In which we stretch an analogy a little ...

[blamebrampton]

I was talking with a lovely young person earlier today about her idea for an hp_religion fest. Despite the fact that I am a godless heathen, I find religion endlessly fascinating and think that it works very well as a lens through which to view the Potterverse (obviously, since the author was consciously constructing a Christian allegory in parts).

Thinking about this, I had an epiphany of sorts, which relates strongly to the current brouhaha* on mpreg among my fandom friends.

My atheism does not affect the religiosity of some of my friends. Their beliefs do not affect my atheism. I would consider it the height of rudeness to tell them they cannot believe in their sundry gods, and they, after a cursory effort to convert me in a few cases, do not tell me that I must believe in one of their religions.

Some of them do believe that I am going to hell. Some of them believe that I am missing some basic truth of the universe. I believe that they believe in something a bit basically odd. Every now and then I have one of those conversations that goes: 'But how can you believe there's nothing?' 'How can you believe in something that is obviously an anthropological artefact?' 'No seriously, nothing? How?!'

However, in both cases, it doesn't matter. My lack of belief, my friends' beliefs, they are things that are important to US, not things that we need each other to adopt. The things that unite us, that bind us, are far deeper and more important.

Similarly, I think that there are lots of things in fandom that we take very very personally, but they are important to us as individuals, and when we try to make the personal public, it's just a recipe for disaster.

One of my friends loves mpreg because it soothes her soul, one of them loves it because it allows her to investigate whole new ideas in stories. I think it's fairly daft because I think stories about babies and pregnancy are essentially daft, just as I don't like avocado and am the least romantic person in the world. It doesn't matter! I leave more avocado for pushdragon ! My mpreg atheism does not weaken anyone's mpreg faith! It's exactly the same as the way that gay marriage doesn't weaken straight marriages.

Anyway, heathen_archive , come back! Maggie and Liz, chins up! And everyone else, like what you like, even if it's not me ;-)


* It's certainly more than a kerfuffle, but not yet a schism, and too personal to some to be considered wank.

Comments

[raitala.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, sometimes we do so well, here in fandom, and have extended discussions where everyone keeps their head and keeps respectful. Other times it's like everyone has been caught after a really bad day and the whole thing descends into scowling and tearful recriminations for no reason at all.

It's a real shame, because I'd have liked to have a sensible, casual discussion about Mpreg. I don't enjoy reading it myself, but it's interesting to me the role it has taken in slash fandom and the strong responses it elicits from both sides of the fence. I was surprised how personal the whole thing got and how quickly, because it is a fandom-centric issue, not one that directly relates to RL values like chan or non-con. Weird, huh? Maybe everyone needs a cookie?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

That looks delicious! And yes, it was a bit of a startling explosion. I hope that everyone is feeling better by tomorrow. I wanted to do a book review tonight ...

[faynia.livejournal.com]

*tackles* I love you. Just saying. Because I am uncertain if I've said it to you before. And you just said all of what I completely failed to say over the past two days in a much nicer, saner way. IDK. I fail at tact maybe?

Although, I AM STILL SCARRED BY YOUR SARAH PALIN ROLE PLAY COMMENT OF YESTERDAY. WHY blamebrampton WHYYYYYYY?!?! D':

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I am sorry darling! In further terrifying news, ever since she appeared, I have been trying to perfect the half-beehive. I recognise that this is a disturbing development.

[oddishly.livejournal.com]

Well, I like you. So. :)

Also, hey! So I'm coming back to Melbourne next Easter -- four months today, in fact :) -- and I'll be there for a month, so I was thinking of maybe heading up to Sydney for a while? If you're around/not around over any particular time in March/April, you should tell me, and I'll aim for a mutually convenient time to head your way :)

[bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com]

HP religion fest, huh? *takes a large step back from that ticking timebomb* Very interesting in theory but oh, I hope there's some good wank control measures in place.

As to the rest, it's been a hard couple days all round. Which I think might be reflective of the fact that it seems as though the last few months/year have been particularly rough, lots of tender places that don't respond well to being poked... :(

[dysonrules.livejournal.com]

WTF IS GOING ON? I have been too busy to give my f-list more than a cursory glance, so I mostly missed the whole drama, except to note that some of my friends are angry at others of my friends and now LJ has become a soap opera. Or Junior High. Or a Junior High Soap Opera. And why does that make me want to write crackfic?

Anyway, I agree with you (except the avocado part, because how can you not love those green globes of slippery goodness spread over tortilla chips... okay, they are sort of slimy and have a strange taste until you mix them with salsa...) and, um...

I just realized my comment has no point whatsoever.

