One Big Happy by Rick Detorie for August 31, 2010

Awe Ruthie. I’m adult and my mom who is very much alive works both of us.

Ruthie and her mom have a great relationship. :)

From yesterday (I don’t usually postdate discussions, and I promise I’ll try not to do it again):

mrprongs said, about 12 hours ago:

Sorry Ruthie, but your faith decrees that since Suzette never accepted jesus as he lord and savior, she’s burning in Hell right now.

If you’re going to snark at someone’s religious beliefs, at least try not to embarrass yourself with absurdities. Christianity has never, in any of its variations, taught that salvation concerns plant life. A tree can’t choose, by free will, to disobey God (it can’t even shoo away a passing dog, after all); which means, by definition, it can’t sin; which means it doesn’t need saving.

Being ignorant and mean-spirited are not a flattering combination.

I didn’t see it as mean spirited, just a misguided attempt to be a bit of a pedant, by someone who doesn’t really understand the concept of sin. I thought about commenting but didn’t want to start a debate.

So ignorant, yes. Mean spirited, maybe not.

Before anyone get insulted, there is nothing wrong with being ignorant, only with choosing to stay that way.

I would think mrprongs isn’t generally ignorant…and probably could share information on subjects of which I know little but would appreciate learning from his/her perspective..

It is troublesome for me to attach at”label” to anyone so I try not to do this because it could hurt.

This little comic has a gentleness about it I like.

We are all ignorant in some matters, no matter how much know.

I didn’t attach a label of general ignorance, just in the one subject. And it is a difficult subject.

Don’t try to attach a derogatory meaning to the word. I suppose we could have used ‘uninformed’, but it means exactly the same thing.

–adjective 1. lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man. 2. lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact: ignorant of quantum physics. 3. uninformed; unaware. 4. due to or showing lack of knowledge or training: an ignorant statement.

I, myself, know quite a bit about a few things; I know something about rather more things; and I’m utterly ignorant of the vast majority of things. Being ignorant doesn’t bother me, unless I want to express an opinion – then I either learn enough to be entitled to an opinion, or I keep my peace. In any case, I’m okay with being called ignorant when it applies…fair is fair.

That being said, I think I’ll pass on apologizing to mrprongs for what I posted. I’m sorry if he took offense, of course, but consider what he said. Either he’s genuinely ignorant of what Christianity teaches, but chose to make a joke about something that other people care deeply about anyway, which was certainly ill-considered and unavoidably rude. Alternatively, he knows what Christianity teaches, and chose to misrepresent it in a deliberately insulting way. I have to add that he also chose to mock the naive faith of a child with a remark that, had he said it to an actual child’s face, would have been unspeakably cruel.

So I’ll stick with “ignorant and mean-spirited”. All things considered, I think those were charitable words. If you think I’m wrong, I’d be happy to be corrected, and I’ll apologize then.

Hi, theBird55 I agree with your statement ” that we are all ignorant in some matters, no matter how much we know.” Nor do I believe you were handing out labels in this case.

Communication, especially when we cannot “see” the other person or hear the voice is made more difficult. (sigh)

Maybe it is best for me to refrain from further comments of this type and follow your thoughts about “not wanting to start a debate.” No offense meant to be given; None taken.

I know what you mean. I hope you didn’t read any harsh tones in my post, because they certainly weren’t intended. I was just trying to clarify my previous statement.

Actually, my original post was about a conscious choice, on my part, to believe it was ignorance, as opposed to malice. Rose colored glasses and all that.

: )