Worshippers of Bully-God seek religious freedom to be bullies

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Worshippers of Bully-God seek religious freedom to be bullies

By iceweasel

Wingnuts • November 2011 • Views: 1,489

patheos.com

Great post over at slacktivist about anti-bullying legislation in Michigan and those opposed to it:

The state of Michigan has passed a new law saying that some forms of bullying are wrong. But for those in Michigan who believe that the God they worship is an Almighty Bully in the sky, and that this Bully-God requires them to bully others, Michigan says it’s perfectly legal and peachy-keen to keep tormenting others. Especially if those others are sexual or religious minorities.

….

In a post titled ‘Why Does Michigan’s Anti-Bullying Bill Protect Religious Tormenters?’ Amy Sherman explains why the privilege of legal sanction for bullying others is viewed by the worshippers of the Bully-God as a vital religious freedom

read the whole thing plus links.

Recent Pages by iceweasel:
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13 comments

(I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was) Mon, Nov 7, 2011 7:08:09am

Were I the childish type, I'd recommend founding a religion that incorporates bullying conservatives.

What, me worry? Mon, Nov 7, 2011 8:57:36am

Maybe I'm thinking about this wrong, but I don't really see a problem here.

Here is the text of the bill, Michigan Senate Bill 137:

[Link: www.legislature.mi.gov...]

(8) THIS SECTION DOES NOT ABRIDGE THE RIGHTS UNDER THE FIRST
AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OR UNDER ARTICLE I OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION OF 1963 OF A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE, SCHOOL VOLUNTEER, PUPIL, OR A PUPIL'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN. THIS SECTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT A STATEMENT OF A SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEF OR MORAL CONVICTION OF A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE, SCHOOL VOLUNTEER, PUPIL, OR A PUPIL'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

So that's the problem bit. "This section does not prohibit A STATEMENT..." That means someone saying something negative to you. Not hitting with a fist or an object, i.e. an assault, but words.

I'm not a fan of religious zealots, of course, but bully legislation is a sticky subject, much like hate legislation and I actually agree that both should be on the books.

On the other hand, and much more importantly, kids have to be able to defend themselves by an attack of words with their own words. If they don't learn this, they won't be prepared for the real world because guess what? Life is hard and if you don't think there aren't bullies in the workplace or in the supermarket or a million other places where ADULTS congregate, you would be wrong.

I say this as a kid who was bullied as a child and had to learn to defend myself with my words.

Obdicut Mon, Nov 7, 2011 9:52:47am

re: #2 marjoriemoon

So that's the problem bit. "This section does not prohibit A STATEMENT..." That means someone saying something negative to you. Not hitting with a fist or an object, i.e. an assault, but words.

What if the person is telling a gay child that they are going to burn in hell?

iossarian Mon, Nov 7, 2011 12:25:15pm

re: #2 marjoriemoon

I was talking to two lawyer friends of mine about the bill, one of whom has substantial experience of harassment and related cases. They both were of the opinion that this bill was written by some shadow group with little legislative experience and a whole lot of pent-up religious bigotry.

They also said that the language is broad enough to drive a bus through, and that they'd have a field day with it.

OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin Mon, Nov 7, 2011 12:39:45pm

re: #3 Obdicut

What if the person is telling a gay child that they are going to burn in hell?

Or a Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Zoroastrian, etc. child.

The people backing this bill will change their tune, though, when a gay child tells them they feel conservative Christians are among the most vicious, murderous people in the world. And they have the history books to prove it!

Watch them come out of the woodwork to claim they've been "bullied"

OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin Mon, Nov 7, 2011 12:44:45pm

re: #1 000G

Were I the childish type, I'd recommend founding a religion that incorporates bullying conservatives.

Pfft, they think just disagreeing with them is bullying them.

RadicalModerate Mon, Nov 7, 2011 12:57:49pm

You know, I've heard this argument before, regarding the religious justification for harassing and intimidating specific groups of individuals.

Just Sayin'

What, me worry? Mon, Nov 7, 2011 1:06:47pm

re: #3 Obdicut

What if the person is telling a gay child that they are going to burn in hell?

If I had a nickel for every anti-Semitic slur aimed at me prior to the age of 12... and burning in hell was one of them. I actually preferred that over kike or Christ killer. At any rate, I think it's healthy to learn how to deal with it.

But thinking more about this today, the inclusion of specifically religious statements is troubling because it shouldn't be limited to that. So like I can't just call you a "f*ggot"? I have to include "burning in hell" to be able to dodge the law? So yea, that's troubling and definitely a nod to the zealots.

What, me worry? Mon, Nov 7, 2011 1:09:19pm

re: #4 iossarian

I was talking to two lawyer friends of mine about the bill, one of whom has substantial experience of harassment and related cases. They both were of the opinion that this bill was written by some shadow group with little legislative experience and a whole lot of pent-up religious bigotry.

They also said that the language is broad enough to drive a bus through, and that they'd have a field day with it.

Interesting. Did they point to anything specific other than what I highlighted? If they had a chance to look. It's a shame because bully laws could be helpful.

Obdicut Mon, Nov 7, 2011 1:13:52pm

re: #8 marjoriemoon

At any rate, I think it's healthy to learn how to deal with it.

That may be. But allowing bullies to harass kids doesn't teach kids how to deal with it. It often just winds up with the kids killing themselves.

Kids are vulnerable in ways adults are. Just biochemically, your system is more full of wild hormone shifts and crazy shit at that point than any other time. Teen suicide is a real problem, and bullying is one of the causes of it.

What, me worry? Mon, Nov 7, 2011 2:08:12pm

re: #7 RadicalModerate

You know, I've heard this argument before, regarding the religious justification for harassing and intimidating specific groups of individuals.

Just Sayin'

I'm not justifying harassment or bullying. It would be nice if we were all kind to each other, but we aren't.

Free speech means that assholes like Fred Phelps get to stand on a street corner with a GOD HATES FAGS sign. And then you and I get to know who the evil people are.

Obdicut Mon, Nov 7, 2011 2:09:20pm

re: #11 marjoriemoon

But he doesn't get to do it in the workplace. The school is equivalent to the workplace in the analogy between childhood and adulthood.

windsagio Mon, Nov 7, 2011 2:43:10pm

There really is some hardcore framing going on in that article.

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