THE Controversy between evolution and creationism provoked a man to violence in Northern Ireland. We present to you, dear reader, some excerpts from Derry man “does not want to work with non-christians”, which appears at the website of Highland Radio, “Ireland’s No. 1 Local Radio Station.” The bold font was added by us:
A Derry man who told probation that he did not want to work with non Christans [sic] has been sentenced to community service and ordered to work with whoever he was told to.
Derry man? Udderly ridiculous! Let’s read on:
36 year-old Paul Del Pinto of Meadowbank House admitted assaulting a man on August 27 last year after a discussion on Darwinism and Creationism became heated.
These things have been known to happen. We continue:
Derry Crown Court was told that several men were drinking in the injured party’s flat when the discussion turned to religion. It was said that this caused a change in the atmosphere and an argument started although the court was told this was not sectarian but more to do with religious principles, Darwinism and creationism.
Not sectarian, but about religious principles? Okay. Here’s more:
Del Pinto was asked to leave the flat but as he was being escorted out he punched the injured party injuring him on the mouth and nose.
How horrible! But who was the creationist in this brawl? We’ll try to figure it out:
The court was told that Del Pinto had apologised and that it was a one off incident.
Good defense — “Your Honor, my client acted alone. He was engaged in a one-off beating.” Another excerpt:
However, Judge Piers Grant said he had a problem with a statement in the pre-sentence report where Del Pinto said he did wish to do community service, but he did not want to work with non-Christians. Judge Grant said this struck him as ‘absolutism and extemism.’
We’re only guessing here, but our strong suspicion is that the one-off beater is the creationist. Here’s the end of the article:
However, Del Pinto went into the witness box and assured the court he would work with anyone, although he preferred to work with Christians.
We hope this deeply religious fellow gets his wish.
Copyright © 2009. The Sensuous Curmudgeon. All rights reserved.
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10 responses so far ↓
longshadow // 12-November-2009 at 12:19 pm
The obvious question no asked: what is Del Pinto’s definition of “Christian”?
In NI, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to hear a Catholic complain he doesn’t want to associate with Prods, and a Protestant to complain he doesn’t want to associate with Papists, but it’s not clear to me what a “non-Christian” is in NI.
Does Del Pinto perhaps have a hyper-conservative definition of “Christian” that excludes all but fundamentalist Protestant denominations? Possibly.
But of all places, to have to resort to Creationism/Evolution as a basis on which to despise someone, it seems a waste, when in NI there are so many much simpler reasons to hate your neighbor.
Why, they don’t even agree on the city’s name: to a Catholic, it’s “Derry”; to a Prod, it’s “Londonderry.” One needn’t go so far as Evolution to pick a fight in NI when differing opinions about the name of the city will get the fight started nicely.
The Curmudgeon // 12-November-2009 at 12:31 pm
Longie says:
I used both names. I guess I’ve offended everyone.
The Curmudgeon // 12-November-2009 at 1:21 pm
Our friends at Little Green Footballs have a link to this post. Welcome, green visitors!
retiredsciguy // 12-November-2009 at 1:42 pm
Ah, yes, isn’t that what Jesus would want? Punch the godless “Darwinist” in the face! Seems like he might be confusing the Golden Rule with the Golden Gloves.
longshadow // 12-November-2009 at 2:49 pm
You usually do.
;-)
Gabriel Hanna // 12-November-2009 at 6:56 pm
I’m pretty sure the alcohol and Irishness have more to do with this incident that creationism….
Amadan // 13-November-2009 at 8:04 am
The name ‘Del Pinto’ is probably Eyetalian and therefore Catholic (or ‘Taig’, as they say in Norn Iron), but to refer to your own lot as ‘the Christians’ is a very very Prod thing to do (because the Taigs are all idolatrous apostate papishes who really worship the Spawn of Satan, it’s true, I read it in a tract).
The common denominator among our warring brethren up North is a selfless devotion to petty crime and perpetual victimhood.
The Curmudgeon // 13-November-2009 at 8:13 am
Amadan says: “The common denominator among our warring brethren up North …”
We don’t want to import The Troubles into this happy little blog, do we? It’s more than enough for your humble Curmudgeon to deal with The Controversy between evolution and creationism.
Carlos // 13-November-2009 at 9:25 am
I am not the aforementioned “Delpinto”. It seems to me that religion in any shape or form seems to bring the worst out in people. If you don’t believe me, re-read the previous emails
Frank J // 13-November-2009 at 1:17 pm
Curmudgeon: “We hope this deeply religious fellow gets his wish.”
I’d rather see him work with Michael Medved, Ben Stein, or David Klinghoffer.