If God is real and has his hands in everything, he’s a major dick that kills off babies, gives people AIDS, creates pedophiles, doesn’t stop wars, causes earthquakes, allows acts of terrorism, creates mass murderers, gives people cancer, judges people and then sends them to infinite suffering, and is directly responsible for every awful thing that has ever happened because if he’s omnipotent and he does not interfere then he’s not all loving- so him being on my side isn’t exactly comforting. Even if he does happen to stop awful things from happening to me because I’m a ~good person~ I don’t like the fact that he chooses favorites and tortures other people, so I don’t want him on my side.
Really, if you think about it, if there IS one, omnipotent God, that means the whole world is one big chess game. Which is kind of awesome. But also kind of suckish for the pawns.
30 Examples of Christian Privilege (in the USA)
- You can expect to have time off work to celebrate religious holidays.
- Music and television programs pertaining to your religion’s holidays are readily accessible.
- It is easy to find stores that carry items that enable you to practice your faith and celebrate religious holidays.
- You aren’t pressured to celebrate holidays from another faith that may conflict with your religious values.
- Holidays celebrating your faith are so widely supported you can often forget they are limited to your faith (e.g. wish someone a “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Easter” without considering their faith).
- You can worship freely, without fear of violence or threats.
- A bumper sticker supporting your religion won’t likely lead to your car being vandalized.
- You can practice your religious customs without being questioned, mocked, or inhibited.
- If you are being tried in court, you can assume that the jury of “your peers” will share your faith and not hold that against you in weighing decisions.
- When swearing an oath, you will place your hand on a religious scripture pertaining to your faith.
- Positive references to your faith are seen dozens a time a day by everyone, regardless of their faith.
- Politicians responsible for your governance are probably members of your faith.
- Politicians can make decisions citing your faith without being labeled as heretics or extremists.
- It is easy for you to find your faith accurately depicted in television, movies, books, and other media.
- You can reasonably assume that anyone you encounter will have a decent understanding of your beliefs.
- You will not be penalized (socially or otherwise) for not knowing other people’s religious customs.
- Your faith is accepted/supported at your workplace.
- You can go into any career you want without it being associated with or explained by your faith.
- You can travel to any part of the country and know your religion will be accepted, safe, and you will have access to religious spaces to practice your faith.
- Your faith can be an aspect of your identity without being a defining aspect (e.g., people won’t think of you as their “Christian” friend)
- You can be polite, gentle, or peaceful, and not be considered an “exception” to those practicing your faith.
- Fundraising to support congregations of your faith will not be investigated as potentially threatening or terrorist behavior.
- Construction of spaces of worship will not likely be halted due to your faith.
- You are never asked to speak on behalf of all the members of your faith.
- It is unlikely you will be judged by the actions of other members of your faith.
- You can go anywhere and assume you will be surrounded by members of your faith.
- Without special effort, your children will have a multitude of teachers who share your faith.
- Without special effort, your children will have a multitude of friends who share your faith.
- It is easily accessible for you or your children to be educated from kindergarten through post-grad at institutions of your faith.
- Disclosing your faith to an adoption agency will not likely prevent you from being able to adopt children.
- In the event of a divorce, the judge won’t immediately grant custody of your children to your ex because of your faith.
- Your faith is taught or offered as a course at most public institutions.
- You can complain about your religion being under attack without it being perceived as an attack on another religion.
- You can dismiss the idea that identifying with your faith bears certain privileges.
And, seriously, Christianity has been so embedded in US culture that I managed - while growing up in a completely atheist family and only ever being inside a church once as a teen - to end up knowing a HUGE AMOUNT about the faith, even just from simple things like watching tv around Christmas time, etc. However, I knew hardly anything about any other faiths without actively seeking to educate myself.
Is there a “religious privilege” one of these? I usually feel so shit upon as an atheist that I don’t usually mention it/am afraid to mention it in certain situations. Like, I would never tell people at work because they are all Christian and some are very religious. I feel like it’s this big secret that I have to keep hidden from people so I don’t have to argue with them or feel like I have to explain myself.
This is a wee derailment of the original post, but the way Christianity is used against other religions and atheists is sickening.
As a non-religious Jew who tends towards agnosticism, THIS.
![[image description: dark pink background. text reads “yes, i am an atheist” in black and “no, that doesn’t mean I don’t have morals.” in white.]
Actually, come to think of it, I think I’m more of an agnostic. But atheism, etc. has nothing to do with morals.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lklsk8tnWp1qjnw0co1_500.jpg)
[image description: dark pink background. text reads “yes, i am an atheist” in black and “no, that doesn’t mean I don’t have morals.” in white.]
Actually, come to think of it, I think I’m more of an agnostic. But atheism, etc. has nothing to do with morals.
