"If their god is God, why do they feel it necessary to defend the Creator From Neil deGrasse Tyson?"

[kpete]

"If their god is God (as Yul Brynner might say), why do they feel it necessary to defend the Creator of the Universe from Neil deGrasse Tyson? Presumably, God is perfectly capable of taking care of himself, and is even less threatened by what Darwin Tyson thinks than Jefferson would be. Unless (as you guessed), it's not God who is threatened." http://digbysblog.blogspot.ca/

I'm sure lots of us have noted this odd notion and behavior from those on the christian right (or with fundamentalists in other faith groups). God, being all powerful, all good and all-knowing isn't going to be wounded by what some guy in Poukeepsie says about Him. His Plan isn't going to go down in flames because there's a non-believer in Saskatchewan.

So why do so many fundamentalists get so worked up about what they see as slights or lack of "proper" deference to Him? He can take care of Himself. Obviously.

What's going on here is something else. It is the attempt to control other peoples' behavior and to constrain their speech and their ideas in order to enforce a particular consensus. It isn't about God. It's about coercion.


way more:
http://digbysblog.blogspot.ca/

[Frustratedlady]

1. I know of two people who spend mega time defending God and their beliefs.

I figure that they must not be secure in their beliefs. I also become agitated when they pray to God for financial gain so they can afford to replace a car or go on an expensive trip to Israel, for instance. I figure that God has enough to do without filling their pockets with gold... AND, anyone spending that kind of money to go to Israel at this point in time needs more than money to get them there.

Unfortunately, both have lost their senses since Obama took office. They believe all that FOX tells them, as well as Drudge, Breitbart and Rush. These used to be fairly intelligent women, but they are warped zombies and need to be de-programmed. I've given up trying.

[starroute]

2. That concept of god was originally based on Mideast despots

The kind that were all-powerful, that you couldn't even approach without crawling on your belly, and that would wipe out your entire village if you looked at them funny.

There have been a lot of people since then who have known better, but that particular concept got baked in very early and is still a dead weight on the monotheistic religions.

[Iggo]

3. Fear.

Fear of being ostracized.
Fear of being wrong.
Fear of death.
Fear of insignificance.

[lame54]

4. Because he interferes with their message...

of ignorance

[Adrahil]

5. Deep in their hearts, most believers don't believe, in my experience. n/t

[Orsino]

6. They don't.

They simply wish people would bow to their god more, and listen to Tyson less. They know all too well that a persuadive speaker or author can persuade people of almost anything, particularly when the gods are silent.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

7. GOD,

protect me from your followers!

[bemildred]

8. That is what always bothered me about militant religion.

What sort of omnipotent, omniscient deity is it that needs me to defend it?

[madokie]

9. I had one of the fundies tell me

that he believed so he would have all bases covered. I said in that case you don't really believe so therefore I'll see you in hell I laughed he didn't