Carry on.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

YAY! And not Easter itself, but I will be around for most of the rest of those two months. I am going to be in Oxford, London and Paris from the 6th to the 22nd of December, any chance of catching up with you?

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

Now all we need is a way to spread your good sense around the world a bit more.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of offering myself to be the official slapping spoon if she goes ahead with it. Mostly because I like slapping. Not like that. You have a dirty mind ;-)

Yeah, I get that, but I am also of the school of thought that says sometimes a little stoicism can go a very long way, and if that's too much, then an intellectual argument rather than an emotive one is always to be preferred since people can cope with 'I disagree' enormously better than 'you're fucked'.

Of course, I am a cyborg, so these things come naturally to me.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Give me a slapping spoon and a huge travel budget! I will be moderate in my use of the spoon!

[noeon.livejournal.com]

I'm now imagining the etiquette rule at the fandom dinner table: "Do not discuss politics, religion, or mpreg."

Oxford, London, Paris. You LUCKY bramblebush.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's the sliminess that gets me. I concede they actually taste quite palatable, but the mouth feel ...

And you're not alone in your surprise, Cheryl. I thought this was going to be a scroll-past debate until it suddenly went nuclear.

Pointless comments are often charming and friendly, you know!

[coffeejunkii.livejournal.com]

hmm, i am clearly more out of the loop than i thought. i'd heard about people discussing mpreg [which happens every once in a while, as we all know], but i hadn't yet heard there was kerfuffling. methinks i need to do some investigating...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

AHAHAHAHA! Yes! Although in my house we would not talk if we did not discuss politics ...

It is shaping up as the Huge Trip Of Catching Up With My Friends And Fave Galleries and Museums, to the point that, having culled the list of friends I will have time to see, I am now having to cull the museums. Sacrilege!

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

Talk about a dream job.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Or post pics of Bradley James looking very very hot, that calms people down!

Well, it makes me happy at least ...

Also: EEEK! BABY! *Picks up dangerous and easily mangled items and pops them on high shelves*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

There's enough world to require two for a job-share!

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

I can't promise I'll be moderate in my spoon usage. But I won't demand the priciest hotels.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I'd definitely hire you as a subcontractor.

[bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com]

Of course, I am a cyborg, so these things come naturally to me

Ha ha! I knew it! This explains your small, compact body chassis - must be expensive to come up with all that titanium the 6 foot models require.

[coffeejunkii.livejournal.com]

hahaha, yes, he does have that effect on people ;). but no, methinks a different kind of intervention needs to happen...like an mpreg love post or something. if i wasn't afk for most of the day, i'd do it today, but it might have to wait.

LOL, oh, i have so many more icons of that sort :D

[dysonrules.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! The religion thing! The avocado completely distracted me from your original point. I don't know, if something like mpreg can get people agitated the point of hurt feelings and leaving fandom, you're brave to bring up something as hot-button sensitive as religion.

I'm actually surprised at people bringing up topics like this during the holidays. I don't know anyone that isn't stressed out to max capacity right now. I'm not sure about the rest of the world, but in the US, Thanksgiving can be the MOST stressful holiday, because that's when it's traditional to gather together with friends and family for the most perfect dinner you can create. Which generally dissolves into excessive drinking, family screaming fights, physical brawling, and possible police action.

Good times. :D

[adores-draco.livejournal.com]

I've absolutely no idea what has been going on around here lately but it does sound stormy! Heathen_archive is gone? That's a HUGE loss! She's not only a really talented artist but she's funny, smart and witty. Did she say why she was leaving? Please, please, please come back, heathen_archive! We need you!

Religious H/D? Why not. I was raised in a religious family but I seldom go to church. Pretty much the only reason why I still believe the whole story is the sad state of mankind. If this is the best this universe can offer we're really in trouble. Btw my personal heaven is a lovely place, where all people are beautiful and kind to each other (am I going to be in trouble!), animals are nice and cute and the nature is wonderful. Waterfalls, flowers - the whole lot. Everything is nice,clean and smells lovely. The only thing that worries me is playing the harp. Well, I suppose they'll teach me how to play if I ever make it there. The other option kind of seems more likely.

I've a new obsession. I'm playing FarmVille in Facebook. My life is sad...but my farm is beautiful and I've found the cutest gay guy who flirts with me shamelessly. He's soooo adorable - and young but I don't need to tell anyone that. ;)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

And yet, for the other 6.4 billion of us, it's all calm until the end of year religious festivals. At which point you lot do it all again. I am starting to realise why your country starts so many wars ...

Religion is a very relaxed topic for me ;-P