Light sensors cause religious row

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Story here.

Maybe they should just move?

calling religions 'superstion' is a very useful way of belittling them. It also reveals an unawareness about the vast contribution theology and philosophy have made to our intellectual, emotional [and maybe even spiritual] development as human beings, and as civilizations.

Well this has certainly taken off hasn't it?

I do agree that there have been some unacceptable and possibly anti-semitic comments,though I believe many other groups would have received the same, but I still believe your nazi reference MP was way over the top.

I spoke briefly with a conservative Jewish friend about this, she thinks that they are being very unreasonable, and are taking this way too far. Is she anti semitic too?

I do think the enviromental concern could be a legitimate issue in determining if this is reasonable or not. Whether it will cause any other problems for their neighbours, I'd suspect not though, I'm unsure.

superstition. tut.

I'd laugh at you, mp, because neither is true.

lil are you a liberal jew? are you jewish?

I think the environmental concern in this case is pretty negligible, and might possibly be justified if none of the other residents ever left an appliance on standby, or overfilled a kettle, or googled...

MP, I do not use the word superstition in a belittling way, that is what it seems to be to me, it is the only thing I can compare it to having no religious belief myself.

Olmpe, I'm sorry if you thought I was being rude, I tried hard not to be. I certainly don't feel superior because I don't believe, just different, I do not know anything like as much as other posters here about religion.

growingup, I agree, I can't see the problem with the actual incident in question, it does seem like obstinacy on the part of the other residents. I wonder how far it went before they did seek legal help and if there is more to this than has been reported? Perhaps they have had other problems?

but mp you are using the wrong analogy...poppy has correctly defined superstition, it is belief in something without facts to prove it.

That is a valid definition of religion and to pretend it isn't so is just...wrong!

Look, for an atheist being forced to tiptoe around religion is like you meeting someone who is convinced there's a fairy living at the end of her garden.

Would you agree with her or would you try to bring her to your way of thinking?

I'm interested in the background to this interpretation of the rule tbh - at what point was it decided that electricity came under the heading of no fire? Is it a generally accepted practice or was a decision made by a particular leader, group or conference?

As a practicing Christian I am certainly aware that we have certain practices which are NOT Biblically mandated but have become very much a mainstay of the religion.

I didn't think you were being rude Poppity, I was just trying to clarify the difference between being an atheist and being a rude one.
And Lil when did not being rude about someone who sees something differently become 'being forced to tiptoe around'?

So, because she is Jewish, she is allowed to disagree. Others who aren't Jewish are not allowed to disagree because that is anti semitic?

I don't agree with the environmental issue though as having lights on, whether permanently or not, will not use as much electricity/fuel as televisions, music equipment, cookers, cars.

I don't believe it can't be a concern if others cause waste. There's no need to encourage more waste.

I've mixed feelings on this. I truly cannot understand the extent to which Orthodox Judaism and Haredi(Ultra Orthodox) Judaism adhere to every tiny detail of the laws, which can be interpreted in a number of ways.

For me while the laws are important,that such strict adherence would get in the way of the main tenets of religion, of what really matters.

If one becomes so obsessed, so particular about such little details to show how devout one is,I feel that what really matters, good deeds, good thoughts, good works etc, may take second place to such trappings of one's religion.

I'm not sure if that made any sense, but there's a point in there somewhere.

Language isn't neutral, and superstition, however defined, is a loaded term. To pretend it isn't is, well, wrong.

control, no I've given up, been assimilated, we're like people that have given up smoking - the most vociferous against others that do!

I had a father who spent my childhood seeing nazis everywhere, mp is so similar, it really screwed me and my brothers up, and now none of us will have anything to do with any of it. Atheism is a logical safe retreat.

Olympede 'being forced to tiptoe around'? as in pretend religion is not a superstition, for fear of offence when it blimin well is.

Weighing everything up while I think the enviromental concern could be a legitimate one, I think that more harm would be caused by making one's neighbours feel unwelcome, than would be caused by leaving a light on for one day.

Blimey

Ok, I will not use the word superstition when speaking of religion in future now I know it is offensive, sorry. I honestly wouldn't have realised that as I have no other word to describe belief that doesn't make sense to me.

I don't want people who believe to stop believing. I think differences make the world go round. I do wish there wasn't so much trouble in the name of religion though.

I have to go to put the children to bed now, am a bit sad to leave this thread actually as it's been interesting, thanks ladies

it is disingenuous to claim the word superstition does not belittle religion. Everyone knows the word has acquired a pejorative meaning.

I also fail to see the problem with the use of superstition in reference to religion.