If You Can't Say Something Nice...

I have never seen anything good come from snarky comments that undermine the belief systems or religion of another group. And I especially am bothered when people claim (or flippantly imply) that a certain group/person is "annoying," based on their belief system or the way that a group/person chooses to act (when such actions are somehow informed by a belief system). These people who complain that other religions are "annoying" could very well be undermining the belief system or ethics which they (the annoyed people) widely claim to uphold. It seems ironic and sad to me.

People! If you are annoyed by a certain group or belief system, can't you keep it to yourself? Does it do any good to complain or be snarky about it? Even if you oppose some of the political or ideological stances of a certain group, I can think of better ways to go about promoting your own agenda than complaining about, belittling, or attacking other people. When I notice people complaining about religion or a belief system, it seems to me that these complainers basically want to view themselves as being superior to the other group. And, in turn, these complaints seem to only function as a cry for validation or affirmation of such superiority. Do we really need to find superiority through the belittlement of others?

I don't think that religions and belief systems are things that should be flippantly described as "annoying" or "irritating." These systems are the things which give meaning and reason to a person's existence. Attacking such fundamental, personal aspects of a person's life seems heartless, especially if goal of the attack is self-aggrandizement.

Okay. It is ironic that I am complaining about people who complain. I get that. But this is an issue which is quite sensitive for me (for a myriad of reasons), and I find myself getting defensive and saddened when I read/hear such flippant remarks. And I don't just get defensive for myself. I get defensive and saddened on behalf my family/friends/neighbors/anyone who is the butt of such a joke or flippant remark.