Bumble Bee Tuna

Something that has always, albeit potentially baselessly, bothered me, is the use of the title "Reverend" for clergymen.

I am operating under the assumption that "Reverend" essentially means "Revered Person", or is based on the word "Revere".

I certainly do not revere Reverends. I despise them. So I certainly won't put up with calling them revered.

Am I correct in my assumption? And does anyone else here join me in just saying "Jerry Falwell" or any other minister's name without the inappropriate title?

-B

sakrilege

And why does the term the right reverend have vague meaning??

Or was I dreaming something?

Strawberry

My dad (who is a minister, but doesn't go by Rev., and has a doctorate in music, but seems to no longer go by Dr. as much now that he isn't teaching anymore) always laughed about someone he used to know who also had 2 degrees and so went by the title "Reverend Doctor." Now that's pretentious.

beyelzu

bumble bee tuna, you make a great point. i hadnt really thought of that before. but now that you mention it, it does bother the hell out of me. and i plan to drop such titles when i speak about those people in the future.

Shake

You mean like Jesse Jackson? Isn't there some other title that could be used? Obviously the Catholic Church has some: Cardinal, Bishop, etc. I always referred to the minister at my parents' church as Pastor (insert last name).

Bumble Bee Tuna

well I almost am tempted to completely reverse it. If they are going to try to impose calling their people revered on me, is there any word I can use as a title to show how much I hate them?

The Hated Jesse Jackson?

I need a word that isn't actually an english word, but is obviously based on some negative word.

-B

The Other Michael

Rev. could also stand for "reviled".

cheers,
Michael