How do you deal with your anger at the religious right?

[ruggerson]

Since many of us are under daily siege from these monsters, I'm wondering how others deal with it.

I assume the Jews felt many of these same feelings in 1938.

[niyad]

1. dobson and haggard are local calls, so I get to tell them exactly what

I think of them regularly--and their little minions, as well.

[kevinbgoode]

30. Hon, just tell them how utterly selfish and self-centered they are. . .

especially to believe such superstitious nonsense only because they think they are gonna receive special treatment at the gates of "heaven."

Then tell them that they don't really love anyone but themselves, since their entire motivation for "loving" is based on getting salvation for themselves. . .and that you have a very difficult time not laughing at people who view the sanctity of life as a prison sentence.

[mitchtv]

2. put in my two cents at every opportunity

I am getiing too old to really give them the harrassment they really need

[Jamastiene]

41. Hey.

:hi: Long time no see.

It DOES get tiring to go up against them sometimes, doesn't it? It's so old now. They need to just get with the program.

[Flabbergasted]

3. This isn't what you're going to want to hear....Love and Understanding.

[ruggerson]

5. Did that work with the nazis?

just wondering.

[Flabbergasted]

8. I said you wouldn't want to hear it. LOL But this is how Humans

deal with anger. That was the question. Not how to reform the governement before a catastrophe.

[jonnyblitz]

6. understanding? you understand them?

interesting. i can almost understand the "love' thing though i might find it flakey as hell (especially if it is brought on by some religious sensibility you have) but "understanding" has me confused. you understand their hate and ignorance? :shrug:

[Flabbergasted]

10. I only answered a question. Peopl can be understood down to

their most primal of example ignorance and hatred.

[WhiteTara]

17. well, we know they are fear based

so that is a real clue to understanding them. It' good to understand them, just as a means to get out of the way in time. But, I love the idea of calling them and letting them know that they are evil evil evil. What's Dobson's phone number?

[BR_Parkway]

33. Sure - if they hate us, then they can 'love' themselves easier. They can

have that 'specialness' that Jeebus has saved them - that's why they hang on to it so rabidly in the face of any contradictions you can point out about their beliefs vs scriptures - they need to be special. And if everyone were treated equally, then some can't be more special than others.

It's also the ultimate "get out of jail free" card - the Party of Personal Responsibility actually gets to shift all responsibility to some omnipotent being outside of their control. Something good happens, they've been blessed somehow for something they've done. Something bad happens, either Gawd is testing them or Satan is throwing up roadblocks to their salvation.

Not meant as a general, one sized fits all knock against religion - simply the group of fundies out there willing to be led by the modern day Pharisees without question. The true religions that think that some higher being gave mankind a brain to reason things out with I'm supportive of. But the one's that have been hijacked into cults are deserving only of contempt.

[lvx35]

7. I like that.

There's something really pleasing to me in the image of these people frothing at the mouth for "love thy neighbor" Christ while supposed "sinners" actually manifest the loving kindness. Right on.

[Flabbergasted]

11. You hit that right on. Thanks!

[IsItJustMe]

4. Extreme avoidance. Not a recommended strategy.

The truth of the matter is that ignorance is as old as humanity and so is enlightenment.

[Bobbieo]

9. Getting rid of the religious right

When they come knocking on my door I tell them to get to hell off my property. Come to think of it, the word must have gotten around becase I haven't had them come to my door in years, now.

[we can do it]

12. Sarcasm and Rants with My Friends

[TaleWgnDg]

13. I volunteer some free time to some local legal organizations

whenever I can. And I enjoy the work. I talk about it w/ others suggesting they, too, volunteer their time and services. Lawyers ethical code/rules suggest that we do pro bono work or otherwise do charitable work.

Simple, really.

[ladjf]

14. Religion has been tolerated far too long. It's too dangerous to

play around with. When it insinuates itself into politics, all hell breaks loose. No government based on superstition could long prosper.

[Canuckistanian]

15. I sacrifice a chicken

Then I take some peyote and sacramental ganja and contemplate my navel.

Hey, it works for me.

[swimmernsecretsea]

27. I do the same thing!

I ask for "Extra-Crispy" though, and an extra buscuit. How about you?

[Erika]

16. I simply detest the religious right

They are nothing more than a rabid arm of the GOP with a theocratic agenda. They don't mind starving people while giving tax cuts to the rich...just so gay marriage and abortions are stopped.

[undergroundpanther]

19. I humiliate the fuck outta them in public

Or I box them in"theologically" until their brains ooze out thier ears.
Or I just act like a total asshole to them ..
Because You do not have to care about bullies or thier fweelings.
Fundies are bullies.Bullies are morally inferior toxic people.If you respect them they will hurt you, if you pity them they will abuse you.
I have NO TOLERANCE to waste on bullies.

[sakabatou]

18. I vent with some friends at school

[Ayesha]

20. I design t-shirts to piss them off

Judging by the hate mail we get, I'd say they're pretty effective. :)

[swimmernsecretsea]

21. What a cool link!

How fun is that? I was going to buy a t-shirt from threadless.com but this is far funnier!

[Ayesha]

26. Thanks!

It really does help vent the anger. I'm currently working on an assortment of anti-South Dakota stuff, as well as some Gnostic and da Vinci Code-related designs, as they seem to be getting incensed about the upcoming release of the movie.

