Pet Peeve of the Day: Cathaholic e-mails

Yes, I've created a new word.

Cathaholic: 1. noun, someone addicted to religion and/or religious artifacts and symbols, catholic or otherwise. 2. adjective, used to describe someone addicted to religion and/or religious artifacts and symbols, catholic or otherwise.

In short, we all know cathaholics. People who are so obsessed in their religion that they cannot see anything besides their religion. They often try to convert you to their religion, not overtly, but cautiously. Just mentioning what a great time they've had at church on Sunday. I don't think any more description is needed. You know these people.

Now, back to the pet peeve:

I think we all know those touchy e-mails. Often sent to you by someone you only speak to once a year, these contain stories of kittens rescued from shipwrecks, or other equally soppy stuff. Some just contain cute baby pictures with captions like: 'The most important thing in live is to love!"

Anyway, we all know these e-mails, and although we dismiss them as chain letters, we all secretly like them. We like the cheesy touchy soppy emotion. So we read the story of the kitty heroically rescued from the sinking ship, and then we see something like this:

"Thank God and Jesus for saving and preserving the good things in life!"

What on earth is going on here? Is this a paid advertisement? "This story has been brought to you by Christianity!" If you really believe that kitties are rescued by Jesus, fine, that's your conviction. Don't spoil a sweet story with your attempt to convert me! And what is the message here exactly? Atheists would've let the kitten drown? Muslims don't love the same pleasures of life? You won't be able to live life fully from behind your computer screen unless you join OUR religion!

Something that should be universal is made so that only a certain group of people can enjoy it. This is theft. Religion takes credit for everything, it has a patent on happiness.

I realize that this post may upset people. While I offer no retraction or apology, I do offer a way for your complaints to be heard and acknowledged:

And yes, I hope to have a new pet peeve every day.