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"To criticize a person for their race is manifestly irrational and ridiculous, but to criticize their religion, that is a right. That is a freedom. The freedom to criticize ideas, any ideas – even if they are sincerely held beliefs – is one of the fundamental freedoms of society." - Rowan Atkinson
Do you agree with this quote? Why/why not?
| Yes | 99 | |
| To some degree | 69 | |
| No | 30 |
I agree that it's a right in so much as freedom of speech is a right.
But everyone should exercise their rights intelligently, with consideration for their words and those on the receiving end of them.
"Freedom of Speech", is essentially correct, BUT only if that speech is correct, and is not intentionally false, misleading or deceptive (including half-truths or partial truths).
Please try to use correct / incorrect, rather than right / wrong.
We have only one Universal 'right', in reality; we have 'a right to die'.
I used to miss your inane and incessant 'corrections'. Now I just wish you'd stay quiet :/
You need to brush up on your English. Here, I'll give you the Oxford Dictionary definition of the noun 'right':
noun
1 that which is morally correct, just, or honourable
2 a moral or legal entitlement to have or do something
3 (the right) the right-hand part, side, or direction
4 (often the Right) [treated as singular or plural] a group or party favouring conservative views and supporting capitalist principles
You see the 2nd definition there? A moral or legal entitlement. That is the 'right' I was using. NOT the adjective as you took it.
Did you know there are words called homonyms? Right is a homonym. Multiple definitions, but the same spelling and pronunciation.
So no, I won't use correct / incorrect when I mean a moral or legal entitlement. Idiot.
Many 'morals' are founded in archaic thought / stories, and are no longer pertinent in the present-day era.
What makes you think that you are 'entitled' to anything, whether or not this has been made 'legal'?
Nature does not recognise whether or not something has been made 'legal' by humans.
You have 'a right to die'.
Please use correct / incorrect.
Because nature isn't guided by a moral code, doesn't mean we shouldn't be. Our (natural) instinct is to form society, and in order to preserve society, we develop and promote a shared moral code. That makes morality an aspect of human nature, which is an aspect of wider nature. Nothing wrong with that... Oh sorry... Nothing INCORRECT with that.
I think I am entitled to certain moral rights because I was born and participate in a society which is founded upon moral rights and the preservation of said rights is necessary for the continuation of said society.
We need to transform our society away from what is 'morally correct' to what is 'ethically correct'.
This will, in turn, change what is determined to be a 'legal entitlement'.
Our current civilisation is on a path to extinction. We must change, or face extinction.
Do u agree w this quote....
I slit the sheet the sheet I slit and on the slitted sheet I sit
I agree completely with that. It's a set of beliefs they ascribe to. Although I'm not religious, I obviously still have my own set of beliefs, and of course someone has the freedom to criticise them. And I have the freedom to defend my beliefs. If my beliefs don't stand up against criticism, then maybe it's time to have a re-think. I don't see why it should be any different for religion. I'm glad that I live in a society where people can openly debate it.
And by this I don't mean I like it when people force themselves upon others and attack them for their religion. Just like how I dislike religious people who aggressively force their beliefs upon others.
To be honest, I think I'd find it easier to criticise religion than defend it. It has a lot of flaws. Personally, I think quite a lot of scriptures aren't relevant nowadays, and shouldn't be treated as such. They should be treated as pieces of history, because that's what they are. And they sometimes are taken word-for-word, in really important issues. But then again, in those specific cases I'd dislike an atheist with similar beliefs to them. It's the beliefs that are the problem, not the religion, although maybe they're just the same thing. Anyway, yeah, I agree very much with that quote. I'd be interested in seeing why someone would disagree with it, though.
I disagree.
As my fundamental freedom of society permits, I'd like to take this opportunity to criticize Mr. Atkinson's sincerely held belief that criticizing someone for their race is irrational and ridiculous by saying "that's ridiculous, and irrational".
I'm a christian and I've been called stupid for believing in God. That hurts but I have to live with it. Personally I believe that critisising a person because of his believes only make him believe more deeply in it and in some way we pity the critisiser because "forgive him God for he doesn't know what he's saying."
But hey, I'm christian and often I've found myself critisising hindus because they adore elephants, cattles etc.. I find it ridiculous. I can't blame others for thinking the same for me.
I wholeheartedly agree with this.
To criticise someone on their race is ridiculous. You cannot choose which race you belong to, it's an absolute random event. To criticise someone on something which they haven't chosen and cannot change will be foolish.
But to criticise someones religion, yes. Some people here are mistaking what Rowan Atkinson is trying to say. He isn't saying it is fair to insult and intend offense and hurt against someone for following their religion. He is saying it is fair to CRITICISE. Criticism should never be offensive and intentionally hurt someones feelings and effect a persons emotions. Criticism should only induce the other person to think and maybe change the way they think about things, the way they behave or what they believe in for the better.
Personally, I do not believe in God, but I have never gone out to intentionally hurt someones feelings for doing so. During debates, I have criticised religion and the theory of God but it was strictly criticism. It did not offend or hurt the feelings of the opposition or any spectator in the room who belonged to a religion.
I agree completely. There are quite obvious exceptions to this in public areas and some private events.
I'll be blunt. I've held some exceptionally stupid beliefs before in my life. Generally my goal is to eliminate all irrational beliefs that I hold. However, this is next to impossible when other people are not able to call you out on those beliefs.
Specific example: flu vaccines. For quite a while, I refused the flu shot every year on the basis that I didn't think it mattered if I was immunized or not, and I didn't feel that they were all that effective. However, this came up at one point, and I was called out on it and rather forcefully educated (for good reason). I learned about herd immunity, the mechanism behind vaccines, and the actual statistics on the subject.
You should be able to criticize anyone for anything - That