Should people be allowed criticize religion?

Sykk

My thoughts step from what Rowin Atkinson said.

If human beings have the right to dislike ideas, surely it is their right to do so? Just because you can stick a religious stamp on it doesn't take away another persons right to criticize it? When I try to speak of what I'm about to say below I sometimes get the response.. "Shhh, that's discrimination" or "Racist"...

I generally dislike Islam as a religion.. I know it's a massive stereotype, but I think their views on women's rights are absolutely absurd, their religion is based on the belief that people who are not Muslims, should become one, until the world is a Muslim only religion. Muslim believers bring in Islamic Laws into countries that severely violate human rights and especially the rights of women.

I know this isn't much different to Catholicism, but that religion is currently the laughing stock of all religions and isn't actively central in peoples lives. I think it's all a load of bollocks..

I have met a couple of Islamic guys in Australia before who were absolutely dead on. Became good pals and they spoke of what it was like back in Pakistan, of how severely you were punished for not praying on time, not fasting enough and other things when they were in school.

I have a big interest in astronomy, physics and some biology and I do believe in God.. Due to all the deft co-operative efforts of the trillions of variables that make life possible. However I believe all organized religion is a load of horse shít.. And it's your right as a person to tell me you believe otherwise.

So lock it or not.. There you have it "Another religion bashing thread", this isn't focusing on the CC for once... What do you think??

44leto

Religion is an idea like everything else, all ideas are open to criticism and approval.

Logical Fallacy

Everything should be open to criticism and discussion.

Blind acceptance of anything is a mistake.

Knasher

People are allowed to criticize other peoples ideas, I don't see why holding an idea on faith, instead of evidence, should change that.

But then we do live in Ireland and blasphemy is illegal here.

Eric Cartman

People should have the right to say what ever they want about religion. The stigma we put on it is terrible . If I say catholics are all paedos , some will disagree, some will laugh .

If i bring up the jews well then suddenly im as bad as hitler.

Gumbi

I think the answer to any level-headed human being is obvious - but just to be explicit: OF COURSE! Why should religion be given special treatment?

Battered Mars Bar

No, no one should be allowed do anything. That's why we have religion in the first place.

frozenfrozen

just remind them about the teapot in space

Ghost Buster

The thread title is all wrong. Its up there with "Prove there is no god" in putting the cart before the horse.
It should be called "Why do you think religion should be beyond criticism?"

Latchy

This You can escape all religions and religious topics here .

Logical Fallacy

Eric Cartman wrote: »

People should have the right to say what ever they want about religion. The stigma we put on it is terrible . If I say catholics are all paedos , some will disagree, some will laugh .

If i bring up the jews well then suddenly im as bad as hitler.

It all about how you phrase things and your general inability to say anything intelligently hinders you I think.

smash

Blasphemy!!!!!

Seachmall

Why would you want to criticize religion?

It has helped us to relate to each other, understand each other, empathise and sympathise with each other. It is the glue that binds us together.

Beyond that, it helps us to understand the world, the beauty of nature, life and the afterlife.

It has taken us from animals of evolution to souls of God's creation.

It is us.



No, wait. That's ecstasy. What are we talking about again?

toexpress

Religion went unchallenged and unquestioned in this country for many years and look how that turned out ... Brendan Smith

Eric Cartman

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

Eric Cartman wrote: »

People should have the right to say what ever they want about religion. The stigma we put on it is terrible . If I say catholics are all paedos , some will disagree, some will laugh .

If i bring up the jews well then suddenly im as bad as hitler.

It all about how you phrase things and your general inability to say anything intelligently hinders you I think.

Do you just follow me round threads to insult me ? This is the 2nd time this week

Hande hoche!

Latchy wrote: »

This You can escape all religions and religious topics here .

He looks great for his age.

Redzer7

Fúck the freeworld.

Beruthiel

Nothing should be above criticism.

staker

I would never impose my religion on anybody else, so long as I'm not criticized for having one I'm happy.
That's not the way it works, criticism will always be levelled against me and my religion,fair enough. All debate leads to one outcome though-I'm a tool for believing in what I do.
That's the nature of belief, belief is blind on all accounts.

Mr. Presentable

I believe they should.

frozenfrozen

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Do you just follow me round threads to insult me ? This is the 2nd time this week

he has over 8 posts per day, 2 times a week to run into you on an open forum isn't exactly excessive

singathim

You should not pass judgement on something unless you have all the facts. Either something is true or it isnt, and if you cant establish whether it is true or not than you should suspend all judgement on the matter.

El Weirdo

Beruthiel wrote: »

Nothing should be above criticism.

