How can a homphobic superstitious arse like this get elected in this country?

[malonybalony]

metro.co.uk/2020/04/02/dup-councillor-blames-coronavirus-abortion-legalisation-sex-marriage-12498274/

DUP councillor blames coronavirus on abortion legalisation and same-sex marriage

The coronavirus outbreak is God’s judgment for legalising abortion and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland, a DUP councillor has claimed.

John Carson, from Ballymena, County Antrim, wrote a public Facebook post on Tuesday comparing himself to the biblical figure of Noah for warning people about the divine consequences of abortion reform.

The DUP has distanced itself from the comments, although the party opposed new laws making terminations easier in the first 24 weeks.

John Carson represents Ballymena, Co Antrim (Picture: John Carson/Facebook)
Caption: John Carson represents Ballymena, Co Antrim (Picture: John Carson/Facebook)

Abortion laws came into effect this week bringing Northern Ireland closer in line with the rest of the UK
Abortion laws came into effect this week bringing Northern Ireland closer in line with the rest of the UK (Picture: Getty Images)

Mr Carson said: ‘I said when abortion was legalised that our nation would be judged by God because of its departure from his word and the legalisation of the murder of the unborn child as well as same-sex marriage.

‘I was laughed at and mocked by some but as I said at the time, they laughed at Noah until the rain started.

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‘You reap what you sow and our nation is now reaping the judgment of God because of an immoral and corrupt Government.

‘It is time to repent and turn again to the God of our fathers.’

John Carson represents Ballymena, Co Antrim (Picture: John Carson/Facebook)
Mr Carson respresents Ballymena, which was DUP founder Ian Paisley’s stronghold (Picture: John Carson/Facebook)

Asked why a change to laws in Northern Ireland would create a virus in China, he said: ‘God works in mysterious ways.’

He later added: ‘They laughed and mocked my Saviour too, but some day soon their laughs will turn to screams.’ !!!

FUCK THE DUP

This happens everytime something bad happens. Plague, natural disaster, terrorist attack etc are always followed by some nut saying its gods punishment for allowing gays or somethingelse ridiculous

@ErrolTheDragon yes: religious tolerance was in short supply in NI history - but that’s why some are saying it’s a good idea to practise it now because we suffered the results of its absence. Of course, the problems in Northern Ireland’s more recent history were caused by many factors. The religious issue was one - but an equally (perhaps more) significant was a denial of civil rights to one part of the community.

Religious tolerance = dont question our obvious bullshit and allow us to carry on acting the twat

religious tolerance was in short supply in NI history - but that’s why some are saying it’s a good idea to practise it now because we suffered the results of its absence.

Maybe elected representatives showing toleration for others (whether religious or not) might be helpful then?
Tolerating religion is one thing. Tolerating homophobia and the continued oppression of women? No, we don't have to tolerate the intolerable.

I completely agree - some DUP MPs are nut jobs. But that’s absolutely no reason to demonise all who practise religion - which some have done on this thread. It’s that intolerance I was challenging.

‘I am displeased with what has happened in Northern Ireland so I shall send this plague to... China.’

The Tories had to get in bed with the DUP to remain in parliament over Brexit ? How these idiots ever get one vote is beyond me mind you look at Trump and his (non) Christian views. My friend is a BAC in the states at the moment sent me a petition to get Boris to organise a prayer hour I said I thought he probably had more on his plate at the moment

Also - another huge difference is education. The vast majority of it is state funded and, overall, is vastly superior to the state provision in England.

Wondering what evidence there is for this claim.

There’s also no mad postcode lottery as parents move house to get their kids into a decent state school: because most of the schools in Northern Ireland are decent!

Is this because everyone has to go to their local school? Or is school place determined by religion or passing/failing a grammar school exam?

If Northern Ireland had been afflicted by floods shortly after the vote (or if the UK had, because this wasn’t something the Northern Irish did, after all, it was a case of the UK government rationalising its rules across the whole country because NI didn’t have a legislature at the time), then I can see the logic of saying “See! I told you we were doing something terribly wrong, and now we’ve been punished”. That’s a religious view with which I strongly disagree but it makes sense.

But this is properly batshit. Northern Ireland is a tiny tiny late adopting country. If you’re going down the “mysterious ways” route I could claim that my windscreen being broken by hail was God’s way of showing anger at Putin’s recent declaration that he is Supreme Ruler for Life. Or the rainbow the next day was a sign that he’s keen on Taylor Swift’s last album. There’s comprehensible if abhorrent religious views and then there’s total bollocks, and this is category B.

Nobody who believes in an invisible friend in the sky should be in charge, in my opinion. Which I realise may be unpopular

Quite! If someone genuinely believes that everything is ordained by some skyfairy, they won't be bothered about righting wrongs, fairness etc, and imo that makes them unsuitable to be in any position of authority.

They guy's a loon.

It seems to me that there are a number of bigoted, racist, sexist, ill-informed braggarts welding far more power than they ought. But people elect them.

most of the schools in Northern Ireland are decent!

I thought most of them were still effectively segregated by the religion of the child's family? Segregation and religious discrimination do not promote toleration and cohesion. 'Decent' isn't the most obvious word to apply to this system.

