Joy Beher - Pence is mentally ill based on religious beliefs

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Pence accuses 'The View' of 'religious intolerance' after Behar compares his faith to mental illness

I think Behar went too far.

I'm split on this between 'consider the source' and 'consider how many people do take The View seriously'.

My big hope and dream is that Youtube will spawn enough choice intellects, and new media networks by Youtube personalities, that shows like this will eventually be displaced. Sure, there will always be common-denominator TV and a common-denominator audience but the broader culture won't feel trapped in or subject to that world.

Fundie is a slur now?

Both Behar and Pence are in gray areas.

Its a long time running joke among shrinks that "in our society you are considered sane if you claim to talk to God (ie pray), but are considered insane if you claim that God talks to you". Behar isn't the first person to spout that line. Except that that second part isn't always true. Some folks do claim that God "speaks" to them, and claim that without being carted off to the booby hatch. It depends on how someone makes that claim.

Even a recent president claimed to prefer advice from his "other father" over that from his ex president human father.

If God can be "your copilot (as per the book title)" can Jesus be your speechwriter? I think not because if you claim that Jesus tells you what to say then you are claiming to be Jesus' mouth piece. That IS a little bit beyond normal Fundamentalism.

So that claim by Pence does make him fair game to be made fun of. Not saying that Pence is certifiably insane. Just saying that he's fair game for verbal barbs. Away from the TV cameras even Trump has been observed to make fun of his own veep's pious excesses.

So I don't see the problem.

“Fundie” is an insult.

It makes light of their religious beliefs.

Behar is just jealous that Jesus has Mike on speed dial.

Improve your praying skills and perhaps The Prince of Peace will invite you into his inner circle.

Religion, when done right, can very well yield superior results to pure atheism.

It’s certainly helped many people on the margins of society.

Syd is a lady Groucho Marxist.

Much of what's billed as fundamentalism is actually literalism, rather than a focus on the fundamental basis of the particular faith.

A fundamental of Judaism - tikkun olam: to be in the world in such a way as to make it better by your presence, which serves the Creator through serving Creation.

A fundamental of Christianity - “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

A fundamental of Islam - to serve, worship, and lovingly submit to God.

(Notice I said "a" fundamental, not "the fundamental". But in my own religious studies, the above values arise repeatedly as central.)

I have nothing but respect for people who are living their faith in this way. It's quite possible to live and work alongside all such people in harmony, if you act towards them in good faith too.

OTOH, I have very little respect for people who claim these values, but are actually using their faith affiliation as justification for hatemongering. It's fairly easy to tell the difference...

There is frequently a claim, among those who adhere to ascetic and “strict” beliefs, that their beliefs are “back to the basics” and “pure”—and hence, “fundamental.”

True, that; but it rarely holds up to close inspection! (Which is why critical thinkers are regarded as such troublemakers .)

(Edit in: the real value, on close inspection, is usually some form of self-aggrandizement.)

True... you really can’t go too far with these folks before they blow a gasket