Does anyone have the RIGHT not to be offended?

Question

There are many opposing views in this world, many of which offend individuals who hold the opposite view. Does anyone have the right not to be offended?
Religions use the law to stop people offending them. Yet I find religion offensive in itself. What is my recourse?

Thanks for all your answers, I guess this really is an interesting question. Many of you single out Islam as unreasonably sensitive to criticism, yet it is not unique in this respect.

To those who say tolerance is a virtue in itself... perhaps you should have a think about that.
Should we tolerate value systems that encourage war and murder? That subjugate women? Or that insist on the genital mutilation of children? Religions do all these things. It is partly for this reason that I believe they should no longer be tolerated.

Answer 1

I also find religion offensive to the human conscience. Religion is based on personal belief, but that belief has become so powerful that it has taken over the lives of the unbeliever, but the faithful don't realise this, they think everything is OK! they shout that creationism should be taught in schools, they want "in God we trust" written in the constitution of America ( 1957), they want to teach children that dinosaur bones were left in the ground by God as a test of faith. They do not realise how religion has creeped into every aspect of society, how religion affects Governments and elections. They are quite happy that the Pres' GW Bush says he invaded Iraq because God wanted him too.

we can not escape religion, you do not have a say, we according to Bush snr, don't even "class as members of society, an Atheist is not a Patriot."

if this was about race, it would be a very different matter!


be well

Answer 2

No.

People need to accept that their views may be severely contradicted or insulted. They need to get a life and get over it.

Muslims are the most famous for their indignation at their beliefs being criticized. They have staged world-wide riots and even offered rewards (fatwahs) for the deaths of heretics. Their intimidation is so effective, that the press rarely prints criticism of them any more. Google and Yahoo screen out a lot of anti-Muslim web sites in their search results.

Your recourse is to speak your mind without fear of censorship . . . unless you're publicly criticizing Islam -- in that case you need to criticize anonymously if you value your life. Many public critics of Islam are killed and many others go into hiding. If you renounce Islam and become an ex-Muslim, your life may also be at risk. The Qur'an specifically orders that ex-Muslims be killed.

Tolerance is normally a virtue . . . unfortunately, tolerance of evil is itself evil. Speaking up then becomes a moral imperative. I've been reading the Qur'an and am alarmed at how hateful its doctrine is. It's a religion of intolerance and submission. It's truly mind-staggering.

I feel strongly that the whole world needs to read the Qur'an and understand the Muslim psyche it produces. Informed is forewarned.
.

Answer 3

My personal view is the more strongly you believe in what you believe; the more confident you are in its value and truth, the less likely you are to be "offended" by what anyone else says about it.

Being easily offended is a sign of insecurity. And if one believes in an all-powerful God, especially, one should be able to believe that that Being would not need mere mortals to avenge any offense toward Him.

On the other hand, common decency should keep people from making racist, homophobic, or religio-phobic comments and expecting to be respected for fomenting hate. Say whatever you want, but don't be upset if people think you're a hate-filled idiot for blathering on about it.

I'm against the thought-police, but we should all police ourselves to a certain degree.

Answer 4

One should alway be open, to the best in idea of any sort, including spiritual ideas. You should not be offended, if someone is offering you a new perspective and is sincere. You should be constantly testing , developing and correcting your spiritual ideas, so that you are sure, you got the best ones possible. This is because these ideas that form your belief play such an important part in how well you cope with life. Meditation/prayer, mind-body exercises, and a good diet, should help liven up ones spiritual senses, so as to properly evaluate spiritual ideas.

Answer 5

If religion is offensive to you , then you should ask yourself WHY?,

If your child wanted a cookie before lunch what would you say, if she wanted that cookie again after lunch what would you say,

Suppose she asked you to dress up in high heels , and fishnet stockings would you allow her to do so,

I would finally like to ask you how you feel about atomic energy? is it safe?

If you have answered I don't know to any of these questions, And feel might have diffrent answers at diffrent points in your life, I would like to ask you WHY?

As you can see there is NO ONE right or wrong answer and that sometimes the answer can change, diffrent people see it diffrently, and it can change.

Thats why we live in a Democracy, NOT communism, nor dictatorship.

We are FREE to believe as we choose, just as you are free to NOT believe if you wish.

as far as recourse goes, well thats the freedom part,
you are free to peacefully protest,and speak out,

And eventually like smoking, if the county agrees they will slowly do away with religion,

As you can see in Iran and Iraq, the majority believes in Islamic Law, however your NOT free to worship as you please,

Perhaps, they will abolish atheism, who knows,

Meg

Answer 6

There's a lot of finger pointing over this one - Christians point to the ACLU and atheists filing lawsuits and those groupw point to the legislatures as controlled by Christians, etc. Let me just say that I feel sad you find religion offensive because I value the human experience and because I do not want you to feel personally threatened by it.

Answer 7

Eh. I agree I find a lot of religions offensive except Buddhism. I was raised Christian. I dunno. I'm a offended by the athiests who go around trying to make the USA unreligious when people came for religious freedom. People will believe what they want and there's very little that can be done about it when you have people so zealous about their faith they don't care if they offend anyone. I just move on.

Answer 8

you do not have to accept the views of others, but surely practice a little bit of tolerance.


Tolerance

The most lovable quality any human being can possess is tolerance. …. It is the vision that enables one to see things from another’s viewpoint…. It is the generosity that concedes to others the right to their own opinions and their own peculiarities….. It is the bigness that enables us to let people be happy in their own way instead of our way.
-ANONYMOUS


Other then that, i do not know what to suggest. I do hope you find what it is you seek.

BB
)o(
Trinity

Answer 9

Muslims believe they have the right to kill anyone who insults their religion. That's because the are ashamed of their civilization. If they weren't, they wouldn't care if people criticized them. They are behaving like the geopolitical equivalent of some worthless punk who feels entitled to cap anyone who "disrespects" him.

The people who worry most about being "disrepected" are the ones who have done the least to earn respect.

Answer 10

Frank Sinatra's song, "That's Life", is a recourse option!
It's all a Life Game, people make up their own rules as they extend their rights to offend.