to think it is rude to persistently refer to God/Allah/etc. as an "imaginary friend"

[AtheneNoctua]

even after asked not to by several posters who have stated they found it offensive.

Ditto what Hectate said. Very well put. It always saddens me that people have to resort to insults when dealing with a subject where they don't share the same beliefs. The world would be a much better place if we could all just accept each others take on religion from both sides, the belivers and the non believers....it's never going to happen though

What Marina said.

I also think that particularly on threads about Church schools it is counterproductive -- the more hostile the anti-God brigade are, the more likely it becomes that people of any religious faith will be strengthened in their feeling that the secular system is actively opposed to everything that is important to them. Which in turn makes it more likely that they will want to educate their children in a school where they know their beliefs will be respected and supported, ie a faith school.

well it is just childish and silly

best ignored i think

ypu occasionally get people who do this kind of thing and its irritating but i think most people just see them as rather immature

Thanks Marina. OMG thats baaaad!

I have missed all those threads lol.

'Tis sad that people behave that way - whats the point really?? (imo, and as many have already said, it seems to be to only upset which is a bit pathetic really)

Crap I've just reread my post and realised that I've answered it the wrong way round - to clarify, No YANBU to think it's rude in the circumstances you describe, but I don't think the term is, in itself, offensive.

But MrsMattie calling someone elses beliefs "a load of old baloney" would not neccessarily be considered as being "respectful of other people's religous beliefs" by some.

The bizzarre thing s tough- on the riginal thread- not all the anti Churc school posters are non-relgious; Athene and I share a faith but have strongly oppositional views on faith schooling.

So not everyone is going to be strengthened in theie ant-secular belief.

But people who lke to call names don't see that, they don't recognise that religion is but a part of the person and we have very different attitudes in other areas

As a non-churchgoer, I think the term is patronising, presuming those who believe have the intellect of a two-year-old.

And posters can think about wording- 'In my opinion, you believe in a lot of baloney' is fair and an accurate summation of a psoters viewpoint; personal insults are not

Hecare the Jains never went to war and nether do Buddhists (generally) y'know but plenty of Atheists do

The more I hear about Jainism peachy the more I like it

Look, I don't go round saying 'your beliefs are a load of rubbish' to people. My husband is a Catholic and my best friend is a born again Christian! Privately, though, I do think it's utter nonsense. I would never refer to God/Allah/Whatever as 'an imaginary friend' to a religious person, although I admit, I might think it.

Worth bearing in mind that MN - and any internet chat room/forum - is a bit different from RL, and people are more likely to say what they really think.

Is it an insult to refer to "God" as an imaginary friend? I suppose it is - but not a very severe one. Surely someones faith should be strong enough to be able to ignore this - water off a ducks back ect.......

I agree with MrsMattie people can be too sensitive on this issue. I understand people have strong beliefs but surely this is a load of rubbish and that I dont believe her type of "God" exists.

OMG - half my message has got lost - sorry

people with strong beliefs are not rubbish

I was actually saying that my AUnt and I have strong discussion about religion. She thinks my children are going to hell as they are not christened etc.. and i tell her openly that I think she is talking a load of old rubbish and that I dont believe her type of "God" exists.
We should be able to have open and honest discussions about religion without insults but also without people taking offence at everything.

marina I have my 1st yr intro to jainism if you ever want a read. just cat me, not much use on the shelf lol

I do believe in god and I want people to be able to say it's an imaginary friend if they want to.
What I can't abide is people being offended when it comes to religion... it's a dangerous and slippery slope that leads to murder.

I don't believe God would ever dicriminate against a child; particularly on te strengthg of baptism which isn't even administered in many Christian churces ntil a person is old enogh to make a decision for themselves.

Bas will be baptised as a sign that we are wanting to raise him in faith; beyond that God will not see him qny differently. truly believe that. There's so much more about a person than any ceremony.

Mind you I would say that, I am not yet baptised either

saying anything purely because it is winding the other person up only underlines the lack of intellectual rigour in the argument

this thread is the v ery worst way to deal with it

because you are showing an achilles heel

It's a fine line I know supersillyus but IMO one can see it as rude and tedious without being strongly offended, IYSWIM.
I don't feel murderous about the pink rabbits and imaginary friends, but as many other posters have said, it makes you less likely to take the rest of the post seriously.
I love the theological debates on MN and don't feel threatened by atheism or humanism - although the biggest shit I ever worked for was a loud-and-proud yawnsome member of the British Secular Society .
I do find gratuitous and unimaginative namecalling boring though!
I'll CAT you peachy, thanks

it's rude to say anything you know will offend people

Personally I'm offended by people holding the belief that I and my children are going to be punished for all eternity in a place called 'hell' because we do not believe what they do ... it is more offensive when expressed to be fair, but the fact that I knwo that people believe it, even without expressing it, is offensive

I find it easier to just not discuss it at all tbh. There is nothing that anyone can say that would suddenly make me start believing, and I'm not egotistical enough to think that anything I could say could change someones mind. IME it all just leads to awkwardness and the possibility of losing friends. Religion is something of the heart, you can't discuss it no holds barred without hurting people, and I'd rather shut up and put up than do that.

V. fair point zippi

I just think it is unnecessary to make groundless offensive comments about other people's beliefs, whatever they are.

FWIW having read the other thread it is pretty obvious who solidgoldbrass is - no idea why she named changed for that thread, as if it is who I think posting offensive comments about other people's beliefs (religious and otherwise) is pretty par for the course.

the amusing thing is of course that I actually think all of you are my imaginary friends .. let alone some kind of godhead ..

agree with seeker too
its a personal choice if that offends you, you are in trouble, sensitivity wise, i mean