Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people mock the beliefs of others? Because they need to feel superior. Because their identity is wrapped up in their own atheism or their own religion, and putting the "other" down is a psychological need. Because it's fun to troll on DCUM.

+1

You nailed it!

I am not able to fathom some of religious convictions of others and I am sure they are not able to fathom mine either. But the difference is that it would not cross my mind to disparage what someone else believes. I don't seek to persuade atheists to believe in God; I am perfectly content to let them believe whatever they choose to believe.

It is atheists who choose to put down the beliefs of others and you see it on this forum and elsewhere. Some of it is trolling ........ and some of it is for reasons that I cannot fathom.

+2. I don't understand it either.

All atheists are the same, right? That is your perspective. My perspective is this. The few people I know who claim to be "good" Christians have cheated on their spouse, used violence against people and lie. I know a lot of atheists who are incredibly philanthropic, kind, honest and loving, which would be more in alignment with Christian morals than the ones claiming to be Christian. I also know Christians who are good people and atheists who lack a moral compass. You cannot generalize. How do you know they are atheist? I met a Christian once who told me that the good 'ol U.S.A. should just blow up Israel, because who needs the Jews anyway. When I told him I am Jewish he said "oh, you don't look Jewish. I guess you wouldn't understand then". I know he was Christian because he liked to tell everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people mock the beliefs of others? Because they need to feel superior. Because their identity is wrapped up in their own atheism or their own religion, and putting the "other" down is a psychological need. Because it's fun to troll on DCUM.

+1

You nailed it!

I am not able to fathom some of religious convictions of others and I am sure they are not able to fathom mine either. But the difference is that it would not cross my mind to disparage what someone else believes. I don't seek to persuade atheists to believe in God; I am perfectly content to let them believe whatever they choose to believe.

It is atheists who choose to put down the beliefs of others and you see it on this forum and elsewhere. Some of it is trolling ........ and some of it is for reasons that I cannot fathom.

+2. I don't understand it either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people mock the beliefs of others? Because they need to feel superior. Because their identity is wrapped up in their own atheism or their own religion, and putting the "other" down is a psychological need. Because it's fun to troll on DCUM.

+1

You nailed it!

I am not able to fathom some of religious convictions of others and I am sure they are not able to fathom mine either. But the difference is that it would not cross my mind to disparage what someone else believes. I don't seek to persuade atheists to believe in God; I am perfectly content to let them believe whatever they choose to believe.

It is atheists who choose to put down the beliefs of others and you see it on this forum and elsewhere. Some of it is trolling ........ and some of it is for reasons that I cannot fathom.

Anonymous wrote:Why do people mock the beliefs of others? Because they need to feel superior. Because their identity is wrapped up in their own atheism or their own religion, and putting the "other" down is a psychological need. Because it's fun to troll on DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is prompted by the recent acts of terrorism in Paris.

Nothing that I say should be viewed as condoning what happened because it was horrific. But what passes my mind is why anyone would use freedom of speech and expression to mock someone else's faith and cause them to act in a manner that resulted in innocent lives being lost. What was really gained by publishing these cartoons that caused such offense?.

WHOAH. The cartoonists did not "cause [the murderers] to act in a manner that resulted in innocent lives being lost."

Distorted ideology and fundamentalism caused it. Don't for one second try and turn this around and imply that they were just asking for it.

Maybe the question to ask is why do people get so upset when their faith is "mocked" - which i far as I can tell, is not pretending that it's as important to others as it is to the person who hold some of beliefs of religion, which lest face it -- some are pretty outlandish in a modern society. I wager that most Christians, while "respecting" muslims, think the idea of Mohammad riding a winded horse to heaven is pretty wacky -- just a wacky as some people of other religions think Jesus rising from the dead and ascending into heaven is.

And atheists (who by the way, don't have a "belief system") thinking that humans die just like all other living things? -- despite the evidence all around us, lots of people think that's wacky.

huh?

