Protection of religious views and behaviours

[Martinus]

Not really.

It's about a hitherto oppressed group that finally stands up and is given a voice only to be poo-pooed for being obnoxious, in-your-face and breaking the decorum.

Same happened to blacks, women, working classes, gays etc.

[Sheilbh]

If the worst blacks, gays and women had to face was to be poo-pooed for being obnoxious the world would've been a far better place.

Alternatively they had to fight actual oppression rather than a distaste for Dawkins.

[The Brain]

If the worst blacks, gays and women had to face was to be poo-pooed for being obnoxious the world would've been a far better place.

Alternatively they had to fight actual oppression rather than a distaste for Dawkins.

Had to?

[Eddie Teach]

This is especially funny considering Marty comes from a formerly communist country that is now in the EU. Those poor Polish atheists have had it so rough. 

[Martinus]

If the worst blacks, gays and women had to face was to be poo-pooed for being obnoxious the world would've been a far better place.

Alternatively they had to fight actual oppression rather than a distaste for Dawkins.

There is a blogger now in Saudi Arabia getting the punishment of 1000 lashes for writing an atheist blog. Another just got hacked to pieces in Pakistan. Until recently in the West atheists faced prison charges under blasphemy laws.

[Martinus]

This is especially funny considering Marty comes from a formerly communist country that is now in the EU. Those poor Polish atheists have had it so rough. 

Poland has anti-blasphemy laws on the books and these laws are regularly invoked.

[Razgovory]

Well you are insufferable.

[Sheilbh]

There is a blogger now in Saudi Arabia getting the punishment of 1000 lashes for writing an atheist blog. Another just got hacked to pieces in Pakistan. Until recently in the West atheists faced prison charges under blasphemy laws.

Which is obviously monstrous but, it seems to me, little to do with the protection of religious views and behaviour in 'our society'. Saying I think religious and other sincerely held views (the best example I can think of is vegetarianism) should be reasonably accommodated seems quite a distance away from Saudi theocracy.

The answer I think is liberty of conscience and freedom from religion. However I'm totally opposed to the new atheist position that's emerging in the West which is freedom from religion because that's illiberal and intolerant. I don't see why an employer should be able to discriminate against a Muslim woman who wears a headscarf unless being able to see her hair is some essential part of the job.

The whole 'protection of religious views and behaviour' also makes me think of the UKIP agriculture spokesman speaking to the Jewish Chronicle about their proposed policy to ban ritual slaughter, 'this isn't aimed at you - it's aimed elsewhere - it's aimed at others. You've been caught in the crossfire; collateral damage. You know what I mean.'

[The Brain]

I don't see why an employer should be able to discriminate against a Muslim woman who wears a headscarf unless being able to see her hair is some essential part of the job.

What does that question have to do with the issue at hand?

[Sheilbh]

I don't see why an employer should be able to discriminate against a Muslim woman who wears a headscarf unless being able to see her hair is some essential part of the job.

What does that question have to do with the issue at hand?

It's the example Marti used earlier about some pending SCOTUS case.

[The Brain]

I don't see why an employer should be able to discriminate against a Muslim woman who wears a headscarf unless being able to see her hair is some essential part of the job.

What does that question have to do with the issue at hand?

It's the example Marti used earlier about some pending SCOTUS case.

Sigh. The thread question is whether religious views should be more protected than other views. Not whether religious views should be protected or not.

[CountDeMoney]

For my part, as a humanist universalist I recognize the potential for unlimited douchebaggery in all of humanity regardless of colour, creed, sexual preference, identity, or other such attributes.

[grumbler]

We should just start saying more loudly that religious people are simply stupid.

I think atheists and religious people should focus more on their shared belief that 99.99999% of all religious beliefs people have held at various times in human history are incredibly stupid, and just gloss over the 0.00001% of the religious beliefs whose stupidity they disagree about.

[dps]

There is a blogger now in Saudi Arabia getting the punishment of 1000 lashes for writing an atheist blog. Another just got hacked to pieces in Pakistan. Until recently in the West atheists faced prison charges under blasphemy laws.

Which is obviously monstrous but, it seems to me, little to do with the protection of religious views and behaviour in 'our society'. Saying I think religious and other sincerely held views (the best example I can think of is vegetarianism) should be reasonably accommodated seems quite a distance away from Saudi theocracy.

The answer I think is liberty of conscience and freedom from religion. However I'm totally opposed to the new atheist position that's emerging in the West which is freedom from religion because that's illiberal and intolerant. I don't see why an employer should be able to discriminate against a Muslim woman who wears a headscarf unless being able to see her hair is some essential part of the job.

The whole 'protection of religious views and behaviour' also makes me think of the UKIP agriculture spokesman speaking to the Jewish Chronicle about their proposed policy to ban ritual slaughter, 'this isn't aimed at you - it's aimed elsewhere - it's aimed at others. You've been caught in the crossfire; collateral damage. You know what I mean.'

If Poland and Saudi Arabia had U.S.-style freedom of religion, the problems he mentioned there wouldn't exist.  As I said before, freedom of religion includes the freedom to reject all forms of religious belief.

[Valmy]

This is such a bullshit and offensive thing to say, Sheilbh, no different than complaining about "uppity negroes".

Really?  Huh I don't recall too many uppity negros calling everybody who was not a negro stupid.  I mean I am sure there are some...