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Christian Privilege
posted to Current Events & Hot Topics
in Current Events & Hot Topics
on Nov. 5, 2009 at 10:30 PM
- 170 Replies
- 2154 Total Views
1. It is likely that state and federal holidays coincide with my religious practices, thereby having little to no impact on my job and/or education.
2. I can talk openly about my religious practices without concern for how it will be received by others.
3. I can be sure to hear music on the radio and watch specials on television that celebrate the holidays of my religion.
4. When told about the history of civilization, I am can be sure that I am shown people of my religion made it what it is.
5. I can worry about religious privilege without being perceived as “self-interested” or “self-seeking.”
6. I can have a “Jesus is Lord” bumper sticker or Icthus (Christian Fish) on my car and not worry about someone vandalizing my car because of it.
7. I can share my holiday greetings without being fully conscious of how it may impact those who do not celebrate the same holidays. Also, I can be sure that people are knowledgeable about the holidays of my religion and will greet me with the appropriate holiday greeting (e.g., Merry Christmas, Happy Easter, etc.).
8. I can probably assume that there is a universality of religious experience.
9. I can deny Christian Privilege by asserting that all religions are essentially the same.
10. I probably do not need to learn the religious or spiritual customs of others, and I am likely not penalized for not knowing them.
11. I am probably unencumbered by having to explain why I am or am not doing things related to my religious norms on a daily basis.
12. I am likely not judged by the improper actions of others in my religious group.
13. If I wish, I can usually or exclusively be among those from my religious group most of the time (in work, school, or at home).
14. I can assume that my safety, or the safety of my family, will not be put in jeopardy by disclosing my religion to others at work or at school.
15. It is likely that mass media represents my religion widely AND positively.
16. It is likely that I can find items to buy that represent my religious norms and holidays with relative ease (e.g., food, decorations, greeting cards, etc.).
17. I can speak or write about my religion, and even critique other religions, and have these perspectives listened to and published with relative ease and without much fear of reprisal.
18. I could write an article on Christian Privilege without putting my own religion on trial.
19. I can travel without others assuming that I put them at risk because of my religion; nor will my religion put me at risk from others when I travel.
20. I can be financially successful without the assumption from others that this success is connected to my religion.
21. I can protect myself (and my children) from people who may not like me (or them) based on my religion.
22. Law enforcement officials will likely assume I am a non-threatening person if my religion is disclosed to them. In fact, disclosure may actually help law enforcement officials perceive me as being “in the right” or “unbiased."
23. I can safely assume that any authority figure will generally be someone of my religion.
24. I can talk about my religion, even proselytize, and be characterized as “sharing the word,” instead of imposing my ideas on others.
25. I can be gentle and affirming to people without being characterized as an exception to my religion.
26. I am never asked to speak on behalf of all Christians.
27. My citizenship and immigration status will likely not be questioned, and my background will likely not be investigated, because of my religion.
28. My place of worship is probably not targeted for violence because of sentiment against my religion.
29. I can be sure that my religion will not work against me when seeking medical or legal help.
30. My religion will not cause teachers to pigeonhole me into certain professions based of the assumed "prowess" of my religious group.
31. I will not have my children taken from me from governmental authorities who are aware of my religious affiliation.
32. Disclosure of my religion to an adoption agency will likely not prevent me from being able to adopt children.
33. If I wish to give my children a parochial religious education, I probably have a variety of options nearby.
34. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence and importance of my religion.
35. I can be sure that when someone in the media is referring to G-d, they are referring to my (Christian) G-d.
36. I can easily find academic courses and institutions that give attention only to people of my religion.
37. My religious holidays are so completely “normal” that, in many ways, they may appear to no longer have any religious significance at all.
38. The elected and unelected officials of my government probably are members of my religious group.
39. When swearing an oath, I am probably making this oath by placing my hand on the scripture of my religion.
40. I can openly display my religious symbol (s) on my person or property without fear of disapproval, violence, and/or vandalism.
This is a blog I found on a liberal site so is probably biased.
Do you agree that Christians have an advantage in the US?
