The arrogance of theists

[Darwinian]

Listening to the radio this morning I was struck by a news item about a Catholic couple who had been refused travel expenses to be able to send their 11 year old son to a Catholic School several miles from their home rather than the secular school he was currently attending.

Their argument was that because they were good (sic) Catholics and they had brought their son up the same way, they had the right to send him to the appropriate school and the council should help financially.

Because the council said no, they accused them of penalising their son because of his faith! What really struck me about this story was the sheer arrogance of this couple assuming that because they happen to subscribe to some belief or other it automatically entitles them to preferential treatment by the rest of society.

If I had wanted to send my children to secular schools the last thing I would have expected is a hand-out from the local council to assist in this. Why is it then the faithful (not all) seem to think that because of their belief they have an automatic right to special treatment and somehow be lifted above the rest of society as if they are better and their needs more important?

And what is it about society that tends to make it roll over and give in to these demands when religion is the root rather than any other aspect of a persons life. Luckily, in this case, the council saw sense but there have been many example where all people have to do is plead religious rights and authorities cave in.

Makes me sick!

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

What really struck me about this story was the sheer arrogance of this couple assuming that because they happen to subscribe to some belief or other it automatically entitles them to preferential treatment by the rest of society.

Quite right too.

Today's kids are spoilt rotten.

He's ELEVEN? "Several miles"? What's wrong with buying the lazy little bastard a bike?

(I really did ride a bike "several miles" to the Catholic school I attended from, age 11.)

[leo-rcc]

Well some parts of the UK I wouldn't even dream of getting on a bicycle. I'd be run over within a mile.

But I see no reason for the government to give money to that familiy because they want their kid in a different school. You want the kid there? Bring the kid there. No one is stopping you from attending.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Well some parts of the UK I wouldn't even dream of getting on a bicycle. I'd be run over within a mile

.

Yes I know.I don't understand what you're getting at.

[Kyuuketsuki]

He's ELEVEN? "Several miles"? What's wrong with buying the lazy little bastard a bike? (I really did ride a bike "several miles" to the Catholic school I attended from, age 11.)

Aye ... kids don't know they're born today, when I were young I lived in shoe box in middle't street!

Seriously though ... all of my schools were a fair distance from me.

My primary school was about 3 miles away, I walked to it.
My secondary was about 5 miles away and I either biked or caught a bus to it.

Both were Catholic ... is that irony?

Kyu

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Aye ... kids don't know they're born today, when I were young I lived in shoe box in middle't street!

A shoe box? Bloomin' looxury!

We lived in't wagon rut.We ate coal found on't railway tracks,or a rat au van* as a special Christmas treat. Ma would show us a picture of a roast chicken she stole from the debtor's prison just before being evicted for non payment of rent.


*that's a rat which has been run over by a van.

PS: My childhood was quite idyllic compared with my time in't army which was a little harsh.. (I was killed, twice)

[socialchameleon]

Things like this make my blood boil, down right arrogance at its worst!

I feel hard done by that I fall in a "Steeple" area of a local church and that by UK Law, if that steeple requires renovation or fixing I am obliged to help with the costs!! How f*ckin mad is that!!

Although I don't expect such an event to occur I might try to plead Atheism as a form of defense to avoid paying for something I don't have an affiliation with, in a similar manner to those Catholic parents.

How far do you think that will go?

Do you think if I was Muslim I would be forced to pay to fix a Christian Church Steeple?

[Violet]

Go with the muslim theory. They'll be scared to offend you because of a possible religious war. Course, they will also track all of your calls and messages.

[chatpilot]

The U.S. does lots of ass kissing for Christian organizations here.They seem to have alot of power because they are a majority group and if you want to be elected another term you better bend over and take it up the tail pipe.Although,this country is so hypocritical.The so called separation of church and state in our constitution is only valid on paper the reality of it all is a different story altogether.

[Violet]

It is difficult to teach someone who thinks they know everything... Having a religiously based society (like America) prevents children from learning as fast... or as well. This is because they become arrogant in their baseless certainty... and in their arrogance: they deny logic and truth.