Thursday, May 28, 2009

I feel violated.

There is no personal savior for me, unless we are talking about the guy who told me my skirt was in my pantyhose at a fancy club in Copenhagen. There is no salvation other than finding a Starbucks when I least expect it. There is no holy trinity for me other than Snickers, Mars, and Twix.

I was just thinking about writing a post on religion, partly because of some Pope related comments I made on julochka's blog: moments of perfect clarity, that might or might not have caused her to lose a follower, only to check up on Marathoner to find out about a  gruesome discovery she had made. You can get all of the details on her blog: Life is a Marathon. Thanks M so much for the big heads up!

The point of the matter is that some religious site, based in St Petersburg, Florida is one inconsequential 's' away from the address of my blog (from blogspot to blogpot), and this to me is very, very creepy. And wrong. I don't like it one bit, and might just be getting to that point where my well-documented complaint-letter self will spring to surface - the I'm-this-close-to-snapping Extranjera. You might remember her from some flights I've been on recently, and she has also featured on several occasions when our house in SA was the theme. She is not at all nice, not even when she drinks.

I (as well as all of the other Exts) am an atheist and while I have nothing against people who aren't, I would hate for anyone wanting to read my scribbles, ungodly or not, to end up thinking I'm a religious fanatic. I'm not. I am no fanatic, unless the hermit, or watching corn grow movements count, or wine, or coffee. Now, those are issues I feel really passionately about.

Still, I'm a loud, proud atheist by an informed choice as well. I don't believe in a higher force, but in people taking responsibility for their own actions and for our world. This lifetime is what I have, I'll make the best of it and then help fertilize some weeds, or possibly an old tree. That's it. What I do feel towards religious fanatics is pity.

In case you didn't already know.

28 comments:

Optimistic Pessimist said...

Well put.

Religious fanatics have been know to be tricky...they've taken it one step too far this time. Tricking me into reading why the bible has been proven true was a dirty trick.

Not to mention I almost passed out when I saw what I thought was your blog. After I came to my senses and realized you would not post this on your site I thought perhaps someone had hacked your blog...it was such a relief when i realized it was just careless typing on my part.

You should feel violated. Please remember that if your complaint-letter self comes out, I was simply the messenger.

Extranjera said...

Marathoner - I looked at the sight too, and I'm a little offended that you would ever think that i wrote that badly ;o)

I'm off to drink this stench of church off of me now and while I'm at it I'll whip up that post for the Hermit Book club too.

Forgive me if it turns out all fuku. I'm in a state.

Optimistic Pessimist said...

Holy crap - out of curiosity i read a little bit of info on the site and it's crazy...pure scare tactics and ridiculous statements.

Optimistic Pessimist said...

I didn't really read it at first, I just got the overall idea of the page and panicked. People do crazy things when they panic. Forgive me.

Sarah said...

OMG (pun intended.) That is CRAZAZY!

Sarah Anne said...

Can you be religious without being a fanatic?

Extranjera said...

Marathoner - Yup. Pretty hair raising stuff.

VEG - We feel violated...

Georgie - Of course. Unfortunately this site does not fall into the pleasantly religious, or unobtrusively religious categories.

Sad.

Anonymous said...

That's so crazy. I am not "religious", but do believe in God. I did not know you were atheist. I mean, I kind of had an idea but have only been on here a short time. Anyhoo, to each his own. I still love your blog and think you're fucking hilarious. Can't believe someone would go to such lengths.

Sarah said...

Yes we DO feel violated. Stupid idiots. I am writing them a letter now. And will mail them a copy of the god delusion with it, just for extra fun.

My name is Erin. said...

Georgie- I do question whether one can be religious without the fanatic bit. I consider myself to be spiritual... not religious. Religion puts restrictions on God... makes up rules that the supposed rule maker is supposed to follow, too. And that just seems wrong to me. You can't put spirituality in a neatly packaged, one-size-fits-all package. I have personal reasons that make me a believer, but I won't go to church, because religious fanatics make me want to puke and churches are full of them.