Church of The Invisible Pink Unicorn (blessed be her holy hooves)
Replies:
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- by on Nov. 5, 2009 at 10:53 PM
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Lol...I just came over to check out the posts, after having typed a reply to a thread in one of my (supposedly) inclusive homeschooling groups.
I say "supposedly" b/c although that is their stated intent, the content of the vast majority of messages would easily lead one to believe otherwise.
Take, for example, the one I replied to that mom posted saying to "try to bring your unsaved friends" to some sort of gatherings that purport to train ppl in how to "answer back" to ppl who accept the theory of evolution.
I am almost glad I did not skip over this thread, b/c lo and behold - one of the moms of a faith other than Christianity, as well as another couple other moms (at least one of whom was a Christian who stated that this did not restrict her in accepting scientific evidence, lol) replied with comments pointing out the alienation, feelings of disenfranchisement and lack of being included posts like this convey.
The majority of anything almost always feels completely free in exercising their entitlement, and are almost always blind to it as well. The minority is best served by polite but firm, and very consistent speaking up.
"I'll fight for a person's right to speak so long as that person will, in return, fight to allow me to challenge their opinions and ridicule them as the content of their ideas merit."
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- by on Nov. 5, 2009 at 11:02 PM
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Heather
The Witchy Momma
Rise up this morning, smile at the rising sun; Three little birds, pitch by my doorstep; Singing sweet songs, a melody pure and true; Singing, this is my message to you-ou-ou; Singing Don't worry, about a thing; Cause every little thing is gonna be alright.
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- by on Nov. 5, 2009 at 11:16 PM
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I agree so much with these. Christians really think that because not everyone in the country says "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays" that there's a f***ing war on Christmas? Or that because teachers don't lead students in mandated Christian prayers that they're persecuted and God is being kicked out of schools? Delusional fuckwits, all of 'em. They're so used to being almost the only religion in the country that they just can't deal with the fact that now, they're only one of many. They aren't persecuted, they're just whiny.
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- by on Nov. 5, 2009 at 11:32 PM
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They aren't persecuted, they're just whiny.
Ding! Ding! Ding!!
As only the perceived-to-be-slighted, entitled can be...
"I'll fight for a person's right to speak so long as that person will, in return, fight to allow me to challenge their opinions and ridicule them as the content of their ideas merit."
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- by on Nov. 5, 2009 at 11:38 PM
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I call bullshit on a good deal of these.Can't talk openly about Christianity can't say Merry Christmas there is no longer any mention of god in our schools in any form.I have also seen bumper stickers torn off or damaged and not from age.I also had to start 2yrs ago sending holiday cards instead of Merry christmas card.I do know the some of the practices of other religions and cultures.I have never assumed I'm safe at home because I'm Christian or had any special favors from anyone either. I do not care about the religion of people who made history though I may know it it does not change what they did or what I think of there acomplishments.I think this post is to try to get Christians good and pissed and to see if you can get them to admit some kind of wrong. I am no angel but I don't go around preaching at people to become a Christian I don't think I am better than someone else because I am Christian and I don't think I am entitled to anything different.1 more thing I don't go around bashing other religions .
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- by on Nov. 5, 2009 at 11:43 PM
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"I'll fight for a person's right to speak so long as that person will, in return, fight to allow me to challenge their opinions and ridicule them as the content of their ideas merit."
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- by on Nov. 5, 2009 at 11:46 PM
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Quoting cowgirlsr2:
I call bullshit on a good deal of these.Can't talk openly about Christianity can't say Merry Christmas there is no longer any mention of god in our schools in any form.I have also seen bumper stickers torn off or damaged and not from age.I also had to start 2yrs ago sending holiday cards instead of Merry christmas card.I do know the some of the practices of other religions and cultures.I have never assumed I'm safe at home because I'm Christian or had any special favors from anyone either. I do not care about the religion of people who made history though I may know it it does not change what they did or what I think of there acomplishments.I think this post is to try to get Christians good and pissed and to see if you can get them to admit some kind of wrong. I am no angel but I don't go around preaching at people to become a Christian I don't think I am better than someone else because I am Christian and I don't think I am entitled to anything different.1 more thing I don't go around bashing other religions .
