Criticizing Religion/Beliefs

It' s becoming more and more popular to argue that there is something fundamentally inappropriate and/or intolerant about criticizing religion and (religious) beliefs. It sometimes seems as if no serious and pointed criticisms are permitted against what people believe if those beliefs are part of religion, regardless of how bigoted or nasty those beliefs are.

People can level very pointed criticisms against a movie or play without censure. Similarly pointed criticisms against a political or social ideology are also readily accepted as part of public debate. If anything even remotely similar is said about religion and religious beliefs, though, the critic will be tarred as intolerant, bigoted, anti-religion, and anything else which people can come up with.

If it' s legitimate to use ridicule and mockery to point out problems in a political leader, institution, or ideology, why should it suddenly be illegitimate to do the same in the context of religion, religious leaders, religious institutions, and (religious) beliefs?

Is there any good reason to think that the standards and rules for dealing with religious beliefs should be any different?

Source: about.com

Originally posted by Storm
It' s becoming more and more popular to argue that there is something fundamentally inappropriate and/or intolerant about criticizing religion and (religious) beliefs. It sometimes seems as if no serious and pointed criticisms are permitted against what people believe if those beliefs are part of religion, regardless of how bigoted or nasty those beliefs are.

People can level very pointed criticisms against a movie or play without censure. Similarly pointed criticisms against a political or social ideology are also readily accepted as part of public debate. If anything even remotely similar is said about religion and religious beliefs, though, the critic will be tarred as intolerant, bigoted, anti-religion, and anything else which people can come up with.

If it' s legitimate to use ridicule and mockery to point out problems in a political leader, institution, or ideology, why should it suddenly be illegitimate to do the same in the context of religion, religious leaders, religious institutions, and (religious) beliefs?

Is there any good reason to think that the standards and rules for dealing with religious beliefs should be any different?

Source: about.com

I don't think so, but it is apparent that it is that way.

When people satirize it, it doesn't get the same protection, just because they don't believe in it. I think everything should be open for criticism. Especially something as big and in many cases harmful as Religions.

Classic example of controled opinions in regards to religion is the emrgance of ''Islamophobia''.
Religion, nd in my example Islam, is an ideology.

Rejection of an ideology cannot be classified as phobia. To call the opponents of an ideology phobic is a fallacy. All ideologies have their critics and opponents.

Islam is not unversaly agreed upon, and thus calling it 'phobia' is a fallacy. It is sheer arrogance to call criticism of any ideology, phobia. This implies that the truth of that ideology is already established and anyone opposing it is adopting an irrational position and is in need of psychological help.

Such would apply for any Ideology or more precisely religion in this case.

This embodies far larger meanings, mostly about what we understand as freedom of religion. But this freedom of religion right overshadows freedom of expression and opinion.

Or rather tends to.

Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Classic example of controled opinions in regards to religion is the emrgance of ''Islamophobia''.
Religion, nd in my example Islam, is an ideology.

Rejection of an ideology cannot be classified as phobia. To call the opponents of an ideology phobic is a fallacy. All ideologies have their critics and opponents.

Islam is not unversaly agreed upon, and thus calling it 'phobia' is a fallacy. All ideologies have their opponents. It is sheer arrogance to call criticism of any ideology, phobia. This implies that the truth of that ideology is already established and anyone opposing it is adopting an irrational position and is in need of psychological help.

Such would apply for any Ideology or more precisely religion in this case.

This embodies far larger meanings, mostly about what we understand as freedom of religion. But this freedom of religion right overshadows freedom of expression and opinion.

Or rather tends to.

Of course one can have an unreasonable hate and fer for and of a certain ideology and the followers anyways....but just on reasonable grounds rejecting it should not be considered a phobia.

Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Classic example of controled opinions in regards to religion is the emrgance of ''Islamophobia''.
Religion, nd in my example Islam, is an ideology.

Rejection of an ideology cannot be classified as phobia. To call the opponents of an ideology phobic is a fallacy. All ideologies have their critics and opponents.

Islam is not unversaly agreed upon, and thus calling it 'phobia' is a fallacy. It is sheer arrogance to call criticism of any ideology, phobia. This implies that the truth of that ideology is already established and anyone opposing it is adopting an irrational position and is in need of psychological help.

Such would apply for any Ideology or more precisely religion in this case.

This embodies far larger meanings, mostly about what we understand as freedom of religion. But this freedom of religion right overshadows freedom of expression and opinion.

Or rather tends to.

I couldn't have said it better. 😄

Religion has caused many problems in the past and now the present. I think all religions should be scrutinized. It should stay out of politics and the schools. If someone wants to take an elective course in the Study of Religions, then there is no problem with that. But I feel religions on a whole are very destructive, unless it's about love and caring without condemning another and only when asked for, not pushed on. Unfortunately religions have become the "Us" against "Them", thing. Everyone that isn't part of the "Us", is going to hell. And there are a lot of "Us'" around.

Of course it is legitimate to criticize religion/beliefs.

It is those religions and believes than cause death and destruction.

Religion should be exterminated.

Why should people believe things that simply are not true?

Originally posted by Boris
Of course it is legitimate to criticize religion/beliefs.

It is those religions and believes than cause death and destruction.

Religion should be exterminated.

Why should people believe things that simply are not true?

Hey! I get a lot of benefit from my religion. But of course my religion dose not hurt anyone, and I don't believe in things that are not true.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Hey! I get a lot of benefit from my religion. But of course my religion dose not hurt anyone, and I don't believe in things that are not true.

I think the problem is that people just need to STOP Criticizing and start accepting that we have different perspectives. This does not just go for the religious camp. The door swings both ways. Non-religious people need to stop wasting their lives complaining about others. Talk all the science and high intellectual but really they don't look any different to me than the religious people.

I mean F uck it! If you're angry at something then get counceling. Deal with your anger and get over it. If a person is doing this just to be an ass...damn something is wrong with your life if you need to put down others to make you feel better.

A person can't be a critic all their life. Otherwise you're not living at all. Live your own life not the life of others.

Originally posted by WrathfulDwarf
I think the problem is that people just need to STOP Criticizing and start accepting that we have different perspectives. This does not just go for the religious camp. The door swings both ways. Non-religious people need to stop wasting their lives complaining about others. Talk all the science and high intellectual but really they don't look any different to me than the religious people.

I mean F uck it! If you're angry at something then get counceling. Deal with your anger and get over it. If a person is doing this just to be an ass...damn something is wrong with your life if you need to put down others to make you feel better.

A person can't be a critic all their life. Otherwise you're not living at all. Live your own life not the life of others.

Mistakes and truths can only be deduced through scrutiny.

Strong believers won´t be moved anyway as they tend to go through life like a horse with blinkers on, only seeing in one direction and ignoring anything new which may come along from a religious point of view.

Although scrutiny & research can be manipulated to produce lies about a certian subjects.

catch 22

I don't think its illigetimate to criticise, but there is a point where rationality should kick in.

The only beliefs that are okay to be criticised are KemeticIbri's.

And yours.

Originally posted by WrathfulDwarf
Talk all the science and high intellectual but really they don't look any different to me than the religious people.

They do to me.

I think it's okay to criticise everything; scepticism and disbelief brings us forward as a species.

Well when I read "criticise" I think I misinterpreted it as saying that the other person's beliefs were just wrong.

I think the real question is: "When does rationality turn to just being an *******?"

There are flaws in every religion but what is the point of jamming it down the throat of someone who will not even acknowledge any issue?

How do you rationalise Religous morals in the first place?