Crazy Sec-Lady was complaining about catholics because they pray to mary too much. *rolls eyes* Something about idols. I roll my eyes because of the infinitesimally tiny things people use to get themselves into a furor with people who are, essentially, the same as they are.
EDIT: crazy secretary-lady – the pope quoted some ancient pope, and some religion got really angry – I think it was the muslims, cause he said they were violent, and then he – get this, he turned and he prayed to their god! He prayed to mecca!
I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t let her keep going. I had to stop her conversation, I’m afraid, and explain that, first of all, mecca isn’t a statue as she thought it was, it was a place, and what he did was turn in the direction of that place, as a show of respect (from all signs, a wildly successful one, at that). Second, that the god of christianity, islam, and judaism is the same source – it’s a matter of what prophets you believe that separate you. (yes, it’s a gross oversimplification I’m sure, but she needed it).
She’d apparently heard some new incendiary radio show guy on the way in, who was -also- giving shit to Pope JPII for having “done something similar”. I explained he’d prayed at the western wall, which was a similar conciliatory gesture for the jewish people. ‘cept I used smaller words.
ARGH it’s so IRRITATING. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE? It’s like the ENJOY being divisive assholes! Arrogant pride and smug superiority. Righteousness! I’ve had it to here with righteousness.
We’ve had a good long conversation now. She asked me what ‘flavor’ I was, and I told her (in a much kinder way) to look up “humanism” on wikipedia if she was interested in knowing. It’s certainly far easier than trying to explain in depth.
She’s worried because her daughter was invited to go to church with a friend, and it’s an ‘all encompassing church’ (clearly unitarian). She says, “if they say everyone is right, doesn’t that mean everyone is wrong, too? Does that mean they don’t teach about jesus?”
She then explained to me how her church works (“by the book”).
I despise talking about religion at work. I feel like I gave someone a bit of education, and maybe that will spread amongst her friends and they’ll stop hating on the big P for doing something nice, but I just COULD NOT SIT HERE ANY LONGER IN SILENCE.
PS I’ve had it to here with homonym errors when I’m cranky!
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