I wish more people in power thought that religion didn't belong in government. Unfortunately, that's not the case, even if a majority of voters think government should be secular.

So is Christianity, in some parts of the world. Having lived in the UAE for three years, I'm pretty familiar with the different flavors of Islam too, and if someone in the UAE had said such a generalization about xianity, Americans and other westerners would be very quick to correct them. It's not just Sunni and…

I have no patience for the willfully ignorant. You want to be considered separately from other versions of xianity but think Islam is monolothic.

Voting for Catholic political candidates, going to visit churches that have become monuments and making a token donation, just being counted as a Christian gives more power to the Catholic Church and those Christians, catholic or otherwise, trying to force their beliefs on me.

I never said that. I am arguing that Christians don't get a pass from criticism just because today is one of their arbitrary holy days. I am defending the joke and the fact that wearing a cross, jewelry, ashes, whatever, is a symbol that is oppressive to many people.

Responsible for what? Retaining the majority and thus allowing these things to continue? Absolutely.

Also the month of Ramadan, Mohammed's birthday, The day commemorating Buddha's enlightenment, Solstice (winter and summer, of course), every Hindu festival, Pi Day, the days of the full moon, the dark moon, the half moon, the quarter moon, all Hindu festivals, Talk like a Pirate Day, etc, etc.

I laugh so I don't cry.

Just "choose" not to let it bother you, just as they choose to wear the symbol of death, oppression, and violence on their foreheads, and being offended by a joke about it (even though one person said they make jokes about the cross on their forehead).

I just want to address the statement "it doesn't have to mean anything to you."

"It's a holy and I have no choice."

I would appreciate living in a world where people who choose to believe things don't have to be coddled on the grounds of religion, but I don't. Your cross of ashes reminds me of all the Christians in my community who are hateful and mean. I won't insult you or judge you individually, but your single flavor of…

I'm specifically referring to Catholicism, I know that the Pope only speaks for them. I do think it might be helpful for practicing Catholics to know what a non-Catholic might think when they advertise their faith. Personally, I think "there's a person who cares more about their feelings than condemning child abuse."

Thank you for the respectful reply. I do disagree with you. If one has a personal relationship with God, why does He require you to participate in a ritual performed by corrupt intermediaries, who themselves claim they are necessary to communicate with God?

Can you describe the difference and why an individual practice mandated by a corrupt organization should be respected? And if you only have to respect it at a certain time or on a certain day, can you direct me to a day or time it is acceptable to mock a religious choice?

They are as long as they keep giving money to those pedophiles and supervisors.

Not significant until it's your baby. And that's for "low risk" pregnancies. It's low-risk until its not, then for people birthing at home, it might be too late. The mortality rate isn't significant, but there are other risks, such as permanent brain damage from hypoxia, that have worse outcomes than babies born in…

Does this mean I can stop being self-conscious about not wearing a bra? Because I hate bras, they're uncomfortable and cause me back pain the next day. My D-cups have prominent nipples and I'm often told I couldn't "get away" looking like that (I.e. possessing breasts and not wearing an undergarment that causes me…

That sounds a lot like what I was taught in the mid-90s. No outright lies, but lots of scary-sounding things that could happen if you have sex. And I remember a scary clown chasing a couple through a carnival because they were about to have sex maybe? I don't remember exactly, but it was definitely weird.

Mine is so bad it's a conversation starter with customer service agents, but since you can't forward your Yahoo email to another account for free, I'm keeping it. Because I am too lazy to do it manually.