PoliticalChic
Diamond Member
This week, Michael Musto’s column in the Village Voice was entitled “Why I Hate Religion,” and thought it might appeal to lots of folks on the board.
I read Michael Musto in the Voice from time to time…but this rant was particularly stereotypic of the left wing- liberal- self-dissatisfied product of our pop culture.
Don’t know Musto? Here:
“Michael Musto (born December 3, 1955) is an American columnist for the The Village Voice, where he writes La Dolce Musto. Musto was born in Brooklyn to an Italian American family. He attended Columbia University graduating in 1976….He is a recurring guest on several nationally broadcast television programs including Countdown with Keith Olbermann and others on A&E and PBS, also having appeared on E!, VH1, Real Housewives of New York, The Daily Show, and The Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson. He is openly gay and is published regularly in several LGTB publications.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Musto
I have found Musto to be somewhat clownish, and less than really insightful, but there is an interesting view as to how ‘the other side’ thinks. But you might enjoy reading it; the link is below, after each is my response to his bias.
1. “You have to keep track of your sins and then humiliatingly recite them in a loud, crisp voice, so the priest doesn't say, "Repeat that, please."
a. Well, that pretty much sums up the Left’s desire for an individual code of conduct, a privatization of morality so complete that no code of conduct is generally accepted, practically to the point of ‘do what you can get away with’. These beliefs are aimed at the gratification of appetites and exhibit anarchistic impulses.
2. “The virgin birth put an impossibly high standard on the rest of us for all time.”
a. There is no demand for anyone else’s birth to be ‘virgin.’ This slur, no doubt, is aimed at the idea that promiscuity is frowned upon…chastity is hardly an ‘impossibly high standard.’
3. “…when gays get the right to marry in a healthy, adult, consensual way, the church vehemently condemns it. ...”
a. Seems inconsistent with the idea of a monogamous relationship being “an impossibly high standard…”
4. “The church urges us to be good citizens, but when gay marriage goes into law, they suddenly want people to buck the system. ...”
a. Did I miss that memo?
5. “The church reserves the divine right to further wreck lives by forbidding condoms and abortions.”
a. Before this, I thought most folks knew that the church does not make the laws…and in the United States, both condoms and abortions are legal.
6. “Jesus is almost always portrayed as someone out of an Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue…to look like a supermodel.”
a. Having been in a number of RC churches, and several denominations, I must conclude that this is hugely tortuous.
7. Musto invests an entire paragraph bouncing off the —"No room at the inn"—allusion….
a. Seems to me he should accept that being gay is a non-starter in his chosen religion…and he should either move to one he finds more accepting…or right a long, bitter rant.
8. “Some people I know who piously visit places of worship on a regular basis spend the rest of the week being bitchy, negative, and judgmental. ...
a. OK…here is the nugget of truth, but I always liked it better this way: Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
Well, I’ve said my piece, and I know many folks on the board agree with Musto, but to me, he’s simply screaming about how unhappy his life is. I hope he finds peace.
Here is the link: Why I Hate Religion! 47 Reasons That Will Send Me To Hell! - Page 1 - Columns - New York - Village Voice
I read Michael Musto in the Voice from time to time…but this rant was particularly stereotypic of the left wing- liberal- self-dissatisfied product of our pop culture.
Don’t know Musto? Here:
“Michael Musto (born December 3, 1955) is an American columnist for the The Village Voice, where he writes La Dolce Musto. Musto was born in Brooklyn to an Italian American family. He attended Columbia University graduating in 1976….He is a recurring guest on several nationally broadcast television programs including Countdown with Keith Olbermann and others on A&E and PBS, also having appeared on E!, VH1, Real Housewives of New York, The Daily Show, and The Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson. He is openly gay and is published regularly in several LGTB publications.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Musto
I have found Musto to be somewhat clownish, and less than really insightful, but there is an interesting view as to how ‘the other side’ thinks. But you might enjoy reading it; the link is below, after each is my response to his bias.
1. “You have to keep track of your sins and then humiliatingly recite them in a loud, crisp voice, so the priest doesn't say, "Repeat that, please."
a. Well, that pretty much sums up the Left’s desire for an individual code of conduct, a privatization of morality so complete that no code of conduct is generally accepted, practically to the point of ‘do what you can get away with’. These beliefs are aimed at the gratification of appetites and exhibit anarchistic impulses.
2. “The virgin birth put an impossibly high standard on the rest of us for all time.”
a. There is no demand for anyone else’s birth to be ‘virgin.’ This slur, no doubt, is aimed at the idea that promiscuity is frowned upon…chastity is hardly an ‘impossibly high standard.’
3. “…when gays get the right to marry in a healthy, adult, consensual way, the church vehemently condemns it. ...”
a. Seems inconsistent with the idea of a monogamous relationship being “an impossibly high standard…”
4. “The church urges us to be good citizens, but when gay marriage goes into law, they suddenly want people to buck the system. ...”
a. Did I miss that memo?
5. “The church reserves the divine right to further wreck lives by forbidding condoms and abortions.”
a. Before this, I thought most folks knew that the church does not make the laws…and in the United States, both condoms and abortions are legal.
6. “Jesus is almost always portrayed as someone out of an Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue…to look like a supermodel.”
a. Having been in a number of RC churches, and several denominations, I must conclude that this is hugely tortuous.
7. Musto invests an entire paragraph bouncing off the —"No room at the inn"—allusion….
a. Seems to me he should accept that being gay is a non-starter in his chosen religion…and he should either move to one he finds more accepting…or right a long, bitter rant.
8. “Some people I know who piously visit places of worship on a regular basis spend the rest of the week being bitchy, negative, and judgmental. ...
a. OK…here is the nugget of truth, but I always liked it better this way: Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
Well, I’ve said my piece, and I know many folks on the board agree with Musto, but to me, he’s simply screaming about how unhappy his life is. I hope he finds peace.
Here is the link: Why I Hate Religion! 47 Reasons That Will Send Me To Hell! - Page 1 - Columns - New York - Village Voice
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