I alerted on this OP

[Coyote_Bandit]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x299346

In bold print the OP states:
"...when you pretend a god exists, you pretend these assholes might be right."

The assholes the OP is referring to are the extremist hate-filled right wing gay hating Christian wackos.

I understand intolerance and hatred toward extremist hate-filled right wing gay hating Christian wackos. That said, it is wrong to extend that same intolerance toward all who believe in god. Those who believe in Budah or Mohammed or Jesus or Gaia are deserving of the same level of respect as those who believe in the flying spaghetti monster. Faith does not necessarily carry conservative political and social implications. There are after all numerous progressive people of faith that have contributed significantly to our nation and to progressive causes. For example, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

How is this OP (and specifically its concluding statement) not insulting to progressive people of faith - particularly those who are inclusive and welcoming to all? How does this not question their character and motives - since it does suggest that their faith is a pretense rather than a sincerely held belief? How does this not advance a bigotted and hateful attitude toward people of faith? How does this not advance stereotypes about people of faith? How does the statement about castigating such people of faith not constitute a threat of on-going harrassment?

[Skinner]

1. As you point out, the "assholes" is a reference to hate-filled right-wing christians.

I do not read the post as arguing that all Christians are also hate-filled right-wingers.

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. I respectfully disagree and here's why

"...when you pretend a god exists, you pretend these assholes might be right."

What if the OP stated:
"...when you pretend that Obama is imperfect, you pretend that Republicans might be right."

Being critical of Obama and stating that he is less than perfect is not the equivalent of thinking that Republicans are right. If I were to call another DUer a freeper because they were critical of Obama I would, rightfully in my opinion, expect such comments to be a violation of DU rules.

Here we have a statement that says if you are a theist and believe in god then you just might be enabling the extremist right-wing Christian wackos. Why? Because you too believe in a being that the OP characterizes as a monster in the sky. The OP doesn't even acknowledge the belief as sincere and characterizes it as a pretense.

The problem is that the statement paints a broad brush and is not limited only to a particular group of theists or a particular set of beliefs. That broad brush and the implication it carries seems to be intentional given that the OP rejects the existence of God and holds that those who do believe are in fact only pretending (a characterization which suggests they are less than sincere). The statement itself is set apart in a separate paragraph and in bold print unlike the angry text complaining of right-wing Christian wackos.

The OP is right to be angry at the extremist hate filled Christian wackos. But the OP goes too far. It is entirely possible to believe god exists and reject the extremist hate filled Christian wackos. But the OP suggests that anyone who believes in god enables the extremist Christian wackos.

[Skinner]

3. My preference is to err on the side of leaving posts on the board.

The moderators and I make relatively quick, straightforward decisions based on the text of a post. If we have to parse it multiple levels deep, then maybe we don't need to be deleting it.