to INTERESTED parties. Lately though, I find a lot of people telling me about how Jesus fills their heart with love and keeps them sober, or how they spent the last six months preparing to cleanse their altar tools to better commune with the Life Force. I do not wish to hear the your ten exciting uses for menstrual blood, nor uplifitng reasons to buy Chick Tracts. I have no interest in people's private, personal religious goings on. I suspect that when people make it a point to openly discuss such things, it's a showy and/or prideful way of letting everyone know how devout they are. To my mind, this goes against the very idea of spirituality, which is to recognize the deity within (or find a path to deity if that's your thing). This does not require an audience.
In a way, I liken it to discussing sex. By all means, mention that you got laid if you want to. But I don't want to hear all about which positions and how well they worked, your amazing erection, or the fact that you like to get spanked because you had a mad crush on your buxom nanny as a kid. And I'm not even saying not to talk about it--I'm merely suggesting that you not assume everyone is interested.
In more interesting bloggings, here's a Friday Five invented by me,
wednes (elephants are smart, loyal, matriarchal and have long excellent memories. any other similarities I have to an elephant you may feel free to keep to yourself)
Five Facinating Sites that you prolly didn't know about:
1. Ever wonder what happened to the cast of FREAKS? Well, wonder no more!!
2. Do you know ALL the symbolism in American Pie? You can totally find out.
3. Where can I get a list of words that have been taken out of the dictionary? Why, right here!
4. Doesn't anyone offer a tutorial in L33t Sp34k? Yes in fact, and it's the BBC.
5. Let's say that you can't reach me during some kind of zombie emergency. Who would you call next? Why, the Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency, of course.
I assumed that when people declared these topics "impolite" it was because people often feel strongly about them and some nasty, ugly disagreements can follow. Anyone who is paying attention to current politics knows that people get intensely divisive about such things. I consider that a good thing in theory, but a bad thing at parties.
So what's my point? I've decided that talking about the specifics of your religion in public is um...I don't want to say rude because that's a judgment call. But it's almost always TMI. I'm not talking about philosophical debate or comparison, nor am I suggesting that anyone should not divulge or explain their belief system to INTERESTED parties. Lately though, I find a lot of people telling me about how Jesus fills their heart with love and keeps them sober, or how they spent the last six months preparing to cleanse their altar tools to better commune with the Life Force. I do not wish to hear the your ten exciting uses for menstrual blood, nor uplifitng reasons to buy Chick Tracts. I have no interest in people's private, personal religious goings on. I suspect that when people make it a point to openly discuss such things, it's a showy and/or prideful way of letting everyone know how devout they are. To my mind, this goes against the very idea of spirituality, which is to recognize the deity within (or find a path to deity if that's your thing). This does not require an audience.
In a way, I liken it to discussing sex. By all means, mention that you got laid if you want to. But I don't want to hear all about which positions and how well they worked, your amazing erection, or the fact that you like to get spanked because you had a mad crush on your buxom nanny as a kid. And I'm not even saying not to talk about it--I'm merely suggesting that you not assume everyone is interested.
In more interesting bloggings, here's a Friday Five invented by me,
wednes (elephants are smart, loyal, matriarchal and have long excellent memories. any other similarities I have to an elephant you may feel free to keep to yourself)Five Facinating Sites that you prolly didn't know about:
1. Ever wonder what happened to the cast of FREAKS? Well, wonder no more!!
2. Do you know ALL the symbolism in American Pie? You can totally find out.
3. Where can I get a list of words that have been taken out of the dictionary? Why, right here!
4. Doesn't anyone offer a tutorial in L33t Sp34k? Yes in fact, and it's the BBC.
5. Let's say that you can't reach me during some kind of zombie emergency. Who would you call next? Why, the Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency, of course.
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