Making it illegal to criticize religion is the most regressive thing they could possibly do.
That's just fucked up.
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Making it illegal to criticize religion is the most regressive thing they could possibly do.
That's just fucked up.
You need to learn to differentiate between fanatics and normal people, and between literal and figurative interpretation of holy books, amongst other things.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zerodash
And by the by, there is no such bill pending. There is however a bill going to the House of Lords that makes it illegal to make public comments that are threatening, abusive, or insulting and likely to incite religious hatred. The same law with the word religious replaced by racial and/or ethnic is already on the books in the UK and 100s of other countries, this just broadens the criteria. Bottom line, inciting hate is better off being illegal. And in this case said law will not only protects any and all religions and their practitioners, but can also be used against imams who preach hate against jews or christians.
That probably didn't enter into your consideration when you decided to phrase it in a completely innacurate and biased manner.
No its not. It needs to be heard and torn apart.Quote:
Bottom line, speech inciting hate is better off illegal.
I dont doubt for one second that these imams wont get in any trouble whatsoever.Quote:
And in this case said law will not only protects innocent muslims, but will also be used against imams who preach hate against jews or christians.
It was more of an attempted statement at the irony of Bush and his evangelical beliefs being essentially christian extremist views. And since you said...Quote:
Originally Posted by kedawa
Yeah.
Tourists suck. I mean Tearists. I mean those bad guys, however you pronounce what they're called.
What I find funny in an odd sort of way is that my supposed fellow athiests get completely up in arms when someone says something like, "The Religion of Violence." They're the first to berate you and say what Mo7 said (I know he's not an athiest, but it's a pretty direct quote), then they are the first to turn around and lambaste Christianity for the evil deeds done in its name.Quote:
Originally Posted by Master of 7s
Islam is a problem right now, whether the bad folks represent it or are anomalies. Granted, we still have the occasional nut using Jesus for bad purposes but Christianity has come a long way from stuff like the Crusades and whatnot. I don't think anybody could get away with crazy stuff like that in the name of Jesus anymore. Islam needs to go the same route.
But then, I'm sure some folks will tell me that Dubya's war is one of those atrocities.
False.Quote:
Originally Posted by outRider
Not to mention these people are lambasting Christianity for the shit done a thousand years ago, Crusades and shit. But the stuff that Muslims do in the name of their religion (and yes, it is in the name of their religion when they chop off an innocent dude's head and praise Allah while doing it) last week, last month, last year, whatever, well thats irrelevant to the religion at hand.Quote:
then they are the first to turn around and lambaste Christianity for the evil deeds done in its name
And no, youre not gonna convince me that Falwell saying gays are evil is equivalent to a bunch of Islamic Fundamentalists blowing themselves up while some cleric says they did a good, holy thing and are currently engaged in a 73-person orgy in heaven.
I think you are in error sir. Defamation and blatant disregard for the truth with respect to free speech is contrary to the British constitution, so it very well should be illegal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike
Your face should be illegal.Quote:
Originally Posted by outRider
Christianity WAS a religion of violence during the middle ages because it was used by national leaders as a reason to expand their territorys in the crusades. Since that time Christianity has seen its role in most national politics gradually deminish until very recently in the US. People read the history now and they see how cynically governments (kings, queens, parliments etc) used the Christian faith to gain themselves power and such. They don't care about the good that has been done, all they see is the history, and the sins of the past which seem to be repeated. (hence the reaction to Bush's "crusade")
Islam on the other hand is being used NOW in the same way as Christianity was then. But calling it a religion of hate doesn't work because we know its not the religions fault that people are twisting it for their own purpose and goals. There are many communitys around the world where Islam is nothing more than another religion, where its citizens interact normally with the rest of the population. These Muslims are agitated occasionally because of intolerance that is directed their way by ignorant people in their home community who feel that all Muslims are evil and must be dealt with.
If you look at the mid east today you can draw a very interesting parallel with Europe in the dark ages. One religion with splinter sects who want to kill each other, monarchys (and dictators) who would do anything to stay in power, and religious leaders who cynically manipulate that desperation both for those leaders and against them. The national governments in the middle east should serve as a blazing warning to the west about the dangers of allowing religion to have anything other than a general guiding influence on a society. A warning that honestly i can't believe we need AGAIN.
A religion is its people, and the people are the religion. If its not helping people then the parts that are not helping people need to be changed. This much is obvious, but here's the dividing line: I think that we, in the tolerant and affluent West, are so quick to call the terrorists and fundamentalists a tiny/fringe part of the religion that we arent thinking about how big that tiny/fringe part really is and we are too scared to actually find out. Because then we will be thought of as racists or evil people or whatever.Quote:
But calling it a religion of hate doesn't work because we know its not the religions fault that people are twisting it for their own purpose and goals.
Basically, what Im saying is that we dont know how deep the rabbit hole goes, and we're afraid to find out.