Sunday, January 17, 2010

Narcissism of small differences

In a post on AWAD there was a description of religion:
The word religion derives from Latin ligare (to tie or to bind, as in 'ligament'), but it best serves as a tool to divide people. My religion is better than yours. My god true, yours false. What, we have the same religion? No problem, my sect is better than yours.
The last line reminded me of a term that I had come across a few years ago- narcissism of small differences. I saw a great joke about it on the web:
I was walking across a bridge one sunny day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump. I ran over and said: 'Stop. Don't do it.'
'Why shouldn't I?' he asked.
'Well, there's so much to live for!'
'Like what?'
'Are you religious?'
He said: 'Yes.'
I said. 'Me too. Are you Christian or Buddhist?'
'Christian.'
'Me too. Are you Catholic or Protestant?''
'Protestant.'
'Me too. Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?'
'Baptist.'
'Wow. Me too. Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?'
'Baptist Church of God.'
'Me too. Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you reformed Baptist Church of God?'
'Reformed Baptist Church of God.'
'Me too. Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?'
He said: 'Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915.'
I said: "Die, heretic scum," and pushed him off.

2 comments:

  1. Hi..just trying posting a comment.

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  2. Am still reeling from the shock of reading your blog....shared it with a no. of my friends.yesterday was a painful day and every time I walked or spoke,I remembered you...My first instinct was to get your no. and talk to you and then I realised that this is how you speak.So let's talk.I promise to respond to every post of yours..
    Today as I was showing your blog to my hubby,he said-We must meet him.So come July and we will be in Coimbatore..If yesterday I read your posts with tears in my eyes,today I saluted the fighter in you.And i can see that the Suresh who did his +2 with me,the Suresh in whose home I played ludo as a kid,is ALIVE which I consider a GREAT achievement..
    And your Rock of Gibraltar-Jaya..One hell of a woman!!Would have loved to read her blog too but then you keep her occupied,don't you??Ha Ha !!Great going,both of you.
    My take on RELIGION--It is a way of life.You choose your religion and make your rules..So everyone's religion is different from the other and UNIQUE.I quit chanting shlokas way back when I was 16-just could not associate with a God who showers you with troubles/grief/sorrow and expects you to say.."Thank you,God,for all that you have given me."So today,I am content with whatever happens and believe that we humans have an inner strength which will make us survive anything and everything.
    Waiting for your next post...

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