Mocking Christianity

[Ihatepcos]

I am so sick of people thinking it's okay to ridicule Catholicism and Christianity. This is especially apparent on Mumsnet. Every time there's a thread about religion I can't even read the replies because they're so awful.

The same doesn't seem to apply to the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu faiths etc.

If you don't believe in God that is your choice. But purposely mocking someone's faith and calling it a load of bullshit (and worse) is just not acceptable. So many people turn to faith to help them through extremely tough times in life and you are mocking the only thing that is keeping them going.

Have you asked any Buddhists if they find your username respectful of their religion?

Seems a bit like mockery to me.

So... You're suggesting no one should mock terrorists, Stalin or other baddies either?

Or, maybe we can criticise them all for the damage they've done?

What I struggle with is the personal attacks rather than the criticism of an aspect of a faith.

so, someone up thread has talked about bishops in the House of Lords, others mention school worship, etc.

I don’t understand why it is ok to lash out at Christian’s because of the clergy when Christianity is a bout a relationship with God and many Christians themselves have issue with the rules.

it is like punishing those who are trying to do their best often under huge personal difficulty for the association with the wider Church hierarchy - and Christianity is a huge umbrella term that has Catholicism, Quakers, Baptists etc all under the one roof.

Surely most adults know that the mature thing to do with something they are angry about is to look at what is under their control? To lash out in such spiteful and rude language in such petty ways as we see on here makes me think that instead of confronting the senior figures in the Church over issues they don’t like, people instead satisfy their anger by trying to score intellectual points over those they think are stupid because they believe.

I just don’t get why you are so bothered by someone else’s faith if you don’t believe in God. What does it matter to you? And if you say it’s organised religion, abortion rights, something specific why take that one thing or several things and attack a persons faith over specifics? Do you think they haven’t thought of those things too? Just focus your wrath on doing something proactive about those things not someone’s faith. It’s bullying and it makes me want to completely withdraw sometimes.

Thank you so much for having the courage to say this. I have raised this issue withMNHQ in the past. Also, it has become the norm/acceptable to take our Lords name in vain. The usage of this type of language towards any other faiths leaders would be seen as abhorrent but because it’s Christianity it just seems to be a fair cop

I just don’t get why you are so bothered by someone else’s faith if you don’t believe in God. What does it matter to you? And if you say it’s organised religion, abortion rights, something specific why take that one thing or several things and attack a persons faith over specifics? Do you think they haven’t thought of those things too? Just focus your wrath on doing something proactive about those things not someone’s faith. It’s bullying and it makes me want to completely withdraw sometimes.

I can only speak for myself - I have a problem with people who support, through their words, actions or money, the institutions which perpetrate these injustices and who deliberately infiltrate governments around the world to push their agenda into public policy and inflict it on everyone.

People can believe what they like - but if they're donating money to a church, they're complicit.

Are you arguing to reinstate blasphemy laws or something?

Jesus Christ.

@ZenNudist you're welcome.
There's also Proverbs 9: 7-9.

Wishing everyone a good week. 🙂

The UK is officially a secular country not a 'Christian' country. If you want to experience the suffocation of growing up under the thumb of the church go back to 1930s Ireland or Italy and see how much fun that was. Corrupt priests, social control, abuses of power etc. Religion served a purpose throughout human history which is poorly understood today. Belief in God or a higher power is possible without adherence to pointless rules such as not eating prawns, relevant in the 13th century perhaps but not so essential now.

I have many issues with the RC Church, and as I live in a democracy I get to say what I think. I'm thinking of getting ex communicated.

I see religious tolerance is alive and well on this thread.

you’re only making it worse for yourself

Jehovah Jehovah Jehovah

or

YHVH YHVH YHVH

But we already live in a country where blasphemy exists- it’s just not Christianity’s God. Or any of the Gods of the old testament

it’s the God of the Brave New World.

All of it is about control - controlling peoples words is controlling the expression and ultimately creation of thoughts

of Muslims can’t handle a cartoon and think it’s ok to stab someone because of it they’re cunts

sane with someone objecting to someone saying Jesus Christ.

stop trying to make everyone think like you and accommodate you.

