The Hazards of Belief

Banbh · 01-11-2013 07:30AM

Israel - where religion is law.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/.premium-1.555612
Yael Elbag, in her fifties, was accused of participating in a doubles match on the Day of Atonement, thus ignoring a Culture and Sports Ministry directive banning Israeli athletes from competing on Yom Kippur.

Brian Shanahan · 01-11-2013 04:41PM

Sulla Felix wrote: »

Eh, I don't think it's quite as sinister as that. From the looks of it, he fell prey to a semi-automated system, his whole point is that maybe facebook needs to take a look at properly moderating the process.

We're talking about a site which thinks that women breastfeeding their kids is more offensive than men cutting of people's heads with swords.

I don't think you can actually come up with a scenario for banning the artist where you can plausibly say "that's too sinister for facebook".

Nodin · 01-11-2013 10:25PM

Brian Shanahan wrote: »

We're talking about a site which thinks that women breastfeeding their kids is more offensive than men cutting of people's heads with swords.

I don't think you can actually come up with a scenario for banning the artist where you can plausibly say "that's too sinister for facebook".

but NIPPLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:

robindch · 01-11-2013 10:35PM

Nodin wrote: »

but NIPPLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:

If that's what it takes, then I'm willing to be shocked.

joseph brand · 02-11-2013 02:28AM

Salem Fortune Teller Shop Accused Of Fraud

“If they’re a fraud, then we’re all frauds, and all religion is a fraud."

The words: "I'm taking you ALL down with me!" spring to mind.

An individual named Ryan Reid from West Henrietta, N.Y., initially alerted the authorities of Fatima’s fraudulence, claiming that he spent $16,800 for a “shield” that would remove his curse.

This poor unfortunate thought he was living under a 'curse', and some charlatan relieved him of almost $17,000. Talk about adding insult to injury.

Amirani · 02-11-2013 05:17AM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/republic-of-ireland/10422085/Martin-ONeill-lines-up-Roy-Keane-to-form-dream-Republic-of-Ireland-manager-coach-duo.html

This made me cringe:

O’Neill represented Northern Ireland as a player and captained them at the 1982 World Cup, but as a Catholic, as well as the outstanding candidate, he will be warmly welcomed by supporters and media alike.

Unfortunately, the British media here is only echoing the prevailing public belief that Ireland remains a state where religion remains important to how the country operates.

Pherekydes · 02-11-2013 02:30PM

NiallSparky wrote: »

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/republic-of-ireland/10422085/Martin-ONeill-lines-up-Roy-Keane-to-form-dream-Republic-of-Ireland-manager-coach-duo.html

This made me cringe:

Unfortunately, the British media here is only echoing the prevailing public belief that Ireland remains a state where religion remains important to how the country operates.

Was "Saint" Jack a catholic, I wonder?

Brian Shanahan · 02-11-2013 03:02PM

Pherekydes wrote: »

Was "Saint" Jack a catholic, I wonder?

No, Anglican.

Pherekydes · 02-11-2013 03:20PM

Brian Shanahan wrote: »

No, Anglican.

I guessed as much. Just goes to show the Irish sports fan doesn't care about the religion of their sports' participants.

Brian Shanahan · 02-11-2013 04:08PM

Pherekydes wrote: »

I guessed as much. Just goes to show the Irish sports fan doesn't care about the religion of their sports' participants.

I remember reading a biography of him shortly after USA '94 with his full support, and in it he mentioned that he was the only non-catholic when the team and staff met Karol back during Italia Novanti.

iguana · 02-11-2013 05:40PM

There were idiots holding up '"Union Jack" go home' signs during his early matches. Then we started winning games, qualifying for international tournaments and even beating England and he became beloved by all but Dunphy.

Hotblack Desiato · 02-11-2013 09:16PM

Rough translation of the Torygraph snippet:

He's a Nordie but he won't be hated in Southern Island[sic] because he's not one of them

biko · 03-11-2013 01:38AM

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/10/30/Egyptian-student-arrested-on-charges-of-insulting-religion-.html
http://www.al-bab.com/blog/2013/october/atheist-student-faces-jail-in-egypt.htm#sthash.fMAmTeI9.dpbs

Egyptian student arrested on charges of 'insulting religion'. What did he do? Start an atheist facebook group.

Gaber's arrest was ordered after his university's administration filed a report against him on Sunday claiming he had formed a Facebook group for atheists.

With Islam even being an atheist is "insulting" the religion, although not outright illegal.

Although it is not actually illegal to be an atheist in Egypt, Sherif Gaber, a student in the commerce faculty at Suez Canal University, is accused of "spreading atheism" and "insulting religions"

Turtwig · 03-11-2013 01:44AM

6 year possible jail sentence.

[-0-] · 03-11-2013 02:55AM

biko wrote: »

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/10/30/Egyptian-student-arrested-on-charges-of-insulting-religion-.html
http://www.al-bab.com/blog/2013/october/atheist-student-faces-jail-in-egypt.htm#sthash.fMAmTeI9.dpbs

Egyptian student arrested on charges of 'insulting religion'. What did he do? Start an atheist facebook group.

With Islam even being an atheist is "insulting" the religion, although not outright illegal.

This is tragic. Our government needs to consider this crap when talking about our "blasphemy law".

biko · 03-11-2013 03:41AM

No worries, it won't happen here
<<
>>

MrPudding · 03-11-2013 11:39AM

biko wrote: »

No worries, it won't happen here
<<
>>

Whether or not it can or will happen here is not the important part. I suspect you know this and I am only using your post as a convenient post to respond to.

