Little confused about the whole politically correct business. Help?

Question

Apparently it's politically correct to accept people of other origins/races, sexual orientation, etc., yet it seems like religion is just the opposite. Why is it that all these other things are accepted with open arms, yet most religions are rapidly being put aside? And how is it concidered politically correct? Isn't the point to accept all people, no matter what?

Answer 1

Religions habit of hostility and history of bigotry might have something to do with its current state of disfavor.

Answer 2

Ah yes, Ash, but you miss the point. We, that is, religious types are the enemy. The politically correct business is all about breaking down religion. Therefore installing a new set of morals.
They don't want us to go away, they want us to be forced to change.

But, personally, I don't think that religions are not being put aside, in fact, they are getting stronger all the time. And the more the politically correct people push the stronger the reaction will be. Because they are in an uphill battle against millions upon millions and we have turned the other cheek to many times.

All you need do is look at some of the questions and answers in this R&S section to see what I mean. Their agenda is simple, no morals, no values, no God, therefore anything goes. All things are up for debate. And although they are the biggest name callers there ever were, they try to put that onto us. You know, racist, sexist, fundie, homophobe, rightwing nut cases, etc.

Do not back down.

Answer 3

First, of course everyone should respect each other regardless of their personal characteristics, beliefs, etc but this is the distinction you are missing.

When it comes to politics, you shouldn't make decisions based on the 'beliefs' of one particular group. You should be making decisions based on the good of the whole. Things like sexual orientation, gender, race, etc can not be chosen. Therefore policies and society should reflect the fact that these people are what they are and deserve the same treatment as everyone else. Just because you are male/female, homosexual, etc doesn't mean you should be under a different set of laws. Everyone is equal.

When it comes to religion, you start to get into the issue of beliefs, etc. One religion may feel a certain way about an issue and another religion may feel the exact opposite. For example, legalizing gay marriage. Why should one group of individuals (because of their religion) be able to dictate whether or not gays should be allowed to marry. Sexual orientation is not necessarily a choice and these individuals deserve the same rights as everyone else.

By removing religious context, you make decisions based on facts and the effects of the whole population. It is not being pushed aside. It is merely the only way to do things to respect ALL religions and beliefs.

I hope this makes sense. It does in my head but it's a hard topic to articulate.

Answer 4

First, people fail to accept these other characteristics, just as much as they fail to accept religion.

Second, there is a bit of friction regarding religion when it comes to the government due to the separation of church and state.

Third, the idea of political correctness is to make an attempt to acknowledge or accommodate the diversity in our nation. However, I do not think that we should accept all people "no matter what". There are certainly things that we should not tolerate, like racism, sexism, people who like to have sex with children, etc. We should not discriminate against people for characteristics or labels that don't actually make them any different than anyone else.

Answer 5

Because the bottom line has nothing to do with "political correctness". It has everything to do with pride.

Irrespective of an individual's talents, gifts, etc. there is always room for improvement. Sadly there are far too many who, rather than work toward that improvement, seek instead to denigrate others. Putting those others down to raise themselves up.

It is no longer acceptable social behavior to do this with regard to race, color, or sexual orientation; nor according to gender, weight or bank account; nor according to political ideology, addictive behaviors or much af anything else.

That leaves belittling and demeaning religious preferences and smoking as the only socially acceptable means of stepping on people in order to look taller or larger than you are.

Answer 6

I am definitely R.C and not P.C.
I believe that Political Correctness has taken the place of religion in many people's lives.
Increasing affluence and materialism just doesn't sit comfortably with the teachings of Christ does it?
So we ditch that religion and take up P.C. as a form of substitute behavior role where we can still be Mr Corporate and the slime bosses who trample over everyone so as to stay top of the heap and smugly believe that as our behavior is so 'Correct' and conforming we are by definition pillars of society.

Answer 7

It's all one big conspiracy. the eventual goal of political correctness is to make it illegal for fundamentalist Christians to tell people they are going to Hell if they do not repent of his/her sin accept Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Savior. Yes we a Christians are to accept everyone but also tell them about their sin. The sin part is what political correctness considers being judgemental. It is also a reason why there are so many Bibles. It is what I call the dumbzation of Christianity. With each new paraphrased Bible their is less and less about sin and more about just accept everyone and their beliefs. It means the end of this time is drawing nigh. If you can stick with a New King James or American Standard Bible.

Answer 8

Perhaps it is because the religions that are being "put aside" (if that's even the case) are based on institutions and belief systems that are discriminatory in and of themselves.

In other words, to be closed to closedness is to be open.

However, be careful here: there is a difference between intolerance of something and disagreement with something. I may express disagreement with much of Christian dogma, but I would never suggest that a Christian's rights be limited. Whether you choose to be a Christian, a Muslim, a Wiccan, or an atheist, you have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which means that no one can fire you from a job, for example, simply because you profess a certain faith. The same holds true of your race, your sex, and your sexual orientation. Christians don't have to like homosexuality, but they have no right to fire them or silence them purely on that basis.

Bear in mind that it is possible to be tolerant of other people's choice of religion while still rejecting certain intolerant aspects of that religion. For example, although I might argue against the homophobic tendencies and anti-Arab sentiments of certain right-wing funadmentalist Christians, I would not suggest that their choice to embrace Christianity be legally done away with.

Arguing vehemently against someone else's point of view is not the same thing as intolerance. Being told you're a racist bigot in a public forum such as this is not persecution. Be careful not to confuse disagreement with intolerance or insult with persecution. Insults may not be nice, but they in no way endanger your right to choose your own religion or express your own thoughts. After all, remember that people who disagree with you have a right to express their own thoughts, too!

The problem with political correctness is that it attempts to modify behavior by attacking speech and thought. In some cases, there is a direct connection between speech and behavior: we all know one or two rednecks who constantly use the "n" word and who wouldn't live next door to a black man if it was the last house on earth. And yet, there are also those who might genuinely respect people of color who say something once in a blue moon that might sound like a stereotype. It's understandable that ethnic minorities might be sensitive to any hint of a racial slur, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the person who misspeaks every once in a while is necessarily racist. (It doesn't mean they're not, either, however.) So although I think it's a good thing to try to avoid racial slurs simply because it's disrespectful of others, I do think we can take this sensitivity too far.

Likewise, although I despise the self-serving homophobia of some right-wing Christians, it doesn't make sense to hate all Christians simply because they're Christian. Now, if someone opens the debate on homosexuality and uses Leviticus to argue his point, then I will willingly tear him a new one by pointing out his hypocritically inconsistent application of Leviticus. But not all Christians take that nonsense literally, so I "tolerate" Christians up to the point where they cease to tolerate me (or others, such as homosexuals). Even then, I tolerate their choice to be a Christian; I simply disagree with a certain point in their belief system. After all, they're not the only ones whose first amendment rights are constitutionally guaranteed.

Answer 9

Your question is a little too ambiguous - what do you mean, exactly, when you say "most religions are rapidly being put aside"? What does that mean? Here in West Virginia, religion (Christianity mostly) is thriving!

Answer 10

Religion isnt first and formost about accepting the worlds beliefs and calling them good. Religion is first and formost about accepting GOD calling HIM good. Then we move on to people trying to share his truth with them in order to save them FROM their sins and worldly beleifs which God does NOT like or accept.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. -Romans 12:9

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. -2 Corinthians 10:5

Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. -James 4:4

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. -1 Corinthians 10:21

Answer 11

Yes, I believe the point is to accept all people, no matter what and that is certainly without a doubt what Jesus told us to do in the Gospels.