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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think that this 'transsexual' Jesus play should not get public funding?

508 replies

whatwilltheythinkofnext · 12/11/2015 16:07

I would say 'no words' but how about "disgusting, insulting, disrespectful, immoral..." need I go on? How does this awful thing get 'public funding' - I'd be demanding a refund of my council tax. Enough already!

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 13/11/2015 11:55

why shouldn't they have been allowed to wear a cross

Perhaps because the rules said no jewellery and it is not a requirement for a Christian to wear a cross.

Roseforarose · 13/11/2015 11:56

Dawn most of the things we take for granted in this country such as freedom of speech, healthcare, schools, works of art, music, museums, practically everything was built on Christianity. What do you mean when you say working life should be made a little more accessible for the wider community?

SoupDragon · 13/11/2015 11:59

Generally speaking, Christians wouldn't need to ask for exemptions because there are very very few requirements of the religion and, as a basically Christian country, our holidays alread give them religious festivals off.

Roseforarose · 13/11/2015 12:01

Neither does the Koran demand that the woman should wear the hijab. She chooses to wear it and obviously she is allowed to wear it in the workplace because it is part of her identity. As is the crucifix and a Christian should be offered the same consideration.

SoupDragon · 13/11/2015 12:02

Doctors are allowed to refuse to send you for a termination if it is against their religious beliefs. This would apply to Catholic doctors. They must make it clear you can see another doctor who will refer you though.

Bumbledumb · 13/11/2015 12:04

The BA crew who wanted to wear a visible cross when the rules said no jewellery. The registrar who wanted to be allowed not to marry gay couples.

It seems to me that the religious beliefs of these people is irrelevant. The BA crew member was breaking the rules and it would not have mattered whether they were Christian. Muslim or Hindu. Do you have an example of a Buddhist BA crew member who was permitted to wear jewellery on religious grounds?

Similarly, would a Sikh registrar have been exempted from marrying gay couples? A registrar's job is to marry people according to the law. They have no right to deny people the right to marry, because they don't agree with the law.

Dawndonnaagain · 13/11/2015 12:13

What do you mean when you say working life should be made a little more accessible for the wider community?
Seriously?

redstrawberry10 · 13/11/2015 12:24

Well give me an example of when Christians ask for exemptions in the workplace?

Christians don't need to ask. They just get them.

Can I have work off for my holy days? Say Christmas and Easter? Done! Can I have prayer in our schools? Done! Can 1/3 of the schools in my country be tax payer funded christian schools? Done!

I love the tears of christian oppression in this country. I've got zero sympathy for it until christians stop ramming their religion on everyone.

I do, unfortunately, have some consistency in thought, and freedom of religion and expression is a basic human right. So, OP is being unreasonable. Offended? Don't go see it. The BA worker was not being unreasonable. She should be allowed to wear her little cross, if Sikhs can wear turbans, and muslims can wear hijabs.

redstrawberry10 · 13/11/2015 12:27

It seems to me that the religious beliefs of these people is irrelevant. The BA crew member was breaking the rules and it would not have mattered whether they were Christian. Muslim or Hindu.

it's not irrelevant. If an employer wants to trample on people's right to their religion, they should need a damn good reason for it. An arbitrary uniform doesn't cut it, I think. But if you can't marry someone and you are a registrar (i.e. that's your job!), then there is a case.

BertrandRussell · 13/11/2015 12:40

"So you never read of cases of Muslim supermarket workers refusing to handle pork or alcohol because it is against their religion? "

Tell me what happened in those cases. Interesting that you are completely dismissing the two examples I came up with, even though they are detailed and documented......... why are they not good enough?

redstrawberry10 · 13/11/2015 12:43

Well, technically that cartoon is right.

how is the cartoon "technically correct"?

BertrandRussell · 13/11/2015 12:45

Read the rest of my post.

BerylStreep · 13/11/2015 12:46

I had a checkout operator in Tescos refuse to serve me when I asked for a lottery ticket because 'gambling was against her Christian principles'. A manager had to be called over to complete the transaction.

Edwin Poots, the DUP health minister imposed a lifetime ban on gay men donating blood - sounds pretty intolerant to me.

And I reckon that Savita Halappanavar's husband has plenty to grumble about, living in Ireland, since the State was so busy cow-towing to the Catholic church that they refused to give her a life saving abortion. However, mustn't grumble.

I think this play and the narrow minded reaction there has been to it from some quarters demonstrates exactly how our society is in the grip of religious intolerance, whether it is to free speech, bodily autonomy, or sexuality.

Wasn't it Richard Dawkins who made the point that that if people are so secure about their religious beliefs that they wouldn't care if other people challenge or criticise it?