[novalib]

25. Thanks for The Link!

Way cool t-shirts.

[NMMNG]

22. Vent with like-minded individuals

Debate with the whackjobs (only occasionally, as this is typically a futile exercise that leaves me wanting to :banghead:).

E-mail and petition campaigns to overthrow fundie-based legislation and other assaults on human rights and common sense.

My screen name, which lurkers from other forums see and hopefully get cheesed off by. :evilgrin:

[LeaveIraqNow]

23. We should protest.

We should protest sunday schools so we can hopefully save children from learning this hate at such an early age.

[sui generis]

24. I've become completely intolerant of proselytizers

And I no longer even hesitate to dick-smack people for saying stupid shit, even at work.

They don't understand that we're not aliens from some far off place who were hatched from eggs.

They honestly believe that they have the only correct opinion about "what to do" with us and our lives, and that we should just agree with them and be glad for their generosity.

They completely don't get that we're as red-blooded and profoundly American and entitled as they are, so it's fun to remind them at every opportunity.

[swimmernsecretsea]

28. Mostly I ignore them, but if they get in my face

I tell them off. They tend to cower when confronted, I've found. No violence, though. I don't agree with that unless I need to defend myself.

[Uncle Zoloft]

29. Oh in so many ways...

... let me count them.
1) Research on them and their cronies.

2) Go to the state capital and video tape them speaking before legislators and sometimes catch them cutting a deal in the hallway whilst panning the room.

3) Always push back the bully.

4) Write letters to the Editor.

5) Reach out.

6) Listen, wait, then expose.

7) Tell some to f#ck off! I'm an American and if they can't deal with that move to Iraq.

8) Talk with my neighbors.

9) Have our family come out as regular folk who have a gay partnership (15 years) in their family.

10) Tell our side.

11) Volunteer SC Equality Coalition

12) Blog From The Buckle of the Bible Belt

13) Sell Political stuff leekarlpoliticalcartoonfactory

14) and keep up with many board, blogs, the global communal network that we must become to fight this Crusade!

15) Pick up the phone and b!tch out some political underling for washing the feet of un-American religious racist.

peace,
Uncle Zoloft

"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature." Frank Lloyd Wright

[Uncle Roy]

31. I go shopping... (nfm)

[cboy4]

32. How do I deal with them? Easy. Two Letters:

D U !! I can vent and vent with friends who understand. Then I feel better, until I need to vent some more! ;)

[dickthegrouch]

34. I tell them to come back when they can tell me

Where human being #5 came from.

Adam + Eve = Cain + Abel

:evilgrin:

[pro_blue_guy]

35. Personally

I usually just shrug ignorant comments off (although occassionally I may have some negative thoughts in my mind about those ignorant people :)) I'm one for peace, so I won't start a fight!

I respect the right that everyone can hold their own views. I just think it's sad that lots of people have hateful views.

[Democrats_win]

36. The idea that they´ll grow out of it. Living brings greater tolerance.

[DarkTirade]

37. For now... just trying to resist the urge to sink to their level.

I'd rather keep from becoming like them than to do to them what they may deserve. >:)

[MikeStl]

38. pretty much already been noted in this thread.

I feel we do not have to give them one bit of respect or tolerance. Debate only does so much as they will twist anything that is said into their favor in their press releases, and they seem to have the upper hand when it comes to power over the media and power over public opinion in general. Anger should be channeled into volunteering and doing whatever can be done within legal means to thwart and stop them.

[zonmoy]

39. I just think of the look on their faces when their hatefull selves

find themselves in hell.

[Jamastiene]

40. I share it with RevCheesehead, a religious left

DU'er. She is just as upset about the hate that they spew as we are. She is religious but her message is of love and compassion. I just share whatever I hear with her. She has been a real godsend, pardon any pun there, to me. I find her words and her thoughts on the issue of how to deal with them to be enlightening and positive.

Not all, but many on the religious left are really cool people who would love to work with us on many of our issues. I never thought I would be saying that, but there are some really nice ones here on DU.

[Creideiki]

42. Research: religioustolerance.org

In almost every case they avoid an editorial stand, but can give you ammunition to use against people perpetrating hate in the name of religion.

[meegbear]

43. I keep up to date with them ...

I have Falwell's alert messages emailed to me and post it on DU, the forum depending on the topic.

They all seem to work on the same frequency in terms of topics, so this helps keep me and hopefully, you, the gentle reader, up to date.

[Not Me]

44. I fired my dentist last week...

I did a search of www.knowthyneighbor.org and found his and his wife's name on the petition to put the anti-gay marriage amendment on the ballot in 2008; and sent him a letter telling him why me and my family were leaving his practice.

I refuse to participate in my own oppression.

[TechBear_Seattle]

45. I try to get even

Seen the link in my sig about defending marriage :evilgrin:

[Occulus]

46. My anger is no longer at only the religious right.

My anger now extends to the religious.

[undergroundpanther]

47. Mine too.

I tried to stop the anger just recently....but it seems hopeless.I think I'll stop trying because it gets me nowhere but misunderstood and frustrated.. So Fuck em.

[foreigncorrespondent]

48. Yell at them!!!

LOL Yes I am kidding!!!

I simply come back at them with facts Then just sit back and watch the sparks fly as they explode due to total meltdown. LOL

It really is quite satisfying to know I can give them one hell of a headache without even trying. ;)