Britblog Roundup is hosted at Suzblog this week and I get a mention:
Another subject that gets right up people’s nose – Atheist Bashing. Just wish Atheists would keep their opinions to themselves though.
To which I would reply, “Why?” Or, perhaps turn the question around. How about this:
I do wish religious people would keep their opinions to themselves – specifically those church leaders who think their opinions should influence legislation. Or, worse, those dreadful so-called community leaders who think that their opinions voiced oft and loud represent those of other people and should therefore, be listened to, and notice taken of the drivel they spout.
Sound okay to you?
A few atheists are strident and vocal in their views. So what? Rather more religious types are even more vocal and strident – a few dissenting voices is a good thing. And, naturally, I do not want those religious leaders to keep their opinions to themselves and for a very good reason; I want their bigotry and stupidity out in the open where it can be subjected to the harsh glare of daylight, so that we can see it for what it is and ridicule it as it so deserves. It’s called freedom of speech. Religious people are perfectly entitled to do likewise with the opinions of those atheists who dare to criticise their religious beliefs. It’s a free country… Just.
Anyway, ta for the link 
As long as you know that the baby Jesus still loves you…
Shouldn’t that be Mithras? 😀
Free speech is free speech and is more important than any debate. I post from a non-atheist perspective but the last thing is for them to not have their say. Hell, that’s a one way journey to the new feudalism.
“Shouldn’t that be Mithras?”
Let’s hear it for Sekhmet!
I live in Thailand much of the year. The Christian’s ‘freedom of speech and expression’ here is extended to invading Thai hill tribe villages, and bribing the poor both on the material and the ineffable levels. Real and imagined carrot and stick policy – the actual helping of people isn’t the prime motivator – there’s another agenda. The locals are bought with offers of scholarships, health care, improved accommodation, village facilities (and of course eternal life).
These evangelical missions makes me sick. That’s not what I call altruism.
It leads to divided families and communities. The Asians do just fine with their own superstitions, they don’t need the Western variety – an inferior one at that, with its invasive and exclusive nature, its dogmatic notions of superiority.
Chiang Mai where I live is heaving with them 🙁
Sorry, rant over!
Pete, that goes way beyond freedom of speech.
I have little time for any form of superstition, but the SE Asian mix of Buddhism and Animism is pretty innocuous. Yet the Christians setting up churches in remote hill villages are asking the locals to destroy the traditions of ages – the likes of the ‘spirit gate’ at the entrance to the village, passing under which is supposed to bring luck. (As if that’s any more nonsensical than the rituals of Christianity)…
I’m in France at the moment, but I’m going to do a report on this when I get back to Thailand – it’s something that upsets the Christians I know, as I’ve been on the receiving end of some pretty vituperative criticism from evangelicals for daring to comment on their efforts, but the negative effects need publicising.