should we address the casual antisemitism on MN?

[thedevilinmyshoes]

I rarely venture beyond my narrow range of interests on MN these days so I don't know if it happens a lot, or if a similar level of hatred is extended to other groups, but what I saw tonight was sinister (particularly against the current backdrop of a surge in antisemitic crime in UK). I wondered if we had an agreed definition of what constitutes antisemitism or if people feel the issue is covered and handled well enough within the existing guidelines.

"I think the world would be a better place if there was no religion" is not the same as "abolishing all religions is a fantastic idea".

Abolishing religions has been tried. It is a fucking awful idea.

A ritual in what context?
I'm seriously curious as i've never heard of such an abhorrent practice.

Oh, Dione, give it a rest. You don't seriously think I mean machine gunning anyone who practices a religion, do you?

Abolishing religions has been tried. It is a fucking awful idea

Eh, it's not a stretch to move from 'the world would be a better place without religion' to 'if we could find a way to get rid of religion without damaging people, that would be fantastic'.

It could be argued that in some countries the slow, consensual, communal abolition of religion is already underway.

Stonedmoses-it's called Metzitzah B'peh. But it's, as far as I know, not done any more, so not relevant to this thread.

Not a typo, it's mostly not used anymore apart from in the case of some Hasidic Jews, apparently

en.metapedia.org/wiki/Metzitzah_b'peh

It is very relevant to this thread.
Introducing an abusive image with no explaination and thus using shock tactics to prove a point is at best offensive and could be perceived as perpetuating negative stereotypes.
Very, very relevant to the OP.

I am in no way suggesting that you are being anti semitic by the way, rather that i (as a non practicing Jew) did find your post a tad distasteful.
This is of course my own personal sentiment, i wouldn't presume to be the spokeswoman for a whole population.

Bert, you are suggesting that a world with less diversity would be better. I fundamentally disagree and consider it an intolerant stance. You are suggesting that if everyone thought the same way as you regarding religion the world would bea better place. I consider this an arrogant stance.

You have said that abolishing religion is a great idea. Various methods to do this have been tried, from making religious practice illegal/uncomfortable/ difficult, to out and out genocide. I can see no way that abolishing religion could be a good thing. In fact I think it's a fucking awful idea based on arrogance and intolerance.

I can see no way that abolishing religion could be a good thing. In fact I think it's a fucking awful idea based on arrogance and intolerance.

Why is it any less arrogant to suggest that the world is a better place with religion?

Given that a key tenet of most faiths is to convert/recruit people of other and no faiths, and the tendency of many churches and faith groups to try to influence lawmaking and spending based on their own beliefs, saying that religion is all about encouraging and promoting diversity is on the laughable side.

"Why is it any less arrogant to suggest that the world is a better place with religion? "

I tried asking that- no response.

I believe the world is a better place when people are free to chose.

I am not anti Semetic! I am trying to highlight double standards in this world. Why is it ok to depict cartoons of muslims as bombers in the name of free speech but the old hook nosed Jew cartoons are despaired at? Can you not see that both are wrong? I haven't sworn at Jews or called their religious practises wrong. I am against Zionists for sure but I am against their politics. Why would being against their politics make me anti-semetic?

Which religions are you refering to Jassy?

For me the core values of mainstream religions are tolerance, kindness, love thy neighbour etc.

Who's doing the converting and recruitment?

Believe me there's nothing any more sinister happening in your local mosque, synagogue or church than your local PTA.

LaGrosseVache. Maybe the cartoons of "Muslim" bombers are caricatures of Muslim bombers and not the whole muslim population.
I would imagine a huge majority of muslims harbour no respect for bombers either.

The Shylockesque, hook nosed Jew however is often a caricature of Jews in general and has been used detrimentally.

Nuance.

I am not anti Semetic!

It's the way society has been brainwashed to believe anything said against Jews is anti-Semetic. It's no secret who runs the world. It's Zionists. They own the media.

Bingo

How very embarrassing

Can I ask all those who've never seen anti semitism on mumsnet - despite la gross's previous racist comments, if they've seen it now?

Which religions are you refering to Jassy?

You mention Christianity - evangelism is a key part of Christian teaching. It's logical - a religion thinks they have the one true path to salvation, so naturally they want to save as many people as possible.

And in the meantime religious institutions seek to influence social policies that apply to everyone, not just people of their faith, based on the teachings of their faith. That's not 'tolerance' or 'embracing diversity' in my book. Religions by their nature encourage segregation, and in practice even in this diverse and tolerant country we see religion encouraging (or even promoting) segregation in schools, in communities, and so on.

An awful lot of damage is done in the name of religion, but I suspect that's a whole other thread, which I'm very happy to join.

Oh, and the PTA statement wasn't patronising at all.

It's a mistake to think of Judaism or Jewishness as 'just' a religion in this context.

Anti-Semites certainly never recognise the concept of an ex-Jew or a secular Jew. Anti-Semitism is racism.

I agree that anti circumcision does not mean anti semitic.
Your opinion, your right to express it.

Zionists owning the media?
Again, your view and your right to express it.
Tell me more.
Is it part of some conspiracy? Some secret Zionist plot?

Bloody hell, give me a break!

It's you who are ridiculous Vache.
The great majority of posters here have declared that hating circumcision is NOT antisemitic. And I'm another. It's no more antisemitic than it is anti Islamic or anti American. It IS a disgusting practice though.

I don't think anti semitism is anything at all to do with religion.

Daily Mail?!
Not a Zionist controlled paper then?

I promise you that practice is no longer.
I'm talking hundreds of years.

This is just the sort of perpetuated idea which segregates minority groups.
Age old caricatures of a tight, chicken soup slurping people with overbearing mothers.

We love our kids just as much as you do.
We'd die to protect our kids just as you would.