These are exciting times. I feel history is unfolding before our eyes and we are slow to comprehend the import of it. Now is the time to grow close to God.
You Wrote: "When did being obnoxious start getting confused with being intellectual?
Honestly, I was just in another forum where somebody posted a picture of Jesus hanging on a cross with the caption "Happy Hanukkah, we killed your savior.""
- The person who posted something like this shows signs of extreme ignorance not intellectualism. Jesus wasn't murdered...he gave himself freely to answer for trumped up crimes he didn't commit, even scolded Peter for attempting to defend him from his captors. Though the charges against him were bogus, Jesus’ plan was to use such barbaric politics against his accusers and for the salvation of mankind by rising from the dead three days later. He is our savior precisely due to his death and resurrection.
The person who wrote that comment is a complete dumbass. I have more pity towards him/her than anger.
I would honestly say it always has been.
You ought to read "Intellectuals" by Paul Johnston. He shows that they've never held much store in the rules of polite conduct, believeing themselves above such things. Because of their artistic, scholarly, or whatever status they got a pass on it.
It's become part and parcel of being in "the smart set" that they can behave anyway they wish, and instead of it being rude, it's "edgy". They can produce absolutely horrible "art" and if it offends, well that must be your problem because you're unenlightened. They can misbehave terribly but it's a "parody" and you're just too stupid to appreciate their wit.
Most of them don't have the mental horsepower of a what might be considered a real intellectual, but they lay claim to the status by mimicking the behavior and parroting fashionable statements.
Even back when I was a kid (quite a few decades ago) it was obvious to me that not one of those hailed by the media as an intellectual had much of an intellect.
A few of them were fairly adept in some narrow field, but all were / are incompetent at understanding ''the big picture'' or even grasping the very basic common sense held by a ''common laborer'' in ''flyover country''.
There is no confusion....All "intellectuals" are obnoxious but not all obnoxious people are "intellectuals". For you see, there is no certificate, degree or exam to certify oneself as an "intellectual", despite what you might have been told.
Therefore, "intellectuals" do not really exist, because they can't be measured; quantitatively speaking, of course. Its akin to Athiests not beleiving in G-d because G-d can't be measured, tested, validated, etc.,
Those who claim to be "intellectuals" are akin to those who claim to ride aboard UFOs. Show me the proof that you're an intellectual, until then, STFU.
"Intellectuals" do not really exist....pass it on.
It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing milkbone undershorts.