| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"qlangley" |
| Date: |
20 Jun 2005 08:50:44 AM |
| Object: |
Incitment to religious hatred |
The Blair government's plans to outlaw incitement to religious hatred
are rightly controversial, but Frank Dobson is unusual in defending
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1509183,00.html) it on
the grounds that some people are not able to change their religion.
This apparently means that religion is no different from race and sex -
something you are born with. Yet the slightest consideration of the
question shows that this is nonsense.
If Dobson is right and some people are restrained from changing their
religions this is an argument against the bill and not in its favour. I
hate religions that will not allowers followers to change their
beliefs. I urge you all to do the same.
Quentin Langley
Check out my website and blog www.quentinlangley.net
.
|
|
| User: "Bad Wolf" |
|
| Title: Re: Incitment to religious hatred |
20 Jun 2005 10:28:37 AM |
|
|
In the great debate about "Incitment to religious hatred" in
alt.atheism, "qlangley" <editor@quentinlangley.net> catapaulted the
following boulder:
The Blair government's plans to outlaw incitement to religious hatred
are rightly controversial, but Frank Dobson is unusual in defending
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1509183,00.html) it on
the grounds that some people are not able to change their religion.
This apparently means that religion is no different from race and sex -
something you are born with. Yet the slightest consideration of the
question shows that this is nonsense.
If Dobson is right and some people are restrained from changing their
religions this is an argument against the bill and not in its favour. I
hate religions that will not allowers followers to change their
beliefs. I urge you all to do the same.
Quentin Langley
Check out my website and blog www.quentinlangley.net
This is a thorny question indeed, and really depends on the exact
wording of the legislation. AFAICS, it expands the definition of
racial hatred under the old public order and race relations
legislation so that incitement to hatred on the grounds of religioUs
belief would be a specific offence, and that the way it is worded
would include hatred on the grounds of ones _own_ religion, thus
outlawing homophobia for example on religious grounds. This would
certainly affect this lot:
http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/
In fact, they make my point very well themselves:
http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/blasphemy/
David Silverman F.L.A.H.N. aa #2208
.
|
|
|
| User: "" |
|
| Title: Re: Incitment to religious hatred |
20 Jun 2005 02:45:15 PM |
|
|
Bad Wolf wrote:
In the great debate about "Incitment to religious hatred" in
alt.atheism, "qlangley" <editor@quentinlangley.net> catapaulted the
following boulder:
The Blair government's plans to outlaw incitement to religious hatred
are rightly controversial, but Frank Dobson is unusual in defending
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1509183,00.html) it on
the grounds that some people are not able to change their religion.
This apparently means that religion is no different from race and sex -
something you are born with. Yet the slightest consideration of the
question shows that this is nonsense.
[snip]
Check out my website and blog www.quentinlangley.net
This is a thorny question indeed, and really depends on the exact
wording of the legislation. AFAICS, it expands the definition of
racial hatred under the old public order and race relations
legislation so that incitement to hatred on the grounds of religioUs
belief would be a specific offence, and that the way it is worded
would include hatred on the grounds of ones _own_ religion, thus
outlawing homophobia for example on religious grounds. This would
certainly affect this lot:
http://www.christianvoice.org.uk/
In fact, they make my point very well themselves:
http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/blasphemy/
A similar law is already on the books in Sweden:
http://www.notisum.se/rnp/sls/lag/19620700.HTM#AVD2KAP16PAR8
It outlaws incitement to hatred against a group based on the
race, skin color, ethnicity, faith, or sexual orientation of the
members of the target group. Whether the inciter belongs to any
group is not relevant.
There is a case making the rounds up the Swedish court system
currently, where a pentecostal preacher got charged with
incitement for preaching hatred against homosexuals. Will be
interesting to see where the Supreme Court draws the line
between incitement and religious freedom...
Best regards,
Sverker Johansson
-----------------------------
"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy,
education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would
indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of
punishment and hope of reward after death." - Albert Einstein
------------------------------
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