A belief that Mrs Weirdo holds very dear to her heart. In fact, she goes one step further and is of the belief that everything should be criticised. Especially if I do it.

FatherLen

i would never criticize someone because they had religious faith but it's when they start trying to ram it down peoples throat or judging you because you don't believe in a higher power or obey their religious laws, thats when i will express my views on religion.

kylith

Not just criticise but ridicule and mock too. That goes for all ideologies.

BunShopVoyeur

I reserve the right to criticise complete bollocks.

krudler

Of course, if you're not allowed criticise religion then you're basically being told to be tolerant of intolerance. People put so much behind the idea that a belief is so sacred its beyond being challenged, balls to that, you being offended that someone said something that goes against a belief, idea or opinion you have gives you NO special privelages in that regard.

thebigbiffo

much prefer yokes to religion. just sayin.

Latchy

Hande hoche! wrote: »

He looks great for his age.

It would be nice to expierence that for a year or two in a natural envoirment .I would imgine you would get a far better spirtitual expierence living there than in any Catholic church or Muslim mosque ( allowing for possibilitys of tsunamis to of course )

Logical Fallacy

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Do you just follow me round threads to insult me ? This is the 2nd time this week

How have I insulted you?

Also, given we are both prone to posting in AH it only makes sense that we would end up posting in the same thread sometime.

Finally, if you look again you will realise that I posted in this thread before you...so I guess that shoots down your little conspiracy theory.

kylith wrote: »

Not just criticise but ridicule and mock too. That goes for all ideologies.

While i think there is a place for humour in any situation I believe that many people who can only ridicule and mock something lack the brevity of wit to actually discuss it properly. They just repeat the soundbytes they have picked up over time...you see it a lot in religious discussion on boards.

toexpress

kylith wrote: »

Not just criticise but ridicule and mock too. That goes for all ideologies.

I don't think it needs to be mocked. Why would you do that? We all need to believe in something, even if it is just that a run will make us feel better, listening to music will chill us out etc. For some a mass or saying a prayer has that same effect and indeed to each their own so I wouldn't go mocking.

However, I think it should be challenged because a return to the old ways of Priests being above reproach and harming children or sending unmarried mothers to homes where they were brutalised and their children taken from them in the way in which they were would be the result of not raising challenges to religion. And I am just talking about Catholics here. I have a good deal of experience of Church of England which can be very similar in the way it dislikes questions to the Catholic Church but in respect of other religions I can't really say because I don't have experience.

Dudess

I don't think it's right to criticise people for having religious beliefs, but nothing wrong with criticising (constructively) the beliefs themselves. To some people though, the two things are the same.

kylith

toexpress wrote: »

kylith wrote: »

Not just criticise but ridicule and mock too. That goes for all ideologies.

I don't think it needs to be mocked. Why would you do that? We all need to believe in something, even if it is just that a run will make us feel better, listening to music will chill us out etc. For some a mass or saying a prayer has that same effect and indeed to each their own so I wouldn't go mocking.

However, I think it should be challenged because a return to the old ways of Priests being above reproach and harming children or sending unmarried mothers to homes where they were brutalised and their children taken from them in the way in which they were would be the result of not raising challenges to religion. And I am just talking about Catholics here. I have a good deal of experience of Church of England which can be very similar in the way it dislikes questions to the Catholic Church but in respect of other religions I can't really say because I don't have experience.

It doesn't _need_ to be mocked, but if I see something worth mocking then I'll do it.

I'm interested to see that you have no problem with me ridiculing it

Snowie

Eric Cartman wrote: »

If i bring up the jews well then suddenly im as bad as hitler.

depends are you after their jew gold ?

Gyalist

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

Eric Cartman wrote: »

People should have the right to say what ever they want about religion. The stigma we put on it is terrible . If I say catholics are all paedos , some will disagree, some will laugh .

If i bring up the jews well then suddenly im as bad as hitler.

It all about how you phrase things and your general inability to say anything intelligently hinders you I think.

Do you just follow me round threads to insult me ? This is the 2nd time this week

A bit sensitive - aren't we? You reserve the right to criticise any religion yet you see Logical Fallacy's gentle critcism of the way you express yourself as an insult.

cloptrop

Religion is too easy a target these days and gets bullied. People should start picking on topics their own size like science and cancer. Critisize the **** out of cancer thats what I always say.

Corkfeen

toexpress wrote: »

I don't think it needs to be mocked. Why would you do that? We all need to believe in something, even if it is just that a run will make us feel better, listening to music will chill us out etc. For some a mass or saying a prayer has that same effect and indeed to each their own so I wouldn't go mocking.

