Light sensors cause religious row

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Story here.

Maybe they should just move?

criticising people as "oversensitive" is always the retort of the bully and bigot imo and ime...

Oh great, I've always wanted to be a fundementalist

I know have a title!!

goblinchild and frasersmummy both made perfectly reasonable posts early on.

onagar: I am an atheist. My point was that the 'atheism' I meet here on mumsnet is a far cry from my own feelings and those of my friends. I was puzzled, not disapproving. (hence the use of the world 'puzzled'). Then I suggested that perhaps that Dawkins chap has something to do with this. Hardly a swingeing criticism!

Beckysharp was not saying atheism was a bad thing. She was saying a different kind of fundamentalism has grown up in recent times, and it is very apparent on MN. It is characterised by arrogance, insults and refusal to engage with argument. Sorry but it is true. And I say that as an agnostic.

cross post becky.

hmm control plenty of liberal jews would say

aren't religious jews a bunch of weirdos with their fucking stuoid superstitions and general oddness.... now they are in rome (?britain) they should do as we do (if we are white / irreligious / in any way different to them but part of the mainstream (delete as appropriate).... etc etc (i paraphrase).

does that make them antisemitic, no, they just have no patience for what they perceive as irrational behaviour. Ditto the gentiles are allowed to think it too.

crossed

Controlfreaky, check my post of 18:23 today, think you'll find that is what said, well almost!

I type too slowly and am fending off a child!

It's ok becky. Was being ironic sort of

Am just amazed/amused at the way these threads go with all the nazi stuff

I think Poppity speaks wisely;
"As a non believer it is very difficult to get your head around people actually believing in anything religious as it all seems such nonsense."

I think a lot of the 'FFS'-ing is the instinctive reaction of the non-religious to the idea that something so (seemingly) trivial can warrant such a kerfuffle, culminating in expensive legal action.
The 'when in Rome' and 'oy vey' I won't attempt to defend in any way (you're on your own, UQD).

But I reserve the right to describe any religion as a 'superstition'. Wikipedia:"Superstition is a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge". It's not a right I hope to exercise, cause it gets people's backs up, but I'd like it still to be there. Ta.

And if it's any consolation, I will fight to the death against the BNP taking power in this country. Literally.

See, I also view it as something fairly trivial, but my sympathies lie with the couple. I wonder why people with no 'superstition' about the subject would feel so strongly about having a light on once a week that they would deny it to people who did have that 'superstition'.

beckysharp

Are you saying I am fundamentalist because I am atheist and struggle to see how religion makes sense?

I am tolerant of religion as I said in my post, I just don't understand it. I also don't think that society caters for non-believers, the church of england is too much a part of our government for that. What allowances are made for me, if I were to be a person who found the presence of a deity in factions of my everyday life intolerable? Any changes which have been made(someone posted earlier about hospital chapels)are done to not offend different religions, and the only practical way to do this is to have none.

I do think that the majority of the time it is religion that is catered to, mostly for fear of offence. Perhaps that is a more realistic reason for atheists to be arguing their corner more?

Regarding atheism: it puzzles me how this seems now to be another kind of fundamentalism, rather than a personal world view with a place for tolerance and kindness.

It IS puzzling and I do worry that it could so easily be extended to other "groups"...

Arguing your corner is one thing of course, but there is a certain joy taken in continually saying things intentionally to upset (the word "superstition" is used in this intentionally belittling way). Now I will be the first to admit that I blunder around MN shooting off offensive posts at random but when I REALLY think I've upset an innocent party I am consumed with nail-biting remorse.

But people who have religious beliefs are somehow allowed to be offended and insulted and upset and people take great pleasure in it. It is very puzzling indeed.

No Poppity, it is more about being rude and feeling superior i think.

Agree MP.

Oh, ok beckysharp, it didn't come across that way.

HelloBeastie thank you, and I agree, superstition is the word I would want to use to. It is as irrational to me as my own fear of spiders(must conquer that one too!)

to too

People who have religious beliefs can choose to be offended when they see their beliefs described as "superstitions", or they could choose to laugh it off. There is no rational basis for avoiding light sensors.

Poppity, it may be a word you want to use but why use it when it upsets people? In what other sphere of life is that acceptable?

PERSON1: Well I'd like to call Formula Milk "Inferior breastmilk substitute"
PERSON2: Well, that language upsets me.
PERSON1: Well that's what I want to say and it's true!

????????????

Ok Oldladyknowsnothing: Can I call you a fat ugly bint or will you "choose" to be offended by that?