Playing the Villain

[Lost_Wanderer]

For the past two years, ever since I started getting more and more interested in exploring religion, I get the feeling that I’ve been playing the villain a lot of times.

On the one hand, when I confront religious people for getting on their soap box, I get branded “worldly”, “spiritually blind”, “secular”, “faithless”, “unrepentant”, and “earthly author”.

On the other hand, when I confront secularists on their anti-religious views, I’m called “bigot”, “sexist”, “homophobic”, “heartless” and “selfish capitalist”.

The strange thing is, I’ve actually taken a liking to it (in a sarcastic sort of way ). I mean seriously, if using my head makes me a “cold, anti-spiritual rationalist” then I’d gladly accept such label if that’s what it means to defend against blind fanaticism. Likewise, if standing up for a morality that protects the dignity of humanity from being wholly reduced to that of animals makes me an “imperialist evil conservative” then I say, “All hail the Empire!”

 

[JaredR]

I’m glad that you are able to be open to both sides. Sometimes we can get lost in our own little worlds and fail to relate to non-Catholics in a productive way. If I can be frank, though, I’ve noticed you have created topics in the past about how you are misunderstood. Letting this become part of your identity and thinking may be something to avoid. C.S. Lewis wrote of a somewhat similar situation in The Screwtape Letters:

He can be made to take a positive pleasure in the perception that the two sides of his life are inconsistent. This is done by exploiting his vanity. He can be taught to enjoy kneeling beside the grocer on Sunday just because he remembers that the grocer could not possibly understand the urbane and mocking world which he inhabited on Saturday evening; and contrariwise, to enjoy the bawdy and blasphemy over the coffee with these admirable friends all the more because he is aware of a “deeper”, “spiritual” world within him which they cannot understand. You see the idea—the worldly friends touch him on one side and the grocer on the other, and he is the complete, balanced, complex man who sees round them all.

 

[lynx]

“imperialist evil conservative” then I say, “All hail the Empire!”

Unruly rebel scum get what they deserve.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I’m glad that you are able to be open to both sides. Sometimes we can get lost in our own little worlds and fail to relate to non-Catholics in a productive way. If I can be frank, though, I’ve noticed you have created topics in the past about how you are misunderstood. Letting this become part of your identity and thinking may be something to avoid. C.S. Lewis wrote of a somewhat similar situation in The Screwtape Letters:

I think the key word here is “vanity”. I’m not excessively proud of being “trapped in twilight” as it were. Heck it’s from seeing things from either side that I’ve come to the conclusion that any attempts by one side to proselytize the other is ultimately fruitless. If anyone thinks I like seeing the two sides of myself having nothing in common, they’re clearly mistaken. Heck I’m more likely to see a set up for a mental break down.

In fact, I’m not even sure I’m right about everything that I believe. I’ve seen truths from both sides. The score? Even. It’s one reason why I still disapprove of premarital sex yet could care less about whether or not a person’s clothes are ‘modest’.

 

[The_Old_Medic]

Sounds like you get off on being confrontational!

There is no harm in asking questions. BUT, if you are confronting others, tossing something back into their faces to provoke reactions, then you are being destructive.

You just might want to look into why you are doing this on both ends of the spectrum, and why it makes you feel so good to make others unhappy.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Sounds like you get off on being confrontational!

That is the most unfounded accusation I have ever read on these forums.

If anything I confront people who are confrontational. You oughta thank God the only times I’ve done that is on the net.

I’m a defensive debater. I don’t seek arguments with people but I will turn aggressive if struck, particularly when its with direct intention.

I’m sure you’ve had the same experience when people say the darndest things about Christianity/Catholicism. I’m the guy who pulls this face: and says, “Where the heck did you hear that from!?”