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.

I think there's a difference between "It is rude to do X" and "I am offended by X".

Personally, I do think it's rude. But I don't feel offended. More amused at the inability to make a point any other way.

Just looked david kelly up; it was Baha'i, not Jainism (btw term is Jain rather than Jainist )

ah peachy thanks for that oh i knew i'd the name wrong too!

mrs mattie
i guess it could be construed as childish to refer to a deity like this but if the point is to say
this is how ridiculous and childish i find the term 'our lord' being used to include the saved and the sinners beleivers and non
then i think its fine
again there are more pertitent things to get upset over religion than this but it is a central premise of it, one that many find it difficult, nay impossible, to believe in..

georgimama - solidgoldbrass didn't name change for that thread, name change was a while ago.

I don't think of the 'imaginary friend' thing in itself as insulting, more annoying.

It is the other stuff that is inevitably attached that I think is incredibly rude and highly insulting.

Saying that anyone who believes in said imaginary friend is therefore stupid, deluded, irrational etc.

That is what winds me up. Which is why I tend to avoid any religious thread once certain posters appear.

Especially since my particular 'imaginary friend' is not of the Christian variety, which tends to draw extra vitriol from certain quarters.

Saintgeorge, I know what you man- I dn't get a mindset (have had this debate witha local lady who is very - shall we say- brainwashed) that says 'I have a rigt to beleive what I want- but you don't as it's not the same as me'.

Brainwashe lady tells me I am wrong about religions I studied becuase her Dh told her and he's an expert coz he read a Christian book n other faiths

That attitude really p's me off

Anyone know the link the orignal thread???

Religion is people's choice I was brought up as a Catholic but would not enforce it on my children as it was enforced on us as children.

It's this one, though she has said the same thing on a number of threads in the "philosophy/religion/spirituality" topic.

i think all these kind of threads attract a loon or two who just repeats stuff to b irritating

like that grey person who pops up just to goad

Thanks AMumInScotland

I quite like the grey person but I remember you two clashing on a thread Zippi

the one who always posts on special needs threads?

Does he? I mean the grey who usually posts on religion threads.

dont know if its the same one ...he only posts on certain subjects

Just read other thread.

I don't know who SolidGoldBrass is - can someone give me a clue?

I don't like the way she says imaginery friends etc but she does put a good case forward, IMO.

Doodle, she was a french sounding version of Madam, with a z, get it?

surely if it's offensive to refer to god as an imaginary friend it is also offensive to aetheists to state a belief in god.
apart from the religion section or very specific threads relating to religious problems (in which case i'd expect to get dissenters on) why would god need mentioning in posts?

I can't be bothered to get into yet another Faith Schools argument, but I will say I think it is rude to call God/Allah or any other religious figure an 'imaginary friend', however, I am not offended.

Believing is my choice, whether or not God does exist I believe the general teachings of the Christian faith - not that you'll burn in hell or that you must be baptised but that you should live your life with a good and pure heart and really repent for any harm or hurt caused to another - would do us all well to take and follow.

Ahhh - thanks VS. That'll explain why I liked her style, if not her exact choice of words!

mayorquimby - the threads we're talking about are on religion, this one specifically about faith schools.

But in general, I don't see any problem in people mentioning their beliefs if it's the reason they feel a particular way on a subject - it's no different from someone on a food thread mentioning that they are a vegetarian. It gives a useful piece of background about the person's views.

Though if someone mentioned it constantly, on unrelated topics, I'd be fairly about what their point was!

I don't tell people in real life situtations that their god doesn't exist because it would be rude and insensitive. I notice that doesn't stop them telling me that it does and sometimes that my family are going to burn in hell.

On mumsnet however in a topic about religion of course I would say what I think since that's the point of the thread.
If I say 'imaginary friend' it's because as far as I am concerned that's what it is.

Mentioning fairies etc is different. If you find the comparison with people believing in fairies insulting that surely means you think those who do believe are loons? I imagine your reaction is offensive to them.

That's why it's used at all. To demonstrate that most christians think beliving in unproven things is ridiculous unless it's them doing it.

athenenoctua;

yanbu...she was the reason i left that thread.....i wasn't offended, just thought she was too bonkers.

I am astonished at how many people here report being told they will burn in Hell because they don't believe in a God.
I am really sorry to hear this is happening. The kind of church I attend and the sort of Christians I socialise with don't go in for that sort of thing at all.
Mayorquimby, I think one can and should make a distinction between disagreeing with someone forthrightly and belittling them. I think it is possible to hold diametrically opposed viewpoints and remain respectful of the difference.

Yes, it's rude. But to be fair to SGB she is an equal opportunities offender

LOLOLOLOL PW
It does diminish the effectiveness of the individual bids to offend, I find

Pretty sure it's meant to be rude...