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

[OhdearNigel]

...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.

Why should religions be respected ? I mean fair enough if you have a belief and you keep it to yourself fine, but in wider society just why do people of 'faith' feel they deserve unquestioned respect ?

If I went around saying I believed in the Flying Spagetti Monster ( blessed be his tentacles ) I wouldn't be surprised if I was laughed at.

I think ALL religions are tosh. That is my right to believe it and say it in whatever forum I like. And if that offends or upsets anyone, I am not remotely sorry.

But I agree with op that Christians do seem to get bashed more often and more offensively. Possibly because Christians are less likely to try to kill people who offend them?

But I note in terms of being threatening they didn't cover themselves with glory over the Jerry Springer furore. What happened to turning the other cheek eh?

I may be biased because I am an atheist but I can't immediately recall hearing about any atheists who doorstepped TV executives and threatened their children or stabbed filmmakers in 'defence' of their no religion.

I think you make a valid point OP. There is usually an outcry if anyone criticises Islam in the wider world e.g. the Satanic verses, or the Danish cartoons but it is okay to ridicule Jesus or use his name as a swearword.

I think your average person would happily say 'Oh God' or 'Jesus Christ'- not out of some attempt to be anti-Christian but as it is thought of as 'just an expression'. People wouldn't say 'Oh Allah' or 'Prophet Mohammed' as noone would have a jeffing clue what they meant.

I think a blanket ban on religion would be the easiest way to stop all these misunderstandings

True Don but could you imagine the uproar if someone uttered the latter in their place of work.

I blasphemed all the time at work. No one gave a stuff

I agree with an earlier poster (I think it was Riven?) that it is rare that I see anyone religious on this site telling all atheists that their beliefs are a load of crap and that they're idiots/bigots/whatever else but the opposite does tend to happen more.

I'm happy for everyone to believe what they want without telling anyone their beliefs are 'a load of old tosh' - so why the need to say that about religion?

Islam is a load of old tosh.

hth.

"telling all atheists that their beliefs "

What beliefs?

I'd be happy for someone to tell be that my non beliefs were a load of crap (although it's difficult to criticise someone for beliefs they don't have). And tell me why I should believe in God,l Allah or the Great Jehovah.

I would!

You can hardly criticise someone for not holding a belief.....that's madness. Save that for your 'slay them all' shit in religious stories.

How would it work?

Oh you atheists not believing in something that's never been proved.

WineandPizza, that is exactly how I feel about it - I don't care if someone thinks Christianity is a load of old tosh, that's their opinion, but do you have to write it on a discussion board when the poster hasn't actually said "Christianity - load of old rope ?". I wouldn't tell an atheist that they were stupidly misguided and were going to burn in hell for eternity as they are entitled to believe what they like without me mocking that.

Which thread is this thread about?

You could say it to an atheist if you liked OP - we don't care, as we don't believe a word of it.

"but do you have to write it on a discussion board when the poster hasn't actually said "Christianity - load of old rope ?""

You've already said that you are talking about a thread where someone asked for opinions on the Alpha course. So you are talking about people being asked for an opinion, not just randomly turning up to pick on the Christians.

But Christianity and religion is a load of old rubbish, a damaging load of all rubbish, sexist tripe.

I have had people ask me why I don't believe - I wish I did have Faith - it seems to be a very comforting thing to have. Thing is I just don't beleive, like I don't beleive in the Easter bunny/ Father Christmas any more and to me it is similar. I don't say that often (I don't mean it to be insulting but I know people find it so) as there is no need - but if pressed on the issue, it is how I feel.

Atheism is also a belief.

The only rational position is agnosticism.

The afterlife, or not, and divine presence, or not, is beyond human proof. To take any decided view on this is an act of faith.

And all - according to most posters on this thread - are tosh.

Why have you started a new thread on this OP - why didn't you post this on the other thread?

No atheism is a rejection of belief

YABU I'm quite happy to go on record and say that all the organised religions are based on a lot of superstitious nonsense. Islam not excluded.