I personally think having a blasphemy law on the statue book is bad in a couple of ways. First of all, it allows countries with blasphemy laws which are used quite enthusiastically to point to Ireland and say, "well they have blasphemy laws as well." I think somewhere like Pakistan actually mentioned Ireland's blasphemy law with some approval. Seeing a supposedly modern, progressive country, like Ireland is supposed to be, with a blasphemy law lends some measure of credibility to these other countries.

The second way I believe it is damaging is is what it does to Ireland and organisations within it. Ireland should be a secular nation, but this law is used by those of religion to show, or at least to argue, that it is a catholic or christian country.

We also get the ridiculous situation where this law, which is supposedly drafted in such a way as to ensure there is no prosecutions being used to censor posts on websites. I know this has been done to death, but it is a ridiculous situation that a post that could have been moderated for any number of reasons was deemed to be blasphemous, according to this Irish law, by someone on boards, and this was announced to all. Crazy.

MrP

vibe666 · 05-11-2013 10:06AM

this is very sad.

http://aawa.co/blog/shameful-shunning-in-a-thousand-words/#more-2036

This is a picture of my dad eating. He had just made lunch for me, but he couldn’t eat it with me. I had to eat it at another table with my four-year-old son while he sat there away from me.

Why? Because that’s what the Watch Tower Society tells him to do......

......For those of you who are curious, I must explain that my extended family began shunning me a year ago after I questioned the authority of the Watchtower’s Governing Body. My family’s unanimous well-meaning response to my doubts was by expressing their opinion that I “must be an apostate” and “severe shunning would surely bring me to my senses.”

After my mother died eight months ago, my dad, being all alone, went to the elders in the congregation he attended to see if he’d be allowed to visit with me. They said that since I was his son, he could visit with me at his house. But he could not discuss religion - nor could he share a meal with me at the same table.

kylith · 05-11-2013 11:03AM

vibe666 wrote: »

this is very sad.

http://aawa.co/blog/shameful-shunning-in-a-thousand-words/#more-2036

That is so very sad.

Banbh · 05-11-2013 01:50PM

Not sad but stupid. These are adults - both father and son - behaving like children and sulking. To use a current expression, they should both grow a pair.

Would you sulk and eat your dinner on a desk while your grown-up son and grandson are eating at an adjoining table? Of course not. Would you eat your dinner with your kid at a table with granda sulking in a corner eating by himself? Of course not.

My compassion for my fellow-man just doesn't stretch to self-inflicted misery by ejits.

Bannasidhe · 05-11-2013 01:59PM

Banbh wrote: »

Not sad but stupid. These are adults - both father and son - behaving like children and sulking. To use a current expression, they should both grow a pair.

Would you sulk and eat your dinner on a desk while your grown-up son and grandson are eating at an adjoining table? Of course not. Would you eat your dinner with your kid at a table with granda sulking in a corner eating by himself? Of course not.

My compassion for my fellow-man just doesn't stretch to self-inflicted misery by ejits.

I would rather eat my dinner sitting in the middle of the road then at the same table as my Father. He has the most appalling table manners and only a top set of false teeth - gummy spitty nose picky icky old man.

robindch · 05-11-2013 02:32PM

vibe666 wrote: »

this is very sad

News in from Popette two days ago was that she wasn't going to go to the wedding of the daughter of a friend of hers as the wedding was taking place in a registry office. Hardly needs to be said, but the friend, who shares many of Popette's religious views, is dreadfully hurt.

I'faith, hoist with her own petar'.

Brian Shanahan · 05-11-2013 06:02PM

vibe666 wrote: »

this is very sad.

http://aawa.co/blog/shameful-shunning-in-a-thousand-words/#more-2036

Feckin' eejit, that he would destroy his life for no reason.

joseph brand · 05-11-2013 09:14PM

vibe666 wrote: »

this is very sad.

expressing their opinion that I “must be an apostate” and “severe shunning would surely bring me to my senses.”

Severe shunning? Is that like extreme ignoring? Or hardcore blanking?

It is sad. That poor old man has been brainwashed into a miserable existence where his mind has been stunted. These people have closed minds and tunnel vision. At least there may be hope for the son, who seems to understand how insane things are.

The father had to go and ask 'the elders' if he could 'visit with' his son. This is so alien to me. Can't imagine asking anyone's permission if I were in that circumstance. The old man is a victim. Plain and simple.

recedite · 05-11-2013 10:41PM

Banbh wrote: »

Would you eat your dinner with your kid at a table with granda sulking in a corner eating by himself? Of course not.

The point is, he was invited to sit with his son and grandkid but it was expressly forbidden by "the church".

Banbh · 05-11-2013 11:42PM

The point is that he went along with the ludramáns, thus proving himself a servile, spineless oul ejit.

06-11-2013 02:19AM

I'm sure the reactions would be the same when it's a woman stupidly following some "religious advice".

Hotblack Desiato · 06-11-2013 07:57AM

Well, my misandry antennae didn't twitch at all...

Banbh · 06-11-2013 08:38AM

Yeah that's right. People were only commenting because the religious nut-jobs were male - and white and American and middle-class and...

kiffer · 06-11-2013 08:55AM

Banbh wrote: »

Yeah that's right. People were only commenting because the religious nut-jobs were male - and white and American and middle-class and...

No... but perhaps if it had been his mother people would have been annoyed at the presumably all/allmost all male council rather than the person stuck at the second table because "women have less agency than men" the man should know better/be able to stand up for himself?
If he doesn't he's an idiot loser.
If a woman doesn't she's being oppressed.

But both are being oppressed, both fear the power of the religious group to cut them off from the rest of the community...
Yes most of the power is held by men... but in this case and situation it's not held by that man, it's held by the council to whom he had to go and ask for permission to even talk to his child and grandchild.

The Hazards of Belief

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