I'm not talking exlusively about Yahoo Answers, but as a world view. Remember those highly contraversial anti-Semitic cartoons recently that flooded the press, for example?
Do you condone such ridicule?
2007-10-04 23:41:43 · 17 answers · asked by Golgi Apparatus 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some good points so far, but
corrosion factor
I am an Atheist, I just like to be neutral when I ask a question. I don't appreciate your comments.
2007-10-04 23:57:09 · update #1
Anti-semitism? I'm not so keen on that, they've been through a lot - but anti-christianity, anti-islam? A bit of that just redresses the balance. Such anti-human irrational beliefs have been tolerated and respected for far too long. The pictures of Mohammed in the Danish newspaper are a good example. Did they show there was something wrong with the paper or something wrong with Islam? I consider the answer obvious.
I wouldn't say its fashionable, but its becoming )slowly) more acceptable. We need to be able to say the emperor (or his followers) have no clothes on.
I condone it because I believe in personal freedoms - you can worship whatever god you can make up, but don't expect people to take you seriously.
2007-10-04 23:45:21 · answer #1 · answered by Leviathan 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋
It's not 'fashionable' though is it? It's just not so dangerous nowadays to argue that the earth is round, or that witches aren't real, or that mental illness isn't a demon, or that life evolves, or that opening an umbrella won't really give you bad luck unless you believe it so badly that you bring it on yourself.
All the same thing. There are just more athiests visible because religious people can't lock them away or kill them for daring to ridicule the ridiculous.
I do think ridicule should be gentle and humorous though, not fierce like telling people they are immoral and going to hell for not believing, ot telling a religionist that they are bad people just for believing in deities.
However, shouldn't people like Fred Phelps and the Islamic Hate Clerics be roundly ridiculed?
Ridicule is better than bombing people. But gentle irony and teasing is better ;-)
2007-10-05 07:02:26 · answer #2 · answered by Bajingo 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
there are religious people of all paths who use religion to create a personal connection with spirituality; people who are decent, caring, wise and tolerant. They don't beat their chests about it - because they don't need to.
those who thump their chests the loudest generally shout the words, but the words are empty- it is clear that these people are talking because they like to be heard (especially by themselves), and the more they talk, the less they say.
ridiculing the second group is a healthy expression of a society that has more than put up with these people, who never budge an inch and assume they are the rightful owners of the miles. if one ridicules the first group, they take it with a smile and move on.
2007-10-05 07:05:31 · answer #3 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's not fashionable. It's neccessary in order to keep our free society. I condone more ridicule of religions, especially after yesterday's scary article in the Christian Science Monitor about how Dominionists have pretty much taken over the U.S. military. One general described a far right christian group as being "quasi-federal" and he was complimenting them. This is sickening, so I shall continue to ridicule until you finally get rid of free speech and examine the ridiculous beliefs of any religion. Start with your own.
2007-10-05 06:48:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I disagree with "Institution?". What race you are or what sex you are are hardly under your control, but what belief you hold is definitely somewhat under your control. Religion should not be above ridicule or satire. We are where we are (with the terrorism and fundamentalism) just because religion has been given respectful treatment for too long. Time for the gloves to come off...
2007-10-05 07:44:33 · answer #5 · answered by H.u.S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its fashionable because the religious gave us George Bush, who almost immediately began breaking commandments..... you know.... Thou shalt not Bear False Witness (lie) Seen any WMD? Yellow Cake Uranium? Saddam being involved in 9/11 ..... and Thou Shalt not Kill (remember shock and Awe)
It is so ridiculous that the religious would put this man in office, that it begs to be ridiculed....
2007-10-05 06:51:20 · answer #6 · answered by cato___ 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
People only do it so much because well, the majority of Americans still believe in some sort of deity. Atheists are still a minority. It's like the racial things and sexism.
I don't really care either way. People can say what they want.
2007-10-05 06:45:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
People can believe what they want privately - no matter how ridiculous. If they expect others to believe the same things as them, their beliefs will be subject to ridicule.
If you want to believe that the world is supported on a giant tortoise - fine. If you publicly announce that those who do not believe as you do will burn in hell, you are opening yourself up to ridicule.
2007-10-05 06:52:03 · answer #8 · answered by qxzqxzqxz 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
REad your history books, persecution and tyranny raged on for centuries in Europe. And it will make an ugly comeback on a much larger scale. You aint seen nothin yet!
2007-10-05 07:00:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Religion is falling apart on a worldwide scale....as far as ridiculing Religion....I think we havent seen anything yet
2007-10-05 06:48:34 · answer #10 · answered by rihannsu 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