Ever been startled by someone's vehement religion-inspired opposition to something you regarded as relatively harmless?
Some years back, I sat on a Committee for Recognizing Diversity. We planned an event to celebrate ethnic diversity by encouraging people to wear ethnic garments or accessories on a particular day. We offered a prize draw and some other perks. We called it "Ethnic Dress Day". I asked a very devout colleague if he was going to participate. When he said no, I made the mistake of asking why not. He treated me to a bible-quoting rant about the evils of men wearing dresses. Pointing out that, in this context, dress was just a synonym for garb, gave him an excuse to prolong the rant and quote more passages from the bible. (Back away slowly from the crazy guy.)
Why am I remembering this? Well, apparently May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia and I'm proud to say that my union supports this. [unifor.org]
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.The only time I was truly surprised was when I was debating a YEC guy and made an offhand comment that we one day might discover life on other worlds. He went absolutely ballistic over it. Up to then I hadn't realized how invested Young Earth Creationists are in god having created life solely on Earth. Which is an odd position anyway as there's nothing in the Bible saying that or really against god having created life elsewhere or everywhere. It's similar, I guess, to how the Roman Catholic Church was invested in heliocentrism despite the Bible's cosmology having nothing to do with either that or the Copernican system.
mordant
Level 8
May 10, 2018
2
That's a good one. I would have been taken by surprise, too.
Yea, there was a lot of reading, but I finally made it.
AstralSmoke
Level 8
May 10, 2018
1
Some days, I'm just chattier than other days - kinda depends on how much caffeine I've had 
@pixiedust I think the limit is a pot.
@AstralSmoke What size? I have a 20 cupper at home.
@pixiedust wow, expecting guests?
@AstralSmoke Wanna join us? I use it for club events.
@pixiedust Definitely
If your colleague really believes in the Bible, point out the following verses to him:
Deuteronomy 22:11
Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.
Ecclesiastes 9:8
Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.
Deuteronomy 22:12
You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself.
Heraclitus
Level 8
May 10, 2018
1
Thank you. These are good rebuttals. That colleague retired.
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