How exactly are we supposed to die? What does this even mean?

According to Christianity, humans who believe Jesus is the son of god who died for their sins, will go to heaven when they die and live for eternity there. Non-humans (e.g. dogs and cats and other animals) have no souls and can't go to heaven. Muslims also believe in an afterlife (for humans -- I don't know about pets). Atheists and people of some other religions do not think that there is an afterlife.

I always tell people that you do additional research especially when a topic starts out with 'according to....' Here's another 3-page perspective.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/april/do-pets-go-to-heaven.html

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is prompted by the recent acts of terrorism in Paris.

Nothing that I say should be viewed as condoning what happened because it was horrific. But what passes my mind is why anyone would use freedom of speech and expression to mock someone else's faith and cause them to act in a manner that resulted in innocent lives being lost. What was really gained by publishing these cartoons that caused such offense?.

WHOAH. The cartoonists did not "cause [the murderers] to act in a manner that resulted in innocent lives being lost."

Distorted ideology and fundamentalism caused it. Don't for one second try and turn this around and imply that they were just asking for it.

Maybe the question to ask is why do people get so upset when their faith is "mocked" - which i far as I can tell, is not pretending that it's as important to others as it is to the person who hold some of beliefs of religion, which lest face it -- some are pretty outlandish in a modern society. I wager that most Christians, while "respecting" muslims, think the idea of Mohammad riding a winded horse to heaven is pretty wacky -- just a wacky as some people of other religions think Jesus rising from the dead and ascending into heaven is.

And atheists (who by the way, don't have a "belief system") thinking that humans die just like all other living things? -- despite the evidence all around us, lots of people think that's wacky.

huh?

How exactly are we supposed to die? What does this even mean?

According to Christianity, humans who believe Jesus is the son of god who died for their sins, will go to heaven when they die and live for eternity there. Non-humans (e.g. dogs and cats and other animals) have no souls and can't go to heaven. Muslims also believe in an afterlife (for humans -- I don't know about pets). Atheists and people of some other religions do not think that there is an afterlife.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is prompted by the recent acts of terrorism in Paris.

Nothing that I say should be viewed as condoning what happened because it was horrific. But what passes my mind is why anyone would use freedom of speech and expression to mock someone else's faith and cause them to act in a manner that resulted in innocent lives being lost. What was really gained by publishing these cartoons that caused such offense?.

WHOAH. The cartoonists did not "cause [the murderers] to act in a manner that resulted in innocent lives being lost."

Distorted ideology and fundamentalism caused it. Don't for one second try and turn this around and imply that they were just asking for it.

Maybe the question to ask is why do people get so upset when their faith is "mocked" - which i far as I can tell, is not pretending that it's as important to others as it is to the person who hold some of beliefs of religion, which lest face it -- some are pretty outlandish in a modern society. I wager that most Christians, while "respecting" muslims, think the idea of Mohammad riding a winded horse to heaven is pretty wacky -- just a wacky as some people of other religions think Jesus rising from the dead and ascending into heaven is.

And atheists (who by the way, don't have a "belief system") thinking that humans die just like all other living things? -- despite the evidence all around us, lots of people think that's wacky.

huh?

How exactly are we supposed to die? What does this even mean?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is prompted by the recent acts of terrorism in Paris.

Nothing that I say should be viewed as condoning what happened because it was horrific. But what passes my mind is why anyone would use freedom of speech and expression to mock someone else's faith and cause them to act in a manner that resulted in innocent lives being lost. What was really gained by publishing these cartoons that caused such offense?.

WHOAH. The cartoonists did not "cause [the murderers] to act in a manner that resulted in innocent lives being lost."

Distorted ideology and fundamentalism caused it. Don't for one second try and turn this around and imply that they were just asking for it.

