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Scottie's Playtime 
The pain on The Reverend’s face is achingly poignant to watch.
The complete incomprehension that this fellow Abbott should be allowed to say these things, spoken in this gentle, mature way, is a most powerful witness to the inhumanity taking place under Abbott’s watch.
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Hi Roger. As you know I am not religious in the sense I follow a deity, but I do have a personal code I try to live by. In that sense I share a religion with you and the Reverend. I like what Rev. Trevors says, the way he approaches right and wrong. I like how he uses his faith and the teaching of his god to do well towards others, and to try to do no harm. I respect both of you for the concern and care you have for others. If we could remove the hate preachers that use their religious beliefs to hurt and harm, if we could remove the scam preachers only doing it to get wealthy off of the poor people who listen to them, if only we could replace them all in all the different religious sect around the world with people like Rev. Trevors and yourself. That would be a grand world of hope and peace, one worth living in. Hugs. Scottie
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Thanks Scottie.
These cultists, snake oil merchants and downright deluded fanatics have polluted religions, politics and social movements throughout history.
Once upon a time not so long ago, they were seen as figures of ridicule on the margins. The mistake is that Society should never treat such folk as a source of humour. They are dangerous because they will attract and appeal to the worst side of Human Nature. (People back in the 1920s thought Hitler amusing with his antics and ‘funny accent’).
I am honoured to be included in your reply along with Rev Trevors. The Reverend I greatly admire because he uses a gentle and mature approach, and there is no arguing with him, not unless the person arguing wants to look really foolish.
I would like to be able to maintain that sort of stance, however at times I have a hair-trigger temper, and can resort to a mix of ‘Old Testament’ vengeance and hard-line socialist authoritarianism as solutions (You don’t want to know- seriously. )
It is hard to know exactly what to do when confronted by such waves of ignorance, selective arguments and intolerance. These are to be found sadly across the whole scope of Society.
I guess it comes down to never give up hope, trying to be a good neighbour, holding your loved ones close and doing the best you can, as you can, when you can, how you can.
Take care you guys.
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Well said Roger. My problem is once religious people came to my rescue and as an older teen saved my life. It was costly for them to do that, but they did it. And would have paid more for my education if I had wanted to stay in the faith. On the other hand, all my life some people have used that same religion, or at least the same title of the religion of Christianity, to hurt, to harm, and to deny me the right to even live. So I am torn, there are clearly good people who are Christian such as you and Ali, and I don’t wish to cause you / them offense with the way I deal with the haters. On the other hand it is my very right to live they are attacking. So I lash out hard back to protect myself and others they attack. Hard line to balance on. Best to you and Sheila. Hugs. Scottie
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It is very hard Scottie not to fall into the trap of profiling or placing all of one group in a box. I have frequently made that mistake.
All we, you and I can do I guess is judge the person on these guidelines, do they display:
Compassion
Respect
Tolerance
Of course the problem is, they might not be shinning examples, but they might be trying hard- and that’s the best sometimes we can do.
Hands across the water Scottie, and hope for better days.
Best wishes to you and Ron.
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Great points Roger. As a writer and … to be frank, a learned elder, do you have tips, suggestions, advice on how to word my responses to hit back at people who use their “Christianity” to hurt, harm, remove those they don’t like and yet make sure I don’t sweep people like you, Ali, and Rev. Trevors along with other good people into the same bin, the same rant? I want to rage at those who want to hurt me, deny me, but really I do respect those who practice the better natures of man, which as I understand are what is thought the being Jesus taught. How do I call the people out who use their Christianity to want me / people like me erased, and yet show respect to many grand people of faith who “do the good works”?
Actually if you take the mystical / supernatural out of it, from what little I hear of what Jesus taught, if you ignore the hate of all other parts of the bible and focus on the good this is very similar to the personal code I have had all my life for my own actions. I felt the need to make that code because I swore the day I left their home I wouldn’t ever be like those who abused me. But as I look back I realize it was just often easier and more rewarding for me to do good, be good, uplift not tear down others I met than be what they are. How hard a life it must be to think bad of everyone, to think at every encounter how you can get the better of the person you just met? Looking back right now, I am so glad and grateful I never walked the path they tried to force me on.
Thanks for any advice you can give me. Hugs. Scottie
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Hi Scottie. Again I am honoured and humbled that you seek my advice on this matter.
It is a tricky one to encapsulate. Normally when I get into debates with folk who are polar opposite to me and being mean with it I tend to tailor my responses to the person.
There are any number of posts and sites on the net which will support Jesus’ teachings on love and tolerance. However there is always the problem they will come back with another quote or try to go off topic, or insult you (which is when I personally chuckle and say ‘gotcha’- but that’s another story).
That said it is not easy to handle when these folk are personally hating you – I have my own ideas on how I would reply, but that’s a bit religiously hardcore and not something I would give out as advice.
It’s 9.00am GMT over here in the UK and my brain is still getting rev’d up for the day.
I am going to think on this Scottie and get back to you later on in our day (probably about 5 – 6pm UK time)
Take care you guys.
Roger
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Hi again Scottie. Here at 5.37pm GMT UK time.
