Texas parents don't like nude sculpture

[xoxoxoBruce]

The why the fuck are we talking about religion?

[morethanpretty]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

The why the fuck are we talking about religion?

Because I felt a need to respond to this statement

Originally Posted by Flint

Whatever religion attempts to repress only festers beneath the surface, becoming something worse.

From there it just became a topic

[Flint]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

I have a fear of people who equate nudity with sex. I think of them as perverts.

Originally Posted by Flint

Whatever religion attempts to repress only festers beneath the surface, becoming something worse.

It was the natural course for a discussion based this: a parent complained about a student seeing nude art

(When is this kind of thing not caused by religion?)

[dar512]

Originally Posted by Flint

(When is this kind of thing not caused by religion?)

Well you already have the counterexample of the teacher in China. But I'll add that it is never caused by religion. It is caused by prudes who use religion as an excuse to restrict people from seeing something they're afraid of.

I'm Christian and at the same time just fine with naked bodies thank-you-very-much.

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by morethanpretty

Well only humans and dolphins have sex for pleasure but thats irrevalent.

Then why do dogs hump legs?

[morethanpretty]

Originally Posted by Flint

It was the natural course for a discussion based this: a parent complained about a student seeing nude art

(When is this kind of thing not caused by religion?)

When its caused by a parent who signs the permission slip without first being sure that they will really approve.

And when ppl become irrational about their beliefs, which I will admit seems to happen often with the "religious." They ignore the parts of their doctrine that aren't convenient for them. IE
Leviticus 19:18 (New International Version)
18 " 'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Its not the religion itself that causes the problem, but those who only follow the convenient parts of the doctrine. How many Christians do you know who would allow themselves to be condemed for being Christian? And YET that is a major part of the doctrine...else Jesus could have avoided the cross.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by dar512

Well you already have the counterexample of the teacher in China.

I wasn't really discussing that, but, at a glance, let's see, I believe that is a teacher that stripped in front of her class, right? I'm sorry, I don't see the connection. It has nothing to do with what I'm talking about. A teacher stripping in front of her class has nothing whatsoever to do with a teacher taking her students to an art museum. Apples, oranges.

When is "this kind of thing" (meaning: a problem with nude art) not caused by religion? Please note: I am not asking whether it is mandatory for religion to have this effect, but rather, when it does happen, when is it not religion causing it?

[dar512]

Originally Posted by Flint

when is it not religion causing it?

See my second point.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by dar512

But I'll add that it is never caused by religion. It is caused by prudes who use religion as an excuse to restrict people from seeing something they're afraid of.

Maybe "casued by" is overly restrictive, in a semantic sense. Rephrase: if you removed religion from the equation, would it still be happening? Another way: would this be happening without the involvement of religion? You yourself have stated the cause as being involved with religion. My point (sorry if I garbled it) was simply that.

I'm not big on hair-splitting between "religion, ideally" and "religion, in practice" - as I said, I'm a realist. When I say religion, I assume everyone knows that I am referring to the actual thing that exists in the world.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by morethanpretty

And when ppl become irrational about their beliefs, which I will admit seems to happen often with the "religious." They ignore the parts of their doctrine that aren't convenient for them...Its not the religion itself that causes the problem, but those who only follow the convenient parts of the doctrine. How many Christians do you know who would allow themselves to be condemed for being Christian? And YET that is a major part of the doctrine...else Jesus could have avoided the cross.

Perfect example, finely stated. When I say "religion" I mean ^these people^ (the majority, in my anecdotal observation...)

[morethanpretty]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Then why do dogs hump legs?

hmmm...good question...perhaps they do it for pleasure as well. Most of its just an overwhelming instinct, and normally my male dog is fine unless there is a bitch in heat on the street. I've always heard that only humans and dolphins do it for fun...but maybe I'll look it up some more.

[morethanpretty]

Originally Posted by Flint

Perfect example, finely stated. When I say "religion" I mean ^these people^ (the majority, in my anecdotal observation...)

"These people" though are NOT the religion and that has been my point. I respect the Christian and Islamic and other such doctrines but I mostly don't respect those who "follow" the doctrine.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by morethanpretty

...but maybe I'll look it up some more.

Look up: bonobo chimps.

[morethanpretty]

I don't think that I could be fascinated enough with another animal to actually study its sexual activity. But then again I'm not into porn either perhaps thats somehow connected.

penis fencing.

makes me think of sword fencing....

[Flint]

Originally Posted by morethanpretty

"These people" though are NOT the religion and that has been my point.

I understand, and we disagree. As I said, I'm a realist, and I'm not discussing ideal religion but actual religion.

(IE what people are doing with religion is religion...)