David Quinn in "Help, We're Being Opressed!" Shocker

Galvasean

With predictability our good friend from the IONA Institute David Quinn comes out swinging in defence of the Pope.

David Quinn wrote:

Benedict spoke of a growing threat to freedom of religion and freedom of conscience and, in Scotland the previous day, of "aggressive forms of secularism" and the "dictatorship of relativism".

Bizarrely, there are people who doubt that aggressive secularism even exists, who deny that the rights of religious believers are under increasing assault in Western societies. But if Richard Dawkins and company are not examples of aggressive secularism then what is?

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/david-quinn-christians-have-to-fight-for-their-place-in-society-2351201.html

Aggressive secularism huh? Let's knock over some cars and make a nuicance of ourselves! :pac:

When I read this sort of stuff two things come to mind:

sensibleken

Bloody peasants!

Dades

Quinn wrote:

Depending on whose estimate you believe, between 500,000 and 750,000 people in this secular country with only a small minority of Catholics, turned out for him.

That "small minority" of catholics are, according to the official figures, roughly the same as the population of Ireland.

Also, I wonder if these people (and the many like them) were included in the figures that turned out for him.

ChocolateSauce

That "aggressive secularist" bit always gets me. I'm one of the most "aggressive" secularists I've ever met, and all I want is to level the playing field and have everyone treated equally.

When they talk about the oppression of the faithful and the imposition of atheism on society, I wonder who exactly are they talking about? Because it doesn't sound like anyone I've ever heard of (who wasn't a communist).

Tim Robbins

ChocolateSauce wrote: »

That "aggressive secularist" bit always gets me. I'm one of the most "aggressive" secularists I've ever met, and all I want is to level the playing field and have everyone treated equally.

When they talk about the oppression of the faithful and the imposition of atheism on society, I wonder who exactly are they talking about? Because it doesn't sound like anyone I've ever heard of (who wasn't a communist).

Yeah what's more aggressive, abusing children and covering it all up or just saying religion should not have control over things the state should.

Was Jesus an aggressive secularist when he said:
"Render unto Caesar what is Caesar".

Dades

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Yeah what's more aggressive, abusing children and covering it all up or just saying religion should not have control over things the state should.

Even leaving that in the past for a moment, what's more aggressive than controlling 95% of the schools and feeding children your singular view of the world for the formative 12 years of their lives.

PeterIanStaker

The way he goes on you'd think that Christians were a tiny minority or something. He really is a self righteous ass.

fontanalis

I've heard the muppet talking about relativism before. What does he think he means by it?

PDN

fontanalis wrote: »

I've heard the muppet talking about relativism before. What does he think he means by it?

That all depends on where you're coming from.

fontanalis

PDN wrote: »

That all depends on where you're coming from.

But seriously, where's he coming from (apart from his holier than thou I'm afraid that saying you're a catholic doesn't exempt you from criticism anymore)?

dvpower

Is it just me or are "aggresive secularism" and "fundamentalist atheist" new phrases?
I seem to be hearing them more and more lately.

mikhail

dvpower wrote: »

Is it just me or are "aggresive secularism" and "fundamentalist atheist" new phrases?
I seem to be hearing them more and more lately.

I think they must be the output of PR consulting firms advising religious groups. Negative campaigning is hot right now.

mohawk

I really should of known better then to read an article by David Quinn. He brings on some serious eye-rolling.

"dictatorship of relativism"

Dictatorship of relativism -sounds scary. Have no idea what this means so went to trusty google. From what I gather Davis Quinn is quoting the then cardinal Ratzinger. I might be slow but is this quote basically saying that unless you are catholic then you have no morals?? I may be misunderstanding as happens when I get out the wine.

Galvasean

dvpower wrote: »

Is it just me or are "aggresive secularism" and "fundamentalist atheist" new phrases?
I seem to be hearing them more and more lately.

"Aggressive/Militant/Fundamentalist atheists/secularists" - They always use Dawkins as an example. The guy writes the odd book and speaks on street corners. That strikes me as quite benign and not very exciting.

Hand me some dynamite... I'll show ya'all militant!

reprazant

I always find this very amusing in relation to christian oppression.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GSN_MtvHm8

dvpower

mikhail wrote: »

I think they must be the output of PR consulting firms advising religious groups. Negative campaigning is hot right now.

The shower of cnuts (do you have the address of a good firm:o)

fisgon

The issue here is that the religious don't want a level playing field, they want dominance. That includes Benny, and Quinny, and all of the Iona institute. So anything that dilutes their dominance - which they became used to having in this country, and are still adapting to the loss of - they interpret as an attack.

It's the fundamental arrogance of the religious, the inabitlity to accept that their views are just some among many. They don't want equal rights, they want special treatment. That's what all this recent claim to victimhood is about.

dvpower

fisgon wrote: »

The issue here is that the religious don't want a level playing field, they want dominance. That includes Benny, and Quinny, and all of the Iona institute. So anything that dilutes their dominance - which they became used to having in this country, and are still adapting to the loss of - they interpret as an attack.

It's the fundamental arrogance of the religious, the inabitlity to accept that their views are just some among many. They don't want equal rights, they want special treatment. That's what all this recent claim to victimhood is about.

David Quinn is just a Catholic Ian O'Doherty

goose2005

Quinn says "Christians have to fight for their place in society" - of course, he thinks that Christians' place is on top, giving the rest a good kicking.

It's particularly laughable that he offers nonsense like

The pragmatic approach is what led us straight over the financial precipice and is currently leading us over a social precipice because of a blind, ignorant, but strangely self-righteous, adoption of increasingly liberal social policies.

considering what's being going on in the Istituto per le Opere di Religione...

Tim Robbins

Dades wrote: »

Even leaving that in the past for a moment, what's more aggressive than controlling 95% of the schools and feeding children your singular view of the world for the formative 12 years of their lives.

Someone should ask the Pope is there such a thing as unaggressive secularism :-)?

Quentinkrisp

Here's some more comedy gold from this muppet: http://www.independent.ie/national-news/equality-a-threat-to-religious-freedoms-2352606.html

Seriously, I have never heard such butthurt bitching in all my life:rolleyes:sounds to me like he's just being bitter because religious types can't impose their own views on other people and are being prevented from dragging europe back into the dark ages. I hope he isn't in a position where he can influence naional policy.

Galvasean

reprazant wrote: »

I always find this very amusing in relation to christian oppression.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GSN_MtvHm8

Good video. Reminds me of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWDeZY0QsqY

dvpower wrote: »

David Quinn is just a Catholic Ian O'Doherty

I disagree. At least Ian O' Doherty likes to make fun of himself now and again.