Scientists Startled to Discover Christians Don't Like Their Faith Compared to a Side Dish

From my post at: http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/03/still_straining_to_find_an_exc.php?utm_source=mostactive&utm_medium=link

on the "Expelled" movie clip on You Tube:

...In any case, people who put so much stock in their faith have every reason to see the comments in this film as insulting and possibly threatening.

1) Because it's Christians making this thing and Christians hold dear their founding myth of persecution.  It feeds right into the idea that they are constantly surrounded by forces trying to destroy them, so they need to huddle together and protect themselves.

2) Because if you told a little girl that her parents were lying to her and Santa didn't exist, she not only might not believe you, she might get angry at you.  How much more so an adult who has held onto beliefs long into the age of reason.

3) Because the audience is by definition people who enjoy being conformists and being told the right answer in advance, so they can feel good about being on the right side.  They don't need to be smart, they just need to stand behind on the good side.  (This is not to say all people with beliefs are conformists, just that this movie caters to a certain kind of smugness.  The Michael Moore type.)

As the Oingo Boingo song goes: "We've got all the right answers on the winning side"

What PZ and Dawkins have said here in this clip is scary to the Christians--the music and the nose pans help, but isn't the main thing.  And no one likes their god compared to knitting.  I'm a knitter, and I would be furious if a Christian said my making sweaters was a form of prayer. 

Comments

[Darrin]

I can't believe how entertaining all this has been!

I saw your comment on Pharyngula and wanted to stop by because you happened to quote my favorite Oingo Boingo song. You are obviously a highly evolved person with very good taste. I'm going to read the rest of your blog now!

"In the guiding light, whether wrong or right..."

[Dryope]

Another Oingo Boingo fan! I love that song. I've been compiling a list of agnostic/atheist songs (without as much "god is dead"-type screaming metal, which is too easy to get a list of on its own), and this along with TLC's "Dear God" and Hensen's "Rainbow Connection" are at the top of the list.

Please don't bother with my blog--I'm a blog dilettante. It's more to shout into the void than it is to get readership of some kind.