RobbyG wrote:
Oy, Symmetry. Mel is right and if EH thinks he's right, let him speak out. Its his basic human right.
If you look at it objectively, EH makes a very good point which you don't have to agree with. The fact that it insults you is something you should deal with internally, but your religious conviction cannot be pushed on others. NEVER.
Respect is earned, but you won't earn much respect in my eyes if you defend 7th century practises just because its your religion. That is of limited vision and that is also why wars between faith and religions are so common over the course of history. Many wars have been fought over religious differences and pride. Dumb dumb dumb.
The Atheist has got it easy on this one (or difficult). We say what we want and whenever we want, depending on the respect we want to earn in that particular situation. If we feel the need to be sensible to other cultures, we adapt and limit our conviction as we speak out. If we want to speak our hearts out for moral justice, we do so. But either way, respect is earned (or not) by how and when we approach each situation.
If you want your prophet to be guarded, keep your religion to yourself and in private. If you use religion in public, you can expect different visions, different opinions and YOU have to respect those opinions of your fellow human beings.
If you don't, you can't expect respect from others on this subject. People speak out, especially on fora where the dagger remains dug. Freedom of speech rules the internet. Get used to it and stop being a jerk with limited vision.
Khalas.
You may apply this in your own society of atheists, in a place where people with religion don't exist!
I totally disrespect some aspects in secularity, but do you see me offending it in public? So does that make you feel that secularism is the main international thinking-style now? Certainly NO!
Who do you think you are giving me a lecture on respect, when you, yourself are really acting so extreme with you're secularism. Have you got some brain? Then use it properly and understand that I don't share your extreme secular thoughts, thus I will surely be offended if someone disrespected my prophet in my presence. Not because my religion urges me to defend him, but it's a matter of RESPECT.
Part of the ethical code among religions is to respect each other's religious symbols IN PUBLIC, but if one group of the same religion existed somewhere alone, then they're free to say whatever they want, just like how atheists are free to curse any God they want of any religion in their own gatherings. But the most important thing is to avoid offending anyone in public.
As I said, there are PLENTY of ways to express your thoughts, but the "on-purpose" and continous specific insults from EH was unacceptable, and that's why I raised my voice up. CLEARLY he keeps on bashing Islam and prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and he may feel freeeee to share this with other seculars or atheists, but not in a place where Muslims exist, because that will surely offend us, and this is beyond the freedom of speech.
I repeat .. Freedom of speech, does NOT allow you to disrespect others!
How come you expect others to respect you, when you disrespect them! To me, offending my religion in my presence is an insult, so make sure you don't do that, in order to maintain the respect among us.
Secularism can be as extreme as religion, so perhaps its you who might want to stop being a jerk for forcing your extreme secularism on moderate religious people like myself.
Now if what I said insults your secular thoughts, perhaps U might have to deal with it internally
Have a good day Sir!