on Oct 2nd, 2008Religiously coexisting
Have you ever seen a car with this bumper sticker on it? It has several religious symbols on there. There are several variations of this sticker, most now copyrighted and owned by Coexist LLC. Kind of interesting.
After I thought about it I thought, "Hey, coexist just means getting along, right? No problems."
Here is what Dictionary.com defines "coexist" as:
co·ex·ist –verb (used without object)
1. to exist together or at the same time.
2. to exist separately or independently but peaceably, often while remaining rivals or adversaries: Although their ideologies differ greatly, the two great powers must coexist.
Hey, that sounds reasonable! Sure, I can get along with Pagans, no problem. I can agree with the Peace symbol. The ‘e’ with the male and female symbol means, according to the designer, that it’s coexistence between man and women. I can agree with that also.
However, I’ve read around about what others feel this (and similar designs) mean and I have to say, I’m frustrated. Annoyed even. A majority of people talk about "Yeah, this will shut those Christians up" and so on. So this sticker really isn’t about religions playing nice, discussing differences and so on. It’s about shutting the conversation down period. Particularly - especially - Christianity. According to forums there are so many people who sport this to spite their local Christian (or at least church) populace.
It always makes me laugh. These same people will, in one breath, scream about freedom of speech and rights to say what they want, when they want. However, you say anything contrary than you’re a hater. They can slander a Christian to the ends of the earth, but the second you disagree with anything they say or do you are marked. I’m not talking about anything in particular, just general.
So, do people really want to ‘coexist’ or are they just out to silence people? It seems to me they’re trying to keep all us religious wackos in place so they don’t have to worry about any moral standards and so whatever the flip they want.
| Matthew 5:11-12“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” |
Actually, another interesting thing about that is the fact that the Constitution does NOT protect the freedom of speech within that context. The ONLY type of speech that it makes refernce to is the freedom to speak politically. So, like so many scriptural misquotes, ‘freedom of speach’ is abused and does not exist as we know it.
I didn’t realize that people thought that coexisting meant shutting up the Christians… How rude! Unfortunately, it’s like you said– as soon as you speak up you’re a marked individual– which is totally ridiculous. No one cares if you’re pagan or Buddhist or whatever, but if you’re a Christian, somehow that makes you inferior? WTF, mate?! People are just so ignorant about what Christianity is really about; they only get little snippets of the big picture & think that they understand it all, when really they don’t have a clue and they’re just jumping to erroneous conclusions. But does that stop them from running their mouths? Heck no! *le sigh* They really ought to shut-up themselves if they don’t know what they’re talking about and want to be accepted… Coexist already instead of fighting– i.e. shut your big mouth & at least pretend to get along!
PS: And kudos to Linnea. She’s spot on.
i wish we will all get along, but not all are like the” These same people will, in one breath, scream about freedom of speech and rights to say what they want, when they want. However, you say anything contrary than you’re a hater.” that , tadd. most are nice individuals, it just those couple from ever religion that ruin it. that happen to be up somewhere in their religious chain.
Wow, Tadd. I saw this bumper sticker and loved it because it was about NOT singling out one religion or group as better than another. The call was for everyone to COEXIST peacefully and you turned it into some Christian-bashing thing. That is a stretch.
@BJ: I agree completely. I’m not exactly the type to not share my beliefs and try and convince people of my ways .. heck, if I didn’t think it was the right way (or at least somewhat right!) then I wouldn’t believe in it … which I think has something to do with coexisting. Sharing our ideas, thoughts, beliefs, etc. But when it becomes a way to keep down certain groups - then it’s nothing but a farce.