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.

I do think that individual teachers should be monitored in their teaching of RE carefully. One of ours neglected to use the words "Christians believe" before statements of faith children wrote in their books. Because they believed whatever it was, don't think it was as bad as six day creation, I didn't sidle up to the RE Cordinator and point it out. Much worse was the case at the local secondary school where a boy said in class he was an atheist and so were his parents, and the teacher then said they were going to hell. He was found crying in the cloakroom, and it took another member of staff a whole period to talk him down. Another of ours wouldn't go on a trip to the gurdwara as it "was full of demons". Funny that, I'd have thought if she knew she was on the right side in the holy war, she'd have known Jesus had already defeated them.
There are people with strange beliefs out there. If they stick to the curriculum and the RE advisors, it should be OK, though I'm not sure how the academies teach it. Our advisor pointed out that broadly Christian included Quaker practice, so silence would be acceptable.
(Though it helps to bring other staff along with it. I once led an assembly where I had them in silence thinking about the theme, and a colleague burst out of her classroom shrieking at a child who had not put his hands together and closed his eyes. Which I hadn't asked them to do.)

I don't feel it's worthy of respect given its appalling history. I am polite to believers, though.

I think Christianity can be useful to some, and provide: comfort, strength, moral compass, sense of community.

Personally, I think it's entirely made-up and a higher power doesn't exist. I also think it's used to control the masses and brainwash people.

Why should people not be allowed to be critical? Catholicism doesn't exactly have a great track record. I'll criticise any religion that doesn't support abortion and women's rights over their own bodies.

I think we have moved past that, we don't really have most biblical laws now. Adultery, blasphemy, eating shellfish, polycotton, homosexuality, sodomy... are all legal now but against the bible's teachings. And the slave trade is illegal. I do not think a book/religion that can be used to argue FOR slavery is worthy of any respect.

You're entitled to think that, I did a degree and masters in history and it's still my opinion that something so pivotal to who we are as a nation is something to have respect for. I'm not trying to enforce my opinion.

Anti-semitism is rife on this site. There was a recent thread on the Ambani wedding which was brimming with Hindu phobia. You probably notice comments against Christian more because we all have that cognitive bias where we notice things that matter to us more. Also, in absolute numbers, Christianity makes up the largest religion in this country so while other religions get their own dose of hate from others, Christianity probably gets it more in amount of numbers.

Why does it bother you? Presumably you believe you'll get your reward for your religious devotion after you die and the unbelievers will be punished for their wickedness?

This seems a pretty common theme amongst the Abrahamic religions, as does the fact that the most hostility seems to come from either sects within their own religions or from opposing Abrahamic religions, not from atheists or agnostics.

Or their religion doesn't impact my families education, health choices, ?

I have yet to have my children be forced to attend a Muslim school due to where I live?

I have yet to have to explicitly state to a Rabbi to not pray over me coming out of surgery. Yet these are the real life examples with Christian clergy.

Your right to practice whatever religion should not trample in my rights not to. So maybe reflect on where your religion is invading others autonomy.

It's literally the law. Education act 1996

385 Collective worship.

(1)Subject to section 389, all pupils in attendance at a maintained school other than a maintained special school shall on each school day take part in an act of collective worship

385 (2)The collective worship required in the school by section 385 shall be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/56/part/V/chapter/III/crossheading/religious-worship/1998-01-27?view=plain

You could make the same argument for colonisation, war and the slave trade.

It's not.

Having said that I see mostly mockery of Christianity but a hatred of other religions

I agree.

And also

Sunday Trading Act 1994

Shops over 280 square metres:
can open on Sundays but only for 6 consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/20/contents

I used to love watching Dave Allen. He used to mock the pope and the Catholic religion all the time. Could any comedian get away with doing this to Islamic or Jewish leaders?

There are many things that are pivotal to the history of us as a nation but that does not mean that those things necessarily require respect. In-fighting between different factions of the royal family. Colonialism. Slavery. Class. I think you get my point.

Of course, as a British atheist, I am concerned about how the Christian traditions (mentioned by others) eg daily act of worship in schools being mandated if not practised, head of state being anointed by an archbishop in an abbey, national anthem exhorting (the Christian) God to save him, Sunday trading hours etc impact my family.

lots of us, even if not “raised Christian”, went to brownies, got married in a church, were christened - of course we have strong knowledge and opinions based on this background familiarity.

Same as my opinion on the British monarchy is far stronger than my opinion on the Dutch monarchy.

I’m not sure why this is a surprise to OP.

Back when Dave Allen was doing that in the 70s and 80s other comedians were being blatantly antisemitic. At the time Islam didn't even really register in the UK.

I don't respect Christianity as such. I do however respect the right of Christians to observe their faith, and I respect some individual Christians as amazing people.

I do not respect any attempts made by Christians (or by people of any other faith) to impose their beliefs and/or religious practices on others. This includes the legally mandated indoctrination of children in state schools.

Xtianity is the state religion. The monarch is xtian, there are bishops in the house of lords, state funded xtian schools and compulsory xtian religious components to state education curriculum and activities plus xtian components to national political and ceremonial affairs and xtian practical restrictions on public and commercial activities. As an organ of the state, it is open to the same criticism and rhetoric as any other state entity. If the xtian church doesn't like this, it can always hand over its state function.

Also because being that rude about judaism would come under antisemitism. Saying that in public about islam could be extremely bad for your general health and Christians are easy peasy targets.

If you lived in a country where Islam was the state religion, then mocking it could lead to arrest or worse. That doesn't mean lots of people in those countries don't want to! Surely Christians in the UK should be proud that the same does not apply here?

Well I am an equal opportunities religion mocker and think every single one is utter nonsense. I tend to only say so directly though if, as on a recent Trump thread, somebody quotes the bible instead of making a reasoned point.
I do agree with the pp that in a way it is a backhanded compliment to christianity that people feel safe to mock. Mocking islam can get you mutilated or murdered so many people are too scared to say what they actually think.

Here's a fun thing - in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland blasphemy is still against the law. But only if you blaspheme against Christianity.

That's not what the OP said. She said she found comments lime 'Sky Fairy' childish and stupid, and I agree.