Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
"infuriating to God."
Oh, this is good:
Man Complains About Buddhas At KC Zoo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Zoo has received a complaint about Buddha statues in an Asian-themed area.
David Engle, of Overland Park, Kan., complained after visiting the zoo on Sunday. He said it's "phenomenal to me" that the zoo would put up two smiling statues of Buddha when "we can't have a cross or a nativity scene on public property."
Engle, who said he is Christian, called the statues idolatry and "infuriating to God."
Well, in spite of this idiot's motivation, he has a point: the separation of Church and state is a good thing. Except, of course, that Buddhism isn't really a religion in the same sense that Christianity is. And that the statues are not being used in a religious context, but a cultural one. And by his logic, the Zoo should pull out all animals which are considered sacred by any culture anywhere in the world. And, I suppose, all Oak trees, which are considered sacred by some druids. And besides that, the statues are not really Buddha - they're Hotei/Budai.
But Engle has a point. Doesn't he?
Jim Downey
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Buddhism isn't really a religion
Buddhism is very much a religion just like Christianity is and is far from harmless. Just because it isn't generally practiced as a religion in the US and Europe doesn't make it any less so. Go to a majority Buddhist country and you will find every use and abuse of it as a religion replicated just as with Christianity here. Sexual repression, cultural control, use as an in group, you name it the Buddhists do it and it has no place in a public display.
Not really
The Buddhas weren't placed in the Zoo to be venerated. Its unfortunate we can't use common sense on these kinds of matters, since the Christians are always looking for openings to use public funds and space to push their religion. His second point, is, of course, idiotic-there is no God to infuriate.
Boo. Duh.
Buddha strikes me as the equivalent of ... oh, Little Red Riding Hood, or Jack and the Beanstalk. I'd consider it charming to have statues of them in a zoo. They're meaningless fun.
If nothing else, the zoo should have Buddha statues simply to piss off idiots like this guy.
Five gets you ten the guy who made the complaint can't spell "Buddha." Or "atheist." And probably says new-kyu-lur.
David Engle is offended by Chinese Take Out
David Engle hates Kung Pao Chicken, too.
But Engle has a point. Doesn't he?
Yeah. It's on the top of his head.
He does
Haha. In his own roundabout way, he does. So are governments to allow nativity-scenes-in-a-cultural-context? Or would they shove everything down that slippery slope. This is interesting.