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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder if posters on here would refer to Islam as "a load of old tosh"..

420 replies

OhdearNigel · 22/09/2011 16:33

...in the same way that they think it is acceptable to ridicule Christianity. If a poster had started a thread about considering joining a mosque I wonder how many people would be prepared to post that Muslims were a bunch of bigoted fools due to their religious belief on homosexuality ? Or that a Hindu's beliefs were, to quote " a load of old tosh" ? If you don't think that would be alright to post, it's not alright to post it about Christianity either.

OP posts:
MrGin · 23/09/2011 17:18

You might find this interesting. from The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene.

here

Suggestions as to why this isn't in the Bible on a postcard please.

  1. He questioned them about the Savior: Did He really speak privately with a woman and not openly to us? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to us?

  2. Then Mary wept and said to Peter, My brother Peter, what do you think? Do you think that I have thought this up myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the Savior?

  3. Levi answered and said to Peter, Peter you have always been hot tempered.

  4. Now I see you contending against the woman like the adversaries.

  5. But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject her? Surely the Savior knows her very well.

Tortington · 23/09/2011 17:38

actually the priestly capacity representation for catholics is in persona Christi Capitis which means in the person of christ - the head. so its all about christ - and representing christ - not God and if you dont know the difference - you have to search the 'holy trinity' if this blows your mind you might have to start a different thread Grin

Tortington · 23/09/2011 17:52

the bible is a set of texts that were put together by a few people - rumour has it that the new testament - Constantines wife was a believer and this swayed him a bit and he saw political merit i think..iFirst Council of Nicaea is the thing to google here

the bible is seen by most god bothering types to be inspired and chosen through the hand of god.

i dont believe this

madhairday · 23/09/2011 18:22

I believe it's inspired by God yes, but there's no reason to discount other texts as useless, some apocryphal writings are beautiful and have merit theologically and spiritually. But yes I do believe in the bible as God's word in the sense of it being inspired, not however in the sense of every word being true and having to follow every precept. Although prawns are vile, so I'll allow that one Grin

LifeIsButtercream · 23/09/2011 18:28

I'd never refer to anyone's views on religion as 'a load of old tosh' as that is disrespectful, and if we wish to be treated with respect then we need to be prepared to respect others.

Riveninabingle · 23/09/2011 18:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pointythings · 23/09/2011 19:01

Meteorite (upthread) - I have no problems with Christians who think for themselves and don't read the Bible as if it were a technical manual (Insert tab A into slot B). As I've said, I don't even have any problems with people spreading the word, as long as they walk away when I tell them (politely) that I'm not interested.

It's the young-earth Creationists who insist that their beliefs equate to a scientific theory and then try to foist those beliefs on other people who get on my nerves. Although more of my ire is inspired by Education Secretaries who allow this kind of thing to happen in schools.

It's the fundamentalists who would deny equal rights to gay couples who want to solemnise their love by getting married who really annoy me. If God is love, why aren't gay people allowed the same love?

It's the people who want to keep women ignorant, oppressed and subordinate to men in all things who make me downright angry. People like that seem to occur in allt he Abrahamic faiths and in quite a few others as well - I have no time for religious faith if it is practised/perverted in that way.

I am in favour of happiness. If faith makes someone happy that is fine, as long as the way they practise that faith does not detract from the happiness of people who do not share that faith.

I think that mocking the faith of someone who is taking comfort from that faith in the aftermath of tragedy is cruel - but having a critical discussion on an internet forum in which some sharp words are used is not the same as telling a grieving mother face to face that what she believes is a load of old tosh.

We all need to learn tolerance, and none of us are allowed the moral high ground.

Tortington · 23/09/2011 19:29

lifeisbuttercream - i think i love you

Onemorning · 23/09/2011 21:00

I have a lot of Christian friends and colleagues, and while we share a lot of values we don't share our beliefs.

I would never tell them their beliefs are 'tosh', because they are personal and I can see that their faith is a big part of their lives.

But if someone on an internet site asks 'are religions tosh', my answer will always be yes.

CheerfulYank · 23/09/2011 21:25

I think the "he" and "him" is used in the way that people say "each to his own" or "mankind", even though they're speaking of both genders.