I have thought about and pondered on your question. It is relatively easy to give stock answers but these are always based on the premise that the giver feels they believe this answer will confound the antagonist and that is not always so. Particularly when you are dealing with what I term as ‘True Believers’ (be they religious or political). One answer does not suit all. As I said earlier on today I tend to tailor my responses as a ‘conversation’ goes on (from my Civil Service days).
These extremists could in three broad categories. The ones who have picked up on the message and only respond by rote, tending at some stage to throw out an abusive insult or if more restrained will simply accuse ‘you’ of not understanding as if they have given the final word. Then you have the distressing trolls who will deal only in abuse, and offensive GIFs and emjois. Finally, there are the ‘scholars’ who have an impressive biblical ‘memory’ and can quote verses to suit their purposes, without dwelling on the true meaning and can take up about 30 mins to reply to.
You know full well conversation with any of these groups is near impossible, never mind discussion and exchange of views. Thus my advice to any atheist who is suffering assault by any of these folk is not to engage id depth just give enough so you can curtail the conversation with dignity:
Paradoxically this can start with a biblical quote, by typing up on the net ‘Jesus’ teaching on love’ you will find many. There are these two which are apt to these folk who deal in hate:
Luke 6:31-33
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?
Matthew 22: 34-40
[34] But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
[35] Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
[36] Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
[37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
[38] This is the first and great commandment.
[39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
[40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
I have selected these as if both cases Jesus is putting the ‘weight’ on those who either claim a religious belief or wish to follow him. These are quite unconditional. If as a believer you are not following them then you are suggesting you know better than Jesus, or you are a sinner (and anyone genuine in their belief is going to accept that we always fall short here and ask for forgiveness – again and again).
Either should be fitted in between a reply which firstly asks, ‘But did not Jesus say….?’ Then quote.
Followed with an ending something along the lines of ‘I do not wish to intrude on your life or your community. And that is all I have to say. The rest must lie between you and Jesus Christ,’ You should tailor your response though as you see fit.
I hope that works for you good friend.
Roger 6.34pm GMT UK
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While I honor your faith, I don’t believe there is ANY way to respond to certain (so-called) Christians. As with politics, many have formed their personal ideas and thoughts about scripture — and it is usually what appeals to them as an individual rather than the (customary) meaning. So no matter what scripture is quoted/used in a “discussion,” there will nearly always be those who disagree or will find an alternative scripture to support their personal perspective.
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Quite so Nan.
It is more a case of you standing your ground if personally assailed by one.
Or stepping in to defend someone if they are being attacked
The chance of finding common ground is slim, but these aggressive ones cannot go unanswered. The response must have dignity as well as weight.
That said, it has to be accepted there will often be a one-way traffic.
I lost one friend to the Tea Party. Our e-mails became one way traffic, finally never replying to my comments but constantly speaking ‘Tea Party’.
I once tried to get a discourse going with an NRA true believer. Again one way traffic, except for the occasion when trying to find some common ground when using the Battle of Gettysburg as a talking point all I got in response was a stern lecture that Buford’s cavalry had not used carbines but……….(another type of gun).
I’ve had run-ins with all sorts on both sides of the political divides, fundamentalist Christians, atheists who demand I recant, Conspiracy folk (Weird Central at Rush Hour) and misanthropic types who insist on barging in on Charity Appeal sites demanding you do not donate because (yadda-yadda-yadda).
They all share the same meanness of spirit and lack of perspective. (We have Left wingers in the UK whose intolerance and neurosis over Conspiracy matches that of MAGA. The ironic thing is they both share one belief- unconditional free-pass for Putin. How about that?)
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PS: Sheila was looking over my should to check for any ‘rants’ (a frequent failing on my behalf).
She also added John 8
As a commentary, not on the woman herself but those who are condemning her and setting themselves up as being morally better. Incidentally my beef with this is mob, is that they caught the woman in adultery- now as far as I know it takes two? So where is the guy? Uh ?
John 8 1-11
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (Jesus does not comment on the allegation just asks her to live a blameless life)
This has been used in the LGBT case. On the grounds of ‘who are you to blame someone else by your standards when you are not blameless yourself?’
A similar argument can be used in the instance Jesus cites the famous ‘plank in the eye’ admonishment.
These folk rely only on their own prejudices and not ‘The Word’ and the message.
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It has struck me that in not allowing federal officers access to a federal border, especially while humans needed vital aid, is very similar to when the South seceded, if not the attack on Ft. Sumter (as to a direct disobedience of law and command.) To me, it seems Gov. Abbott should be in deep trouble. I also have to wonder how this would be being handled had a Democratic governor disobeyed direct orders of the US federal government. Basically, though, TX Gov. Abbott killed these people in the name of the entire US without jurisdiction to be able to do so.
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Hi Ali. I think we already know. President Dwight Eisenhower sent in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division to escort the black students into school. He was a republican. I wish Biden would do the same. Hugs. Scottie
“Under escort from the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, nine Black students enter all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas on September 25, 1957. Three weeks earlier, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus had surrounded the school with National Guard troops to prevent its federal court-ordered racial integration. After a tense standoff, President Dwight D. Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard and sent 1,000 army paratroopers to Little Rock to enforce the court order.”
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Yeah, that occurred to me, too. I guess we’ll see. There are definitely two different guidances, one for Republicans, another for Dems.
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