Roseforarose · 13/11/2015 12:57

she should be allowed to wear her little cross
Why did you include the word "little"
Totally unnessessary but also very telling. Another example of belittling Christians.

I love the tears of christian oppression in this country. I've got zero sympathy for it until christians stop ramming their religion on everyone.
Ffs the middle east is on fire, Muslims fighting Muslims, they've practically been at war with each other since time began, ordinary decent Muslims who live over there are getting killed simply for not being the right sort of Muslim, thousands are fleeing, and you're saying that Christians are ramming their religion on everyone? They're not slaughtering each other ffs. Be thankful you live in a country that will allow you to be any damn religion you want or none at all. It can't be that flippin bad here or thousands wouldn't be trying to get in.

BerylStreep · 13/11/2015 13:01

Well the situation you describe isn't that different from Northern Ireland. Plenty of sectarian killings and assaults because someone is 'the wrong sort of Christian'. Please don't tell people what they should be thankful for, it comes across as very condescending.

Roseforarose · 13/11/2015 13:03

Bert they weren't examples of what we were talking about and you know it. I haven't dismissed them, I told you that the case of the BA employees was not an example of what we were talking about, neither was the other.
Are you really asking for examples of what I am talking about? so you want me to spend time googling umpteen cases where this has happened, or are you seriously expecting me to remember names.
Please don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, unless you've been living in a cave for the last few years it's hardly unheard of.

MistressDeeCee · 13/11/2015 13:08

Be thankful you live in a country that will allow you to be any damn religion you want or none at all

I agree with this wholeheartedly. Honestly, some people seem to live in a bubble

Im not christian but really don't understand the onslaught against christians in what is a christian country really. It makes zero sense to me. Let christians get on with being christians they're not rounding you up and forcing you to be christian are they? I went to a christian school, on growing up found it wasnt my thing but it didnt do me any harm learning about it. I read some posts/threads on here at times that make it sound as if should a school dare to teach christian principles to children they will never ever forget it and are bound to grow up as christian clones or something. Its nonsensical, we learn lots of things some we retain some we reject, thats life.

But yes, be glad you live in a country where you can be christian or not, and speak out against it if you choose. Not everybody is afforded that right.

Roseforarose · 13/11/2015 13:08

Beryl are you seriously comparing Northern Ireland to what's going on in the middle east? Wow.
It might sound condescending but really it's time for a reality check. We should be bloody thankful.
I actually find the Tesco incident a bit doubtful, but if that really happened I'd say that's a one off, never heard of that kind of thing before.

Roseforarose · 13/11/2015 13:15

Thank you Mistressdeecee a bit of common sense at last. I agree whole heartedly about schools. What lasting damage does it do to our kids. None what so ever. Probably does them more good than harm anyway. As they get older they can take it or leave it. I can never understand why some people get so worked up about it.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 13/11/2015 13:19

Let christians get on with being christians they're not rounding you up and forcing you to be christian are they?

There are enough threads on schooling in England where parents feel the only option is to send their children to faith schools to make me doubt that statement, tbh.

See also religious content in assemblies.

See also the Head of State being Head of the Church of England, and all that entails.

Allofaflumble · 13/11/2015 13:20

I agree with you Rose. I will never understand why Jesus (whether fictional or not) is persistently mocked and blasphemed against! His message was one of the most genuine and equalizing in history.

I can understand having a problem with Christians but Christ himself? Confused

Roseforarose · 13/11/2015 13:28

Thankyou Allo it means a lot to have that bit of support. I hate these sort of discussions, you feel as if everyone's against you but I felt I had to say how I felt.

MistressDeeCee · 13/11/2015 13:33

There are enough threads on schooling in England where parents feel the only option is to send their children to faith schools to make me doubt that statement, tbh

Its not an "only option" at all - some parents just want to send their children to faith schools but don't want to openly admit that. If you do not like christian principles there is no edict that says you MUST send your child to a faith school whatsover. There are plenty of other schools available, should you feel christian teachings will do your child lasting harm. Thats what you have - choice - but people are often disingenious in pretending they do not,so they can get what they want

PatriciaHolm · 13/11/2015 13:42

There is no such thing as a secular state school in England and Wales. Every state school is required to hold " a daily act of broadly Christian worship". So no, there really isn't any choice about escaping faith in schools, if you need to send your children to state school.

SoupDragon · 13/11/2015 13:46

Be thankful you live in a country that will allow you to be any damn religion you want or none at all

This country does not allow children to have a secular education so "allows you to have no religion all" is not entirely correct. The education system discriminates against non religious children by allowing state funded schools to select children based on their religion (Christian)