Why do you allow people to attack and ridicule Christianity?

[Singersong]

Time and time again I see people taking the absolute piss out of Christianity. Calling people delusional and saying it's made up bullshit etc. why do you allow this? I don't see this about any other religion.

It goes far beyond atheism and you claim to be against hate speech.

This is an excellent point. H grew up in Iran and if you criticised Islam there you would be imprisoned and/or lashed.

Ops own words. Knowledge is power.

I was brought up in a strict Christian household in a strict Christian country. As soon I got out and educated myself I saw how ridiculous it was/is.

FWIW I'm a Catholic and we don't really do 'preaching'. I am against the new wave Christians who attack people for not believing, I actually find them equally disgraceful in the things they say as people who attack believers.

People are afraid to criticise Islam or Judaism because they are afraid of being called racist.

There are often posts by people about how they can show respect to their muslim friends and accommodate their practices and beliefs and how to not offend them.

Are we really a Christian country? Much less than half the population identifies as such. And a tiny minority actually attend church. So even that statement is likely to annoy most people.

I’d say that as a society/country we are tolerant of all religions, and respect people’s rights to participate in and speak about their religion. We don’t respect religion for being religion, whichever story is being referenced. We also won’t tolerate being told that following a particular religion deserves respect, and we won’t tolerate anyone that tries to impose their beliefs on others. And that applies to all religious extremists. The problem is, those who chose to belief the Christian story often want to impose on others their view that we live in a Christian country, and never see their form of insistence as extreme. Christians in this country tend only see other religions as having extremists, because they believe that in this country they are the ‘right’ religion. It’s that attitude that provokes disdain.

I don’t think that you understand what free speech is OP. It’s pretty terrifying you want to make it illegal to criticise your religion.

Or Sky Fairy.
So patronising and offensive.
It's particularly reserved for Christianity as it's a soft target.

I don't think it's hate speech to say that you think someone who believes in any religion is 'delusional'. I believe people are deluded that believe in any god.

I believe if someone is stood in my town centre, as they do every day, handing me leaflets regarding Christianity, that I should then be able to counter their rhetoric with my own? Is that not fair? That's not hate speech. How is it that they are able (as is absolutely their right) to spread their 'word' but I am not?

Did she say she wanted to make it illegal? Or is she calling out all the negativity on here about one religion in particular?

And I don't think you have good comprehension skills. Where have I said anything should be illegal?

I've simply said that this site claims not to allow hate speech and this is absolutely not the case where Christianity is concerned.

“I don't see this about any other religion.”

Really??

I agree, @Singersong . It's open season.

It's precisely because it's a Christian country that it comes under more scrutiny. The head of state is head of the Church of England, there are multiple bishops in the House of Lords, collective daily worship in schools is required to be "wholly or broadly Christian in nature".

But if it helps, I think all religions are equally ridiculous.

Hate speech is illegal and you want to make criticism of Christianity hate speech so I'd say you are trying to make criticism of Christianity illegal.

Quite the opposite. Islamophobia has ramped up on MN. There was a thread recently where someone asked why people don’t like Muslims and there was post after post criticising Islam and Muslims. and MN allowed for it to stay up. When reported, I was told I’m free to engage in the conversation as long as I don’t break talk guidelines.

No other religion would have such a thread made about them and kept up for an entire day.

I respect people’s right to a belief system but think the world would probably be a better place without any organised religion, as religious structures (such as hierarchies, places of worship and ordination) can give human beings (almost always men) excessive power and influence over others. This has, on many occasions, led to abuse and exploitation of children, women or other vulnerable people. Bring money into it and this adds a whole new dimension of wrongdoing.

‘Canon’ ‘Reverend’ Mike Pilivachi ‘MBE’, lauded by the Church of England for his work with teenagers at large youth festivals, is just one such example.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-66739880

Or you have the UCKG:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67592961

People individually may of course be supported by their belief system or find their local church a place of social support, but the power structures of the system in general are wide-open to abuse.

anyone believing in an invisible man who lives in the sky and controls all is a bit delusion tbh no matter which religion

Well it's a good job that's not what religion is about then, isn't it?

Not criticism. Hate speech, which already exists.

I think it’s because, in the UK, Christianity is actually part of the culture. Even for atheists.

It’s always been acceptable to be rude and disparaging about your own culture. It’s not ok to do it about others.

I think it’s as simple as that.

Not sure if anyone else has asked this but I’m genuinely interested to know what this refers to I'm sorry.. you think that Jews and Muslims haven't asked for special treatment for their religions in the west? Have you been outside lately? Why are there certain rules attaining to different religious garments and feasts that aren't Christian?

This is a Christian country, of course people will feel more comfortable with critiquing Christianity - they’re more familiar with it. Many of us were brought up with it being shoved at us through education, brownies etc because it was just a ‘given’. Some of us and our families have been directly and negatively affected by the institution or representatives of the church.

Yes. Religions control people by striking the fear of God in to them (literally) and use community pressure to ensure people don't realize how ridiculous the whole system is.

It is so sad that it still goes on and even sadder that more people are being drawn to religion because their lives are so empty.

What rules do you mean? You mean the freedom to practice their religion? Or are there additional laws and freedoms that apply to only Jews and Muslims?

Posters shouldn't be allowed to ridicule any religion. Saying you disagree with religion as a whole, or specific faith practices, is reasonable; but I really dislike the "sky fairies" type comments some come out with (as if they are original and clever).

I'm an agnostic, for context.

People can choose to believe what they like. It is however not hate speech to point out why I feel that all religion is man made and why I don't follow any of it. A lot of hate is actually perpetrated in the name of religion.