Maybe the question to ask is why do people get so upset when their faith is "mocked" - which i far as I can tell, is not pretending that it's as important to others as it is to the person who hold some of beliefs of religion, which lest face it -- some are pretty outlandish in a modern society. I wager that most Christians, while "respecting" muslims, think the idea of Mohammad riding a winded horse to heaven is pretty wacky -- just a wacky as some people of other religions think Jesus rising from the dead and ascending into heaven is.

And atheists (who by the way, don't have a "belief system") thinking that humans die just like all other living things? -- despite the evidence all around us, lots of people think that's wacky.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is prompted by the recent acts of terrorism in Paris.

Nothing that I say should be viewed as condoning what happened because it was horrific. But what passes my mind is why anyone would use freedom of speech and expression to mock someone else's faith and cause them to act in a manner that resulted in innocent lives being lost. What was really gained by publishing these cartoons that caused such offense?.

WHOAH. The cartoonists did not "cause [the murderers] to act in a manner that resulted in innocent lives being lost."

Distorted ideology and fundamentalism caused it. Don't for one second try and turn this around and imply that they were just asking for it.

Anonymous wrote:My question is prompted by the recent acts of terrorism in Paris.

Nothing that I say should be viewed as condoning what happened because it was horrific. But what passes my mind is why anyone would use freedom of speech and expression to mock someone else's faith and cause them to act in a manner that resulted in innocent lives being lost. What was really gained by publishing these cartoons that caused such offense?

I am a Christian though my views are so liberal that fundamentalist Christians would challenge my claim to being a Christian - however, that is neither here nor there. But I see the endless mocking of other people's religious beliefs - and especially Christianity - being increasingly prevalent. Most Christians don't react to this with violence in the US though there are other countries where people would likely be ostracized for challenging conventional beliefs.

I genuinely respect atheists who don't believe in God and would not seek to mock or challenge their belief system. But I see on this forum - and other forums - how atheists choose to disparage those who do believe in an Almighty. I would not seek to persuade anyone else to my own views on religion - my faith is between me and God.

Do the cartoonists who published what was deemed offensive by Muslims think they changed the minds of anyone? What did they really achieve? We know the end result was that innocent people were killed and injured. It seems like a terrible price to pay for the right to publish some offensive cartoons.

Anonymous wrote:I am not blaming the victims or even the cartoonists for exercising their right of free speech. But I do think we should all be aware of the consequences of our actions.

It is not unlike the preacher in Florida who wanted to exercise his right to burn the Koran. He has the right to do so but if it results in innocent lives being lost because some Muslims feel that they need to respond violently, should he not consider the consequences of his action?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you honestly and truly believe that if every irreverent cartoon towards every single religion was no longer printed, then the killings would stop? Not hardly.

What excuse do you give to the murderer who purposely sought out the Jewish grocery store and executed four Jewish men? The 123 children massacred in Paskistan?

This is protest is about the rant of extremism and annihilation of free speech, not about cartoons.

OP here: I agree that this extends well beyond merely the publishing of cartoons that were deemed offensive.

FWIW, I am presently outside of the US in a country that has had to face terrorism from radicalized Muslims. But many - who are not Muslims - view the cartoons as having been needless provocation even as they condemn the attacks in Paris.

This was not intended to be a political post which is why I posted it on this forum. My focus was really the fact that there is needless disparaging of people's religions and often it is Christians who receive the brunt of it. The difference is that they don't usually react violently unlike some Muslims.

PP again. I am also a liberal Christian and nobody defines what or how I should believe. This Christmas, I received a humorous card with a 'picture' of Christ that said 'Christmas, my favorite jam.' I thought it was funny and received a high five from me. Btw, a jam means a favorite of something but usually a song.

There are fundamentalist Christians who would not only berate me for enjoying the card but, if it was in their power, shut down the store that sells it (a secular store). However, they have the freedom to protest outside of the store but they DO NOT have the right to go in and slaughter the staff.

Nor does another Christian have the right to threaten or kill this Christian because I have a card that might be defined as irreverent, blasphemous, or provocative. That's where the line is drawn in the sand.