Probably someone already said that. Skimming, sorry! :)

The thing that makes God different from the "well I could just as well say elves live in my garden, an insane dwarf floats around the moon in a teacup, a pink unicorn lives in the sky and farts out tornadoes" and so on, for me is that those are specific things that we can conceptualize. Whereas the idea of a Creator is vague and unknowable. But I realize that I probably only think that way because I believe in said Creator.

As you were. :)

onagar · 23/09/2011 21:28

I'm glad you made that distinction, Onemorning. Reading some posts on here you'd think we were in the habit of stopping people in the street to say "have you taken Atheism into your heart"

The last time I even spoke about religion was the last time someone knocked at my door to tell me I was living my life wrong.

pointythings · 23/09/2011 21:31

The problem with that Yank is that there are a lot of Christians who do take the 'he' and 'him' bit very seriously and use it to oppress women. The same applies to Islam, Judaism etc. Which is where I come back to my point from long upthread that faith is fine, but when people start getting together to believe in groups, all the nasty lust for power and control comes out and things go horribly wrong. I think for the most part the Quakers have got it right.

If I were ever to believe, I'd be a pagan - just because their founding tenet is 'do no harm' and because they respect males and females as equal (and not 'equal but different', which is the flannel that is so often used to bar women from the priesthood).

CheerfulYank · 23/09/2011 21:45

I'm going to a Quaker meeting next moth Pointy! I'm excited. :)

CaymansBound · 24/09/2011 09:23

The more I hear about the Quakers the more I like them. Let us know how it goes Cheerful Yank I think it was Peachy I first learnt a bit about the Quakers from on another thread (devout atheist myself but like to learn)

Riveninabingle · 24/09/2011 10:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

catgirl1976 · 24/09/2011 10:40

I agree with onemorning I know people who are religious and they get something positive from that so I wouldnt be so rude to tell them it was "a load of tosh", but on an internet forum in answer to a general quesiton, then of course my answer is going to be "yes - load of tosh".

Some people take great comfort from psychics - of course I think thats "a load of tosh" but on an individual level I am not going to attack people for beliefs that help them. But as a rational reasonable person I do not belive in ghosts, or fairies or the supernatual.

onagar · 24/09/2011 11:23

Riven, I'm tempted now :o

Riveninabingle · 24/09/2011 12:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

onagar · 24/09/2011 13:08

"we need a gender neutral pronoun that isnt 'it'"

Maybe one we can use for everyone without having to specify which they are. I just saw a thread about guessing the gender wrong on someone's DC and it struck me that when you say "awww he/she is lovely!" you don't really care or need to know which they are.

CoteDAzur · 24/09/2011 17:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

doublemuvver · 24/09/2011 17:41

Peace and respect to all faiths. And do bear in mind that some faiths are more of a way of life than something you may (or may not) do on a Sunday/Saturday/Friday. So it could be misconstrued as an attack on the very fabric of their lives.......

CoteDAzur · 24/09/2011 17:46

"So the Old Testament is tosh, having been superseded"

The New Testament has also been superseded, though. Does that not count?

CheerfulYank · 25/09/2011 08:20

I always say It for God. :) Always have.

Onagar that reminds me of the South Park episode where the kids are sucked into a David Blaine cult and go around asking people if they realize the plan that David Blaine has for their lives. :o

Caymans I'll let you know. It sounds lovely though I'm not sure about the sitting in silence bit the whole time. I like a bit of singing!

onagar · 25/09/2011 11:51

CheerfulYank, David Blaine IS very holy :o

Quite surprised that you use 'it' for god. That ought to be correct, but English seems to to treat 'it' differently.

Still, next time someone tells me "god loves you" I can legitimately say "does it?" and confuse them

MrGin · 25/09/2011 13:10

Here's a question....

Just in relation to respecting all religions.

What about churches like The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints ? ( for example )

IMO they are a terrible bunch who facilitate child rape.

Do they deserve automatic respect ?

Scientology ? Satanists ?

I have to say, personally I don't agree that we should respect eveyones beliefs. Another example would be child rape by some Catholic priests. The fact that the Church was held in such reverance is partly to blame for the abuse being allowed to continue....