Cinema ban on the Lord's Prayer

[Leafitout]

Surely if anyone finds this advert offensive they can choose not to watch it. I can't see the problem with showing it.

No, the frothing goes on here. The point is, the majority of atheists would happily sit through this advert at the cinema and ignore it.

And your evidence for this is?

I don't know any atheists who wouldn't be rolling their eyes at the bizarreness and probable futility of proselytising in a cinema.

The cinema chain's terms and conditions haven't changed. The CofE have just decided to have a rather unbecoming hissy fit.

Not the cinema's problem.

The basis of the National Anthem is God Save Queen. Isn't that a type of prayer? Yet people aren't up in arms about having to sing it (or hear it) every time HM makes an appearance or at award ceremonies etc

I know lots of people who refuse to sing God Save the Queen.

Yep. Thought so.

Nope. in fact, I don't know specifically anyone who has, and know of many people who haven't.

Yes, Strawberry, it is fact. Outside of The Guardian and Mumsnet, yes.

Interesting, we have now expanded from MN to the guardian, which by the way has a rather large readership.

but I guess you are comfortable in your "facts".

An atheist might sit through it but I doubt it would be 'happily'. It's a moot point though. The points being discussed are; 1. Does the cinema have a right to refuse to show the advert - yes, 2. Does the church have a right to compel the cinema to show it - no and 3. Are Christians being discriminated against by the cinemas having a policy of not showing religious or political ads - no.

If you are offended at the refusal to show it you are clearly the type of religious person who believes in the missionary aspects of the faith and quite frankly you need to recognise that this part of the faith is not acceptable in the same free society that protects your right to practice your own faith.

Why would you assume everyone here christens there babies? I don't know anyone who has done that.

Is that not a tradition that's dying out?

I don't think people are getting 'het up' by the prayer ad. They just agree with the cinemas' decision not to show it for all the reasons given above.

Faberge you cant just stick the word fact at the end of things when you don't know if its actually fact or not.

I don't know any atheists who wouldn't be rolling their eyes at the bizarreness and probable futility of proselytising in a cinema.

as I said earlier, I don't see a problem with adverts in the cinema. Frankly, I'd probably prefer my children see that advert than one for coke.

The difference between the cinema and school is that attendance at the cinema is entirely voluntary, and it's not a place where anyone, including children I think, would assume any educational authority (like a school).

The point is, the majority of atheists would happily sit through this advert at the cinema and ignore it.

But, if they allow this ad, they also have to allow ads for every other sort of religion. Sorry, but I would have massive objections to sitting through scientology ads.

And would the religious types happily sit there whilst non-believers sit through their respective prayers playing on their phones, chatting, chomping popcorn etc?

Faberge, in 2011 only 30% of marriages took place in a church or other religious setting. (Source: ONS)

One in ten infants are now baptised into the CofE, down from a third in 1980. Baptisms of all ages have halved in that time.

Given that more than two thirds of people now have civil marriages, and most babies aren't baptised, chances are you might encounter one or two on MN. Not so tough to believe, surely?

Faberge you cant just stick the word fact at the end of things when you don't know if its actually fact or not

sure he/she can. No one has to take her seriously though.

Faberge you cant just stick the word fact at the end of things when you don't know if its actually fact or not.

It's about faith not facts though isn't it? I mean how can you ever be wrong if no amount of tangible evidence can dissuade you? What comfort...

I don't believe you. Sorry.

Frankly, I don't care whether you believe me or not, Faberge. But did you not know that only one in three marriage ceremonies these days is a religious one, and some of those are non-Christian? And you do know that it isn't actually a condition of joining MN that people be married, don't you?

I am tolerant of most things tbh as long as they don't infringe on my day to day existence. However people who feel that religions are benign caring organisations are deluded.

I'm not offended or shocked by the cinemas' decision not to show this advert. I am simply astonished that you all think the average atheist really does card one way or another whether it is shown. I am also astonished that so-called Christians would support the ban (unless, of course, they're not confident that the God they worship is the one true God, in which case I would suggest they rethink their faith).

A huge proportion of those who marry in church are agnostic or are straight-up non-believers. And if is still hugely important to even the irreligious to Christen their kids.

Faberge, I asked you for evidence of your assertions about what average atheists think or do - any update on that, or is it coming from the same fact base as your suggestion that christening is 'hugely important' to even the irreligious, or that most folk who get married in church aren't religious?

According to the Census (questionable based on the form of the question), 70% of people in Engand and Wales identify as Christian. Better studies consistently put the number of people who believe in a supreme being or deity at around 35-40%

Either way, 30% getting married in a church and 10% of babies being baptised suggests that these things aren't important even to those who identify as Christian.

The only person who has mentioned the 'average atheist' is you. This is not an atheist vs Christians issue...

However I do think maybe you should read up about what atheism is - a rejection of the belief in God, so just like your analogy of the 'bad' Christian, perhaps your 'average atheist' is not a particularly 'good' atheist if we are going down that ridiculous road... It's all completely stupid though.

People believe what they want... The only person demonstrating proprietorial behaviour over other people's views on this thread is you...

I didn't Christen my baby, I had her dedicated to the Lord by our pastor. This is because I don't believe baptism in itself 'saves' the soul of a child and that godparents are a nonsense.

However, I know that many irreligious folk still seek church input in their marriages and baptisms.

Jassy
Do you mean that well-known pagan festival that was appropriated and rebranded by Christians?
Yes. That's right. The early Christians appropriated the pagan festivals. No-one denies it.
But pagans are no longer tied to such edicts. They can if they wish celebrate those festivals in their proper names without fear, and I'm sure many do.

The thing is though that pagans worshipped many different gods. A modern-day, free-thinking atheist would not wish to celebrate any religious festivals, pagan or otherwise. And such an atheist can give presents or parties at any time of year without needing to have a Christian festival to relate them to, or to call them Christmas presents or Christmas parties.
I know devout atheists who actually send Christmas cards to each other. That does make me smile!

Don't fib. You never smile.

However, I know that many irreligious folk still seek church input in their marriages and baptisms

Not that many, based on actual facts.

Dallying - you may need to accept that Christmas is a largely secular brand to most folk, who don't observe most or all of the religious elements and choose which of the pagan and secular elements to celebrate. What's in a name, you know?

I do always enjoy being told what good atheists should think and do by people who have religious belief, though. The irony is really quite brilliant.

What's a devout atheist?

Or maybe, like pagans etc, they can celebrate anything they like, in any way they like and at any time they like....

Sallying, not dallying. Though autocorrect feels quite strongly about it.