The Nature of Offense

Offense is such a fascinating and vibrant tool

It defines limitations in interaction. It can be reciprocated. It can be created, taken, and given. It can be said to be not offered yet received regardless (No offense). Originating from the Latin offensus, meaning 'collision' or 'knock', the synonym is how I find it most often used.

Offense as a Defense

In the world of the indefensible, the ideas that are too complicated, not well thought out, or based on no evidential reason whatsoever, offense comes out surprisingly quickly. How many times have you asked someone to explain their position on something *cough*Chiropractic* and they respond with a very personal answer or perhaps by making it an attack on them personally or their judgement?

Similarly, religious people, or those with faith often tend to bind the notions of their existence with that of their faith and reproach those who question the belief itself as an attack on their identity.

It would seem that whenever you have a double standard in society, offense will make it's way in an effort to resist change. Be it war on Christmas, prayer in classrooms, or gay marriage, offense has always played a role. But let me make it very clear. Offense is a choice.

Offense is a choice

See, I made it clear. No matter the topic, offense is a choice of those who claim to be offended, not those supposedly offering offense. If I told you your shoes looked horrible with that suit, it would be entirely on your shoulders to take note of my intentions, tone, and relationship with you and evaluate whether or not you want to be offended. If you chose to be offended, it is your choice. Remember that.

So when I say many of the things I say in public regarding religion, many find it prudent to take offense perhaps in an attempt to silence me or make me look bad. For too long has this led to some of the most important topics being ignored or suppressed. The very nature of the passive Midwestern society we live in must be confronted head on in order to get over the anti-intellectual state of mind we have so often submitted to.

Offense must occur

So before civil rights showed the racists and bigots of the world, it was considered offensive to call whites and blacks equals. Before the LGBT movement opened the world's eyes, gay and lesbian relationships were considered to be offensive. It used to be offensive to question your elders, tell people not to smoke around you, and to interact with your teachers. All progress will cause some level of offense.

When I am told by the liberal religious and accommodationist atheists that I should not be offensive to the notions of faith and religion, I have to ask why? Why, for example, is it OK for those of faith to believe that atheists are heathens contributing to the downfall of civilization (something I do not take offense to), but not OK for me to suggest that faith is detrimental to society (something people often take offense to)?

Should I be taking offense to others? Would it make a difference? No to both, in my opinion. I understand my ideas are offensive to some, and I also understand that is a necessary offense for the sake of progress. I ask the people in the world not to take offense as a defense, but to engage in dialog so we may better understand our positions. Let's build a better world together without such vacuous responses or reactions.