christians have a word for those who believe. it's called saved. those who don't believe are damned. the muslims have a word as well for non-believers. it's called infidel. both these words have a negative meaning associated with them. yet for some reason they are not considered rude. however, i have a term for people who don't believe the way i do on matters of religion. the word is "stupid". it's a simple word and makes no outlandish claim as to what happens to you after you die. so why is that word considered so rude to use? is it any more obscene than telling someone they're going to burn for all eternity?
2007-09-18 08:12:42 · 8 answers · asked by just curious (A.A.A.A.) 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
inspector, i didn't say i was just. and i'm not going to call everyone stupid. i reserve the use of that word for people who get in my face with their stupid religious claims.
2007-09-18 08:25:21 · update #1
example: someone comes up to me and says, "accept jesus and you will be saved, if not you are damned!!!"
to which i reply, "that's stupid, stupid!!!"
2007-09-18 08:26:49 · update #2
I'll be damned, that's hellishly brilliant!
2007-09-18 08:20:24 · answer #1 · answered by neil s 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They ARE rude and I am in complete agreement. I use the word 'stupid' all the time. I am actually less offended when someone calls me stupid than those other things. I am not stupid, so why should it offend me? To call someone damned or an infidel within someone's belief structure inherently puts it beyond redress, and is thus is very insulting.
In the words of Cartman on South Park "The only way to fight hate is with more hate"
Sad, but true in this case I think.
2007-09-18 15:46:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing wrong with calling people stupid, other than it makes you sound like a third grader on a playground arguing over who gets to use the swing next.
The thing is we use labels in order to facilitate communication. If a Muslim calls you an infidel, he does so because it takes less time than calling you a person who rejects the teaching of the Prophet and will therefore, if he understands Allah correctly, face everlasting torment. If a Christian calls you damned, it is because it is faster than referring to you as one of the many who have rejected the teaching of Christ and are therefore, according to what he believes to be sound theology, condemned to eternal suffering and seperation from the presence of God Almighty. When you call someone stupid, it stands to reason that ityou do it because it is faster and easier than formulating some kind of rational response to what they have to say.
So is it obscene? No. But it is lazy.
2007-09-18 15:42:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Is it offensive when you apply it to people who do *not* believe that you will burn in hell for eternity? You indiscriminately apply the word "stupid" to people who do not call you "damned" or "infidel," who do not believe that you will burn in hell, and who wish you no ill-will whatsoever. Is that just, in your opinion?
2007-09-18 15:21:25 · answer #4 · answered by NONAME 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
6. Slang. excellent; terrific.
careful the words you choose :o)
seriously, though, stupid is more of an insult no matter how you use it or in what context.
2007-09-18 15:25:10 · answer #5 · answered by ddking37 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So you are the first stupid, because yo are not sure from what you are saying.
2007-09-18 16:13:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Then I'm damned. I doubt that I'll lose any sleep over it.
2007-09-18 15:18:53 · answer #7 · answered by S K 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The way to combat ignorance is not to join into it, but to rise above it.
2007-09-18 15:23:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