It reminds me of the floods a few years ago when some religious type said they were god's punishment for homosexuality. God didn't like gays so he flooded the Somerset levels. If he had flooded Brighton, then it would have been a better argument.

@lazylinguist the following data backs this up, certainly regarding the percentage of students gaining five or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent, but including English and maths.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/f6ae0b84-adf6-11e3-bc07-00144feab7de

It’s from 2014, admittedly, so not that recent.

There are many in the UK with very strong religious views against same sex marriage etc. But we can't mention it as its racism.

And yet you did mention it, @HennyPenny4. And your post still stands. So apparently you can mention it.

I do get pissed off with people making these dark hints about how free speech is being suppressed by fillthy forrins all in the name of PC when it simply isn't true.

I have no problem with people practising their religion... so long as they do it privately. Religion has no place in politics, I think the French approach is better, first you are a citizen and everything else is secondary. Their implementation isn't perfect but the intention is sound. We are a long way from the dark ages so let's leave it out of politics.

Scotland and NI are arguably closer in culture than NI is to England and Wales, and we have some of this brand of protestants here too. Not as many granted, but they're there. The Highlands and islands "wee free" brand of presbyterians who until 2009 blocked all ferries to the Western Isles on a Sunday, who listen to the hellfire and damnation services, who are very traditional and don't believe in same sex marriage. There were a couple of families in my kids' school who attend that church, they withdrew their children from PHSE lessons where kids were told that there was nothing wrong with being gay, and wouldn't let them take part in PE lessons involving yoga and mindfulness.

Not all Northern Irish people share his views though. Nearly all Northern Irish people I know are warm, welcoming and very tolerant. (And make a mean traybake).

Remember the paramilitary groups associated with the mainstream NI political parties were relentlessly blowing the shit out of one another, plus many other people, a mere two decades ago. Christ, until a couple of years ago the deputy first minister was a former IRA member, someone who revelled in the deaths of its victims.

An elected person expressing their religious beliefs is mild in comparison.

Indeed, Pineapple Danish.

@ErrolTheDragon your views about religiously-segregated schools are a bit simplistic. I attended a Catholic grammar in the 90s (think “Derry Girls”, but relocated to Belfast. We even had a “wee English fella” in our class - tho to be fair it was at least a co-Ed school).

But I digress.

Despite my education taking place in the context of Catholicism, I still left school capable of serious analysis, critical thinking and tolerance. We learned about many other religions in RE lessons. Religious education does not automatically result in intolerant bigotry.

This isn't a problem with religion - it's a problem with this man, and a problem with the DUP - an extremist right wing party that attracts extremists to it. Don't forget Boris Johnson and the Tories walked hand in hand with Arlene Foster to get elected!

Most people with religious beliefs are moderate and tolerant, as most people with no religious beliefs are!

Many of the world extremists followed no religion - under the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot in Cambodia, all religions were forbidden, Stalin wanted no concept of God in the USSR, Mao Zedong persecuted all religions - yet incredibly all ended up being worshipped as if they were Gods! Look at the Nazi Party - made up of various religious and paganist occultists, who eventually persecuted and slaughtered many religious people, eventually shaping a new religion with a swastika to be worshipped (think of the growth of new nazi's across the world, celebrating their 'gods birthday')

Looking around the world right now 'Celebrities' are worshipped 'followed' by many like gods - regardless of what direction their moral compasses are pointing in.

Many people believe in 'spirits' and 'ghosts', their 'friends in the sky'.

Religion isn't the root of all bad in the world. Most of the worlds mainstream faiths teach tolerance, love of neighbour and care for the needy etc. However, not all practitioners of these faiths, or their leaders, follow the beliefs - they distort them to suit their purpose - look at Trump and his followers. Look at the DUP!

The 'goodies' and the 'baddies' in life don't line up conveniently as 'religious' V 'atheist' - though some find it a convenient way to shuffle the pack to make their point.

Great post, stoneofdestiny.

Religious education does not automatically result in intolerant bigotry.

No, but arguably having an education system which still segregates according to religion isn't exactly a sign that intolerant bigotry is at an end. Not to mention the inherent problems and injustices of a grammar school system.

It seems a little harsh to criticise England for its 'postcode lottery' (which at least nominally gives people the choice to apply to whichever school they want, unless it's a religious one, obvs) compared with a system where children are allocated according to their faith and their ability to pass an exam.

No religious organisation should be involved in running schools. The idea that my children couldn't attend a school simply because they are of the wrong religion is intolerable. Religious groups are desperate to be involved in schools as it helps push their religious agenda.

Religion isn't the root of all bad in the world.

Literally nobody is saying thst it is. Nobody is saying all religious people are bad. Nobody is saying all atheists are good. Nobody is saying that worshipping celebrities or spirits is any more (or less) sensible than worshipping a god. Many atheists just find it worrying to have people in power who believe something for which there is no more material evidence than for the existence of unicorns and yet which potentially colours their opinions and policies on issues which are important to all.
I've known plenty of lovely, intelligent religious people. I respect them and I respect their right to believe what they want. I do not respect the belief itself. Neither do I expect respect of my atheism. People, not beliefs, deserve respect.

This is the downside of democracy... Many positives but some people will always chose someone who others don’t agree with and even view as pretty objectionable.