Biff the unclean

Is it actually possible that these roving Christian accosters of blind women think that they are doing any good? How can they never notice that infirmities aren't cured by chanting magic words? Surely manners alone should prevent them from doing mean things like that

Doctor X

It is unfortunate that some find their history "off-topic." Should they spend some time with it, they may learn of its relevance.

Nevertheless, to pick up on the professor who is challenging, in a sense, a law that requires swearing to a deity, this is an example of adherents trying to keep the state sanctified assumption that one exists. This keeps alive the idea that belief is "normal" and lack of belief is a minority and--therefore--"abnormal" belief.

Hence . . . the attempt to put a very religious monument in a court house. It is perhaps natural to want some objective "proof" one's faith. State-sponsorship suggests that evidence.

Regarding the need to "heal"--you have to wonder how anyone could believe this. However, the blame is always on the victim. If the "touch" does not heal:

1. The blind did not have enough faith.
2. God has a greater plan.
3. Insert an excuse here.

Like an astrologer and other charlatans, every "hit" is remembered and the thousands of "misses" become quickly forgotten.

The ability of people to delude themselves--"unconsciously"--is amazing. Some can have a specific syndrome where they are blind and do not know they are blind--they confabulate--make up sight without realizing it. More to point, some can believe they can do things they cannot. I think James Randi's The Faith Healers has people who thought they could see . . . they actually could not. The wonderful Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science by Martin Gardner discusses quack "cures" for failing eyesight--people SWORE they could see better.

I, myself, suffered from this. I began to realize that I needed a new prescription. I had it done, but the idiots actually miss-filled it with a WORSE prescription then I had before.

Yet, I was amazed at how much better I could see . . . until reality settled in that week! I went to another place to test the perscription and found out I was official "Blind/Bat."

--J.D.

bdshort

So what did you say?

Defiant Heretic

Stop that. It was funny the first few times, but take it easy.

Rational BAC

{Off topic material deleted}

If you have a question about where such material might be appropriate, there is always the PM feature. When I said no more off topic discussions, I meant exactly that.

brighid

crisisgirl,

Those experiences sound absolutely awful. There are times where I think I had bad parents growing up, and then I read a story like yours and I think that I didn't have quite as bad.

I might suggest learning some self-defense. I have watched a blind man perform at several martial arts events and it is quite amazing. Also, I don't think anyone would site a blindwoman for putting some stranger in a wrist or arm lock from "laying hands" on her! "Excuse me sir, but please take your hands off me." "But ma'am I just want to heal ya eyes." "I am not interested in your healing and if you do not remove your hand I will remove it for you." Evangelical is doubtful and laughs ... Crisisgirl quickly grabs fellows hand, twists it appropriately and man falls to his knees in painful submission and Crisisgirl says, "This is my very own, special 'laying on of hands' to help cure you of your rude and unwanted behavior. Hopefully this teaches you some manners" and walks away smiling and tapping her cane.

Okay, yes ... I am evil, but accosting a blindwoman in an attempt to heal her (what do they really think they have magical powers?) is the height of arrogance and I wish every person would meet these type of predatory individuals with the contempt they deserve after polite discourse is not respected. NO means NO damnit!

Brighid

Jimmy Higgins

I like to remark on the things we agree on, not our differences.

Doctor X

bdshort:

Well . . . hard to condense it all . . . basically, I started discussing biblical criticism--demonstrating how they misinterpreted the texts, how the Synoptics and Jn deny salvation to good people, YHWH squishing innocents . . . all of that stuff . . . he particularly lost it when I demonstrated that "born again" is a mistranslation which should be "born from above" which implies inherent salvation that one can never attain if he is not "born from above" no matter how much he wants it! Et cetera . . . et cetera. . . .

Defiant Heretic:

Fortunately, no one has to rely on you as a standard of taste.

If humor so distempers your entrails might I suggest a wonderful innovation called Ignore?

Brighid:

Indeed. You remind me of a Mike Ryoko article in which he comments on an incident where, in New York, a young man knifed an old Jewish man. The man cried for help and 20+ old Jewish men appeared and beat the "yute" into a hospital. Ryoko noted that the "same city that watched Kitty Genovese" get raped and murdered decried this "vigilante justice." He concluded his article with the opinion: "If you take a knife to an old Jewish man, you take your life in your own hands."

Rational BAC:

Mind him not. Those who do not learn their history are doomed to repeat their mistakes, to paraphrase Santayana.

And like that! . . . He's gone!

--J.D.