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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to be offended

33 replies

1Catherine1 · 27/02/2012 01:41

So, background, I'm an atheist but come from a catholic family on my fathers side, although he no longer believes.

Yesterday my second cousin (dads cousin) posted a picture on facebook that was a poster of some kind that mocked the beliefs of atheists. Its underlying tone was suggesting that atheism and atheists were stupid.

I was offended. Not really because of the content of the poster but because she had posted it without considering that others had the right to believe what they like without being mocked. I replied saying pretty much that and pointing out that I wouldnt dream of posting an Anti-catholic post. She replied telling me to lighten up, and saying that it was really quite funny. I then got angry that she'd missed my point so snapped. I told her that i found the hypocracy hilarious and referred to "god" as a magical being. I realize that this was disrespectful but an eye for an eye and all that jaz.

It seems I got her attention as she removed me from her friends list- i guess I offended her...

OP posts:

verityverbiage · 27/02/2012 01:43

An offended atheist is hard to find.

Well done you.

TheSinglePringle · 27/02/2012 01:44

that's something I would have done as I'm also a atheist. It would have been different if you had put something up which mocked their beliefs.

Original poster

1Catherine1 · 27/02/2012 01:45

Sorry - on my phone and it posted before i was ready.

So, aibu to expect others to show respwct for my beliefs the way I do everyone elses? I am fed up with people saying that Atheism is having no beliefs. To me it is a belief in the past, the presant and the furure and the role we play in it.

Excuse typos- again, i'm on my phone.

OP posts:

TheSinglePringle · 27/02/2012 01:51

I actually don't have any beliefs I don't think. I don't think you were been unreasonable though.

ComposHat · 27/02/2012 02:57

If we atheists want the right to challenge the absurdities of the Christian faith, then we should expect to defend our views and have them held to scrutiny by religious people.

CaoNiMa · 27/02/2012 03:11

"It would have been different if you had put something up which mocked their beliefs."

Why? Why is religion above criticism and mockery, while atheism is fair game for piss taking?

In my mind, the folk who believe in deities are the ones that need to defend their faith, not the people who don't.

MidniteScribbler · 27/02/2012 03:19

It depends on if the item was genuinely offensive, or was it a funny item and you lack a sense of humour? I'm Catholic and can still find humour in cartoons and other various internet shares that poke fun at Catholicism.

MrsTerryPratchett · 27/02/2012 03:49

I recommend Googling atheist inspirational posters and posting a few. Funny and make a point.

antsypants · 27/02/2012 08:00

I suppose it depends on how much value you put in a religious persons opinion.

I respect everyone's human rights to follow a faith, however I don't respect their faith and quite frankly have little respect for them as a person. I don't see why I should be prevented from ridiculing these beliefs.

Equally I would have no issue with someone religious doing the same to atheists.

I don't see atheism as a belief structure, it's a fact, people are deluded it's they issue, unless the person was saying something that was immediately inciting negative behaviour then I don't understand why it would bother you.

upahill · 27/02/2012 08:04

Another facebook fall out!

uruculager · 27/02/2012 08:04

"Why? Why is religion above criticism and mockery, while atheism is fair game for piss taking?"

Religion above criticism and mockery? Where on earth do you live? Obviously not in the West.

StrandedBear · 27/02/2012 08:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AlpinePony · 27/02/2012 08:22

Yabvu to get upset about something so trivial on fb. I would suggest that next weekend you find something to do which is more fulfilling of your time, e.g., go to church or something.

Jins · 27/02/2012 08:26

There have been an awful lot of pictures mocking christianity doing the rounds on Facebook recently. She was probably reacting to that. You can't see what's on her newsfeed after all.

I think you overreacted

KittyAnne · 27/02/2012 08:27

If you find this upsetting then you really spend too much time on FB.

YuleingFanjo · 27/02/2012 08:29

Just because you wouldn't mock someone's beliefs doesn't mean it's wrong for others to.

what was it she posted? Put it here so usatheists can see how 'offensive' it was. go on.

Nagoo · 27/02/2012 08:43

YABU.

You were offended? Really? Atheism is an absence of belief. It just is.

I've got a frowny eyebrow thing going on, since I for the life of me can't understand what you had to be offended about.

Have you generally got a sense of humour?

SydSaid · 27/02/2012 08:47

I think YABU. You say yourself that you mocked her religion by calling god a mythical being, so you aren't above what you perceive her to have done.

Ime, there is much more religion-mocking than atheist-mocking going on, it wasn't directed at you - more likely it was for the benefit of her religious friends - and being offended by something is a choice you make in most cases, and certainly in this case.

Whatmeworry · 27/02/2012 08:48

"Why? Why is religion above criticism and mockery, while atheism is fair game for piss taking?"

It's been the other way round in the West for decades.

But an Offended Atheist is a new one on me. Mind you, I hadn't heard of Militant Atheism until recently.

Sign of the times...

antsypants · 27/02/2012 08:51

I wonder what a militant atheist does, goes around snatching people's crucifixes off their necks and glaring disdainfully at them?

It's all Richard Dawkins fault.

Cherriesarelovely · 27/02/2012 11:49

Obviously we haven't seen what she wrote OP but if her post was suggesting that atheists were basically stupid then of course YANBU to be offended. I have no doubt that she would be offended if you had written a post mocking Catholics.

AKMD · 27/02/2012 11:58

YANBU. I am religious and don't like it when people mock religion (which is different to asking questions and actually wanting to hear the answers). In the same way, I would not mock aetheism.

Being disrespectful of someone's beliefs, whatever they are, is poor behaviour.

AKMD · 27/02/2012 11:59

*atheism even :)

WhataMistakeaToMakea · 27/02/2012 12:01

YANBU - I get annoyed at stuff like this (not offended as such, but annoyed). I also don't like being sent religious text messages etc and being 'prayed for' by people who know I'm an atheist.
I would never be so rude as to disrespect what they do or do not believe.

SydSaid · 27/02/2012 12:01

imgur.com/EX5v4

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