P.S. I'm a fanatic for this blog. And if that's wrong... I don't want to be right.

Extranjera said...

Just A. Girl - Exactly like you say: To each their own. I won't force anything on you and you won't force anything on me. Perfect! This is the way the world is supposed to work... :o)

VEG - I'm breaking out the heavy stuff - a whole bottle of Casillero del Diablo Pinot Noir - just to drink my way out of this one. We are in a fragile state, only wine can help with...

Erin - being a fanatic for my blog is kind of like me stalking Oprah or Mandela - it's all positive, and we are not out to kill or maim. ;o)

julochka said...

i think this is a sign from odin that it's time for your own domain name.

julochka said...

and happily (probably since the pope wasn't really mentioned that much, especially not in connection with sexy technological wonders), you seem to have gained a follower or two. :-)

julochka said...

ok, this'll freak you out even more...when i type my url with the same mistake--it goes to the SAME SITE!!!! this is pretty friggin scary stuff! now i need pinot noir.

julochka said...

and yup--VEG too. it's a plot against us!!

julochka said...

i think it's just all blogger blogs. they're just evil bastards. but i no longer think they're after us per se.

Sarah said...

Ummmm, crazy religious fanatic gods....please take us off the crazy fanatic religious website blog thing. Thanks.

Optimistic Pessimist said...

Maybe they think ALL members of blogger are evil, therefore hoping one of us will make the treacherous (or wine-filled)error of typing an address in wrong. I wonder how many hits they get from drunked blogger members?

julochka said...

i just opened a thread about it on the blogger help group site--i think blogger should know!

http://groups.google.com/group/blogger-help-howdoi/browse_thread/thread/b8adeb6f6940ef4a

if you add your bit, they'll realize it's more than just me. :-)

Optimistic Pessimist said...

I'm on my way now.

julochka said...

ok, i thought i posted an update, but possibly it was a different comment window, so who knows where that went...anyway, there's already a response that the issue has been sent to the blogger team. i don't know what they can do, but it makes me feel better that they've been notified!

julochka said...

ok, that was too funny--my last WV was extru--extranjera's reputation? (i know that would be extry, but hey...)

Extranjera said...

Erin - That last part from my side sounds really pompous. Muahahahahah.

julochka - i have to say I'm very, very relieved that they are not out to get just me. I really do fear organized religion. I do. especially when one of their categories is Satan (without any trappings, just the dude) Thanks for starting the thread. I can't even get blogger draft to work...

VEG - Now WE really are incensed!

Marathoner - Thanks again. Did you check yourself yet? (why does it sound like I'm asking about a breast exam?)

Crazy weirdo fanatics. They creep me out! (Not you ,but the religious crazies)

julochka said...

i think it's EVERY blogger blog..i've checked totally random people who i didn't even know and had never visited before, so it's definitely not connected to us and our pope/iPhone comments.

i wonder how long it's been there?

good on ya (as my old aussie office mate would have said) marathon for discovering it with your typo.

Extranjera said...

julochka - Still totally creeps me out. Also wondering about religions and their goons by which I mean their PR departments because I just called jesus either a zombie or an undead on Marathoner's blog. I wonder how this will effect us?

Although, It says in the bible that he was dead and then he woke up. To me that sounds very much like Edward Cullen. I'm just saying.

People - I'm mostly joking. See: ;o)

My name is Erin. said...

One of my very good friends sends out "Happy Zombie Jesus Day" greetings every Easter. It's one of her more endearing qualities.

Optimistic Pessimist said...

It really was very serendipitous. I mean we can't let these people get away with it.

Extranjera said...

Erin - If I recognized Easter as anything else than days off for the hubby, that would totally be the card, I would send out.

Well, i don't send out cards, I barely send emails... But in theory.

Marathoner - Thanks again for getting the ball rolling. Hope Blogger can do something about it.