I’ll respect all religions but not people behaving like dictators about it..

Presumably you are someone who believes in logic? Or is that another false inference?

I was going to say YANBU when I saw the title but having read your comments, YABU.

I’M from a Catholic background and was raised vaguely Christian. That’s not my religion now, I have a different faith. I can absolutely see why religions can be seen as they are, they make no sense, logically speaking, and that’s before you get to the horrendous abuses and crimes carried out in the name of religion. I don’t think any religion should be above criticism, and I sure as hell criticise Catholicism, the church and its behaviour.

You seem to think you shouldn’t have to hear an opinion you don’t like on the subject and that’s tough. Religious belief IS a protected characteristic, but only in the sense that you can’t be discriminated against on that basis. It’s not a protective little bubble.

Not at all: I always try to go by the bible principle “strive not to give offence and strive not to take offence”. Have a great day

Religious belief IS a protected characteristic, but only in the sense that you can’t be discriminated against on that basis. It’s not a protective little bubble.

Indeed, If the religious want to keep chucking this little nugget out, you also can't be discriminated against for your lack of belief eitheir.

so, someone up thread has talked about bishops in the House of Lords, others mention school worship, etc.

I don’t understand why it is ok to lash out at Christian’s because of the clergy when Christianity is a bout a relationship with God and many Christians themselves have issue with the rules.

I raised both those things, and I certainly didn't say it was 'ok' to lash out at Christians for their faith.

But I've been on plenty time of Mumsnet threads where I've been accused of attacking Christians, or asked 'why don't [I] just leave Christians alone, why aren't you focused on other faiths' when the focus of my arguments is on 'attacking' the role of the main Christian sects in public life, particularly the established church and the role of the CofE and RC churches in state education.

I'm not going to call individual Christians names or attack them for their faith. But I'm not going to smile sweetly and just suck up a deeply unfair and divisive situation. And if in those discussions people quote the Bible at me, or argue Christianity as fact rather than faith I'll use my knowledge of the Bible and how it was formulated, the rise of monotheism and other historical sources to point out the problems with their argument.

Nowt as annoying as a former Christian with a degree of historical knowledge, I know. I know a lot more about Christianity than I do about, say, Islam or Judaism. But then, Islam and Judaism aren't shoving themselves in my face. Christianity (nb NOT individual Christians) seems determined to keep itself in my life, and so it's fair game for criticism and debate.

Just a reminder that our values are not Christian based.

Unless those values were not around before Christianity existed. I am sure some people thought that killing others was immoral. And you should try and do good.

Can someone who does believe our values and laws are Christian based give some examples and explain why they think they are Christian based - instead of ways of behaving that people have tried to follow before the 10 Commandments (And it's a bit hypocritical of the Judeo Christian God to command "Though shalt not kill") *

*Unless they live in Sodam and Gomorrah

This is a brilliant post, so interesting

“your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins”

You want mumsnet to stop people saying oh my god? JFC good luck with that.

Agreed. People would do well to remember that Christian values are the bedrock of civilisation as we know it.

(Have not RTFT)
It is this kind of daft comment that makes me mock it. I'm an athiest. I don't need a deity or a book written 2,000 years ago by men living in a completely different society to the one i inhabit to tell me what "civilisation" is.
The Greeks and Romans and Chinese had very well developed civilisations and cultures way way before Christ turned up.

So you can keep your "moral selves" to yourselves, and the rest of us will get on with our lives. And if you do stupid, silly thing? we will point and laugh.

Lol at the idea that Christian values are the bedrock of civilisation. White civilisation? There were other civilisations, you know. Look up the Indus Valley civilisation.

All religions should be made fun of. Especially by women. Because all religions are shit for women.

How does the fact that others have inflicted enormous damage make it OK that Christians have done so?

The UK is officially a secular country not a 'Christian' country.

Has anyone told our Head of State ?

Obviously if you are a non- dualist there’s no such concept as your fists and my nose - bloody western centric philosophy!