Who said you can't say Merry Christmas? Did some law pass that I missed? I know that sometimes employers tell their employees to say Happy Holidays to their customers since they probably serve people of all faiths.
Why does any god need to be mentioned in public schools? Students can pray, hell even teachers can pray they just can't have a staff lead prayer.
Again, what law was passed to outlaw Christmas cards?
I agree that Christians have been targeted as far as bumper stickers and such, as have other beliefs.
Why are you taking this so personally? I'm not trying to piss anyone off I just saw the post about the Home Depot employee who claims he was fired due to his religion. It mentioned Christian Privilege and I recalled this blog I had read awhile so thought I would post it for discussion.
Church of The Invisible Pink Unicorn (blessed be her holy hooves)
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- by on Nov. 5, 2009 at 11:59 PM
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Heather
The Witchy MommaRise up this morning, smile at the rising sun; Three little birds, pitch by my doorstep; Singing sweet songs, a melody pure and true; Singing, this is my message to you-ou-ou; Singing Don't worry, about a thing; Cause every little thing is gonna be alright.
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- by on Nov. 6, 2009 at 12:22 AM
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Quoting Friday:
Quoting cowgirlsr2:
I call bullshit on a good deal of these.Can't talk openly about Christianity can't say Merry Christmas there is no longer any mention of god in our schools in any form.I have also seen bumper stickers torn off or damaged and not from age.I also had to start 2yrs ago sending holiday cards instead of Merry christmas card.I do know the some of the practices of other religions and cultures.I have never assumed I'm safe at home because I'm Christian or had any special favors from anyone either. I do not care about the religion of people who made history though I may know it it does not change what they did or what I think of there acomplishments.I think this post is to try to get Christians good and pissed and to see if you can get them to admit some kind of wrong. I am no angel but I don't go around preaching at people to become a Christian I don't think I am better than someone else because I am Christian and I don't think I am entitled to anything different.1 more thing I don't go around bashing other religions .
Who said you can't say Merry Christmas? Did some law pass that I missed? I know that sometimes employers tell their employees to say Happy Holidays to their customers since they probably serve people of all faiths.Well I guess when they put a whole week of political correctness on the local news and then some other stories on Nightline about using Happy Holidays instead I thought I would be considerate.Though it seems some don't care to be in return.
Why does any god need to be mentioned in public schools? Students can pray, hell even teachers can pray they just can't have a staff lead prayer.You know what's really sad about taking god completely out of schools the Christmas pageants. We no longer have them here .They can't come up with enough appropriate songs to do it anymore. How freakin sad.
Again, what law was passed to outlaw Christmas cards?Once again going with the politically correct don't offend.
I agree that Christians have been targeted as far as bumper stickers and such, as have other beliefs.
Why are you taking this so personally? I'm not trying to piss anyone off I just saw the post about the Home Depot employee who claims he was fired due to his religion. It mentioned Christian Privilege and I recalled this blog I had read awhile so thought I would post it for discussion.I will tell you why 1st most of you can't wipe the signs of Christianity away fast enough and 2nd alot of moms in here make us look like Aggressive bible thumping pushy know it alls who think we are perfect and deserve to be treated better than the rest. This is so far from true. I'm not saying there may be some out there .I have not had the privilege of running into them. The Christians I know are proud of there religion but they don't push it on others they use it to help others.I have never seen one of them who thought they deserved anything they didn't earn.I have never met one who would not tell you some stories about there wild n crazy days.
But I have meet with plenty lately who are upset that the thigs they grew up with are being stripped away like we are demons that have to be removed from society .Christians have done just as much for Americans as any other group or organization and to the older ones it feels like a huge F you in return now.Everyone is so busy worrying about political correctness they never take the time to think what it feels like they just don't care.I do have to say there is 1 religious symbol I see almost everywhere and I haven't heard 1 peep about it I guess that's because no one wants to take them on.
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