Anti-Religious Trolling On Mumsnet

When does someone using language to describe their own beliefs and experiences become 'pushing' their beliefs onto you, Ohfuckaducky?

Bo I generally do, my point was that it can derail a thread when there are multiple posts off topic. It gets hard to follow. This means discussing aspects of faith and worship can be difficult for believers, even on the spirituality / philosophy boards.

I don't have the full version of the MN app on my device and am unable to flag up this thread. I feel that MN should be aware this is a TAAT and could possibly regurgitate what happened with the original.

The use of God and faith, should not be done specifically to insult you Ohfuckaducky (although I do seriously wonder over the motivations of someone who said you, personally, were being 'punished', cannot see them as loving somehow). My point is though that faith language cannot be ruled as being generally offensive - the language itself does not aim to offend or be derogatory, it just speaks of belief.

So when a potential derailer/antagonist makes a flippant remark on a religious thread why not ignore them? You know it's not true. Isn't that what people of faith on here suggest that atheists and their children do when bombarded with religious stuff?

Ohfuckaducky - why do you post on religious threads if you hate religion so much? Why don't you just hide the threads, or skip past them?
I'm not particularly religious but I'd never be disrespectful to fellow mumsnetters beliefs.

You said God, not angels.

'Sky fairies is a factual description of what you construe god to be, in my view.'

"Sky fairy" and "imaginary friend" are fair descriptions of belief in anthropomorphic god/s and Angels IMO.

If people are having a debate about religion and belief, I think they're fair terms. I've certainly been told online and in real life that I will burn in hell for my non belief, as was my 7 year old son. Fortunately this is a pointless threat for atheists

I would never go on the prayer threads and threads which are for people of faith having a discussion. I didn't see yesterday's thread so can't comment specifically - I probably would have clicked,, rolled my eyes and shut it again, but I think the point is fair that if you post a click baity link in chat, you can't really complain if people with a different view bite back.

"The problem is when threads are started by someone of faith to discuss aspects of their experience, and someone jumps in with hateful and ridiculing comments"

Yeah, well, I hear a lot about threads like that. Haven't actually read many, though.

I have been involved in quite a few threads where people have been told to "suck it up" when they are concerned about the religious influences in state education, for example. And where people without faith have been told they most then also have no moral compass, no sense of wonder and no charitable impulses..........

I view it as fairly mild, in the pantheon of insults I could choose.

If what you are wanting to do is insult someone it shouldn't come as a surprise when they take offence. Surely that is the purpose of delivering an insult?

All you had to do oh fuck was leave the thread when you saw what it was about. I don't think there was anything inflammatory about the title personally but you were not obliged to post. I also don't see why people should not post threads about religion on other parts of the site. I see numerous school threads written on chat but they don't get told to go back to the education board. Also whether you believe in God or not Jesus is a historical figure I find it rather strange that you find the name of such offensive. Do you find naming other historical figures offensive too?

If you think believers think God has wings you've been reading some really weird religious tracts.

OP, I totally agree.
As others have said, there are clearly a number of regular posters on here (theists and atheists) who enjoy a lot of debate on the topic, and might start threads clearly to facilitate that. I think that's obviously fine, and in general those posters, although they might argue robustly, avoid hate-speech of any kind (against religion or atheism).
The problem is when threads are started by someone of faith to discuss aspects of their experience, and someone jumps in with hateful and ridiculing comments. For example, I can remember threads where religious posters posted for support because they were upset about lack of tolerance for their faith among their acquaintances, hateful comments being made etc. And some posters feeling it appropriate to post aggressive and mocking anti-faith sentiment on a thread asking for support dealing with that very issue! Staggering.
I have seen some similar support type threads started by atheists, and have not seen hateful views expressed on these by people of faith - but if that does happen, or course it is equally inappropriate and disgusting.

Ref sky fairies is a extremely disrespectful term to someone who believes. It most certainly isn't a constructive comment and actually shows poor debating skills if you have to resort to the use of it. I'm sorry you lost your mother but nothing excuses being offensive towards someone else because they believe something you don't. I lost my son a couple of years ago and I don't feel the need to abuse others.

"If a vulnerable person posts looking for spiritual support or advice from Christians, I think atheists should hold back from turning it into yet another 'God exists/no he doesn't' thread."

To be fair, they do, don't they? There used to be a heavy clodhoppered poster who piled in regardless, but I haven't seen her around for ages.

"I have a problem with someone's beliefs as soon as they start (a) trying to impose them on me, or (b) hurting people in their name.

I agree. I think the problem with your point a) is that people of faith don't think they do. And are inclined to belittle (see what I did there?) people who say they are. Even when given examples.