Scientology is acceptably ridiculed by anybody so I can't see a reason why other religions shouldn't be ridiculed. For example a stance that Condoms, IVF, Secularism (Or militant secularism as the like to call it) and Gay Marriage (or being gay) are wrong, M'kay? These moralistic and unfounded claims are to the detriment of society and are opposed to progress, any organisation that holds these stances should be prepared to be ridiculed as they have created the situation. I'm not actually saying ridicule the person but to ridicule the beliefs and organisations that spread them, yeah there's no major issue with exposing and mocking these views....

FatherLen

cloptrop wrote: »

Religion is too easy a target these days and gets bullied. People should start picking on topics their own size like science and cancer. Critisize the **** out of cancer thats what I always say.

how do you propose we criticize cancer?

toexpress

kylith wrote: »

It doesn't _need_ to be mocked, but if I see something worth mocking then I'll do it.

I'm interested to see that you have no problem with me ridiculing it

I apologise for leaving out the word ridicule. I do not think it needs ridiculing.

krudler

cloptrop wrote: »

Religion is too easy a target these days and gets bullied. People should start picking on topics their own size like science and cancer. Critisize the **** out of cancer thats what I always say.

Its not being bullied its just being called out on its bullsh1t that its being peddling for years

micropig

Today alone in AH we've had religions

A) condemning people for their sexuality
B)wanting to have sex with corpses


I'd say they're fair game for criticism, they make it so easy:p

Logical Fallacy

Corkfeen wrote: »

Scientology is acceptably ridiculed by anybody so I can't see a reason why other religions shouldn't be ridiculed. For example a stance that Condoms, IVF, Secularism (Or militant secularism as the like to call it) and Gay Marriage (or being gay) are wrong, M'kay? These moralistic and unfounded claims are to the detriment of society and are opposed to progress, any organisation that holds these stances should be prepared to be ridiculed as they have created the situation. I'm not actually saying ridicule the person but to ridicule the beliefs and organisations that spread them, yeah there's no major issue with exposing and mocking these views....

The issue I would highlight is that when you turn to mockery you put people on the defensive so they are far less inclined to give any time to your argument or your opinion.

Ridicule is just a way for people to feel more secure in their own beliefs and opinions.

Don't get me wrong, it can be funny as hell and is always tempting.

cloptrop

FatherLen wrote: »

how do you propose we criticize cancer?

By pointing out its failings, its killed more people than hitler and yet he gets all the press

krudler wrote: »

Its not being bullied its just being called out on its bullsh1t that its being peddling for years

Yeah everyone knows organisations have used religion for their own agendas and so on , but critisizing it now is kinda like critisizing leg warmers, its old news moan about something else. I dislike tea cosies , they are for people that have enough time to sit around untill their tea goes cold. If you cant drink a pot of tea in 20 mins just make a cup or get a job.

Peetrik

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Do you just follow me round threads to insult me ? This is the 2nd time this week

In fairness Eric, a lot of the things you say are very insulting to a range of people. Your seem to be aware of this and do it because in your opinion you should be allowed say anything you want regardless of how insensitive it is because of 'free speech'.

I can say this because of free speech

44leto

Religion threads on AH, its sometimes like going to mass.

Duggys Housemate

Its about time we had a thread on whether we should criticise religion.

44leto

Duggys Housemate wrote: »

Its about time we had a thread on whether we should criticise religion.

true except people on AH were never sure if they could, so this thread will clear that up.

pc7

I think all religions should be fair game for criticism, mockery, parody etc. I don’t believe people should be killing each other or blowing each other up over religion. It irks me how some Muslim followers went ape **** over Dutch cartoons of Mohammed when Catholicism is fair game without a load of Catholics wanting to break out the guns. Father Ted is one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen, would it have been allowed based on that law (South Park not being allowed to show Mohammed’s image, when it has Jew Gold, Priests as Peados (or wait that was true) without people going barmy.

Ellis Dee

Oh no, not another religion-bashing thread!:D:D:D

I couldn't resist being the first to say that. Must be a slow day today when no one else has

:)

Latchy

Ellis Dee wrote: »

Oh no, not another religion-bashing thread!:D:D:D

I couldn't resist being the first to say that. Must be a slow day today when no one else has

:)

They have ...just not in so many few words

krudler

pc7 wrote: »

I think all religions should be fair game for criticism, mockery, parody etc. I don’t believe people should be killing each other or blowing each other up over religion. It irks me how some Muslim followers went ape **** over Dutch cartoons of Mohammed when Catholicism is fair game without a load of Catholics wanting to break out the guns. Father Ted is one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen, would it have been allowed based on that law (South Park not being allowed to show Mohammed’s image, when it has Jew Gold, Priests as Peados (or wait that was true) without people going barmy.

all those are up for making fun of, just not a paedophile prophet