should Bible-fundamentalists be excused for the hatred they spread because of their beliefs?

Question

is that what freedom of religion all about; to exercise one's beliefs at the expense of others?

Answer 1

No. Not at all. There is no excuse for it, and there never will be.

Answer 2

No. Unless they're willing to excuse Hitler for the hatred he spread because of his beliefs. What your question suggests isn't Freedom at all... but dictatorship.

CJ - Jesus didn't run around hounding people "You're going to hell cause you don't believe like I do". If we go by the Bible and the words attributed to him, he was NOTHING like the Bible-thumpers. He would talk With people... not AT them.

And a person can speak the truth and be a total prick about it... do you think anyone will listen to them? It's HOW a person speaks with others that will get them to actually listen. Your approach means a lot.

Answer 3

Should they be excused, no. Should they be tolerated, I don't know. In the US, beliefs should be tolerated for the most part; if we give groups like the KKK the rights to spread their hatred, we certainly have to let groups like Westboro Baptist Church to express theirs as well, no matter how hateful it seems.

Freedom of religion does not give the right to express beliefs at the expense of others. It MUST be done in a tolerant and reasonable way. Freedom of religion does NOT give the 9/11 terrorists the right to kill over 3000 people, and ruin the lives of many more, simply because they believe it is religiously correct to do so.

Answer 4

Heh, at first I saw the word "executed", I wonder why. :-}

Freedom of speech lets anyone say anything (for the most part, though this varies under certain circumstances, like in the workplace, school, etc). So long as they're merely expressing their opinion, that's fine with me. Pop some popcorn and watch the train wreck!

However, if their beliefs extend to the workplace or some other place where what they're saying actually damages another person (e.g. brings out some detail of someone's personal life out in the open, or if they're a boss exclude someone from a government or other public service position because the candidate doesn't believe likewise) this is not excusable.

Answer 5

Your question assumes that Christians spread hatred. This is a false assumption. Christ said that Christians can be identified by their love. The apostle John said that one who does not love does not know God. Therefore, according to the definition of "Christian" set forth in the Bible, a "Christian" cannot spread hate. Still, those who are not Christians often confuse moral thinking and speaking with hatred. Nothing could be further from the truth. Moral thinking requires a ranking of behaviors as against a standard. Some are good. Some are bad. Some are difficult to analyze. When a Christian tells someone that their behavior falls short of the standard, that is not hatred. That is love. Hatred seeks to bring harm to the one hated. Love seek the well-being of the one loved. Immoral living brings harm. Moral living brings good, brings happiness. Encouraging others to live morally is encouraging them to live in the highest state of well-being. That is love, and that is what all genuine Christians, by definition, must do, if in fact they are properly called Christians.

Answer 6

well, apparently the bible is quite clear that in order to be righteous and get into heaven, they need to be out stoning adulterers.

I don't know. If I were some all powerful, omnipotent creature that created life and the universe, I wouldn't be so self centered as to want people to 1. Pray to me. and 2. Preach to others what they think I want.

If I wanted people to know something about my values, I'd tell them myself. (uh... more recently than some ancient text with questionable origins)

Answer 7

Do you mean to ask if they can leave the table? Sure, if they've finished their vegetables! Just remember to leave the hate spread on the table! I'll clean up for you... it's MY turn to do the dishes!

Answer 8

And bring the rest of society to their level - no - just educate all to their nonsense.

Good point Heathen Daughter - they are near to insanity.

Answer 9

No more then murdering schizophrenics should be excused because they hear voices in thier head.

Answer 10

What do you mean by excused?
They should be taken to task for the nonsense they spread, as should all religious people. They should be assaulted with logic and reason every time they open their mouth.

Answer 11

They shouldn't be excused but they should first be understood. As reasonably as possible, ignorance is no excuse. Many of them need more education to break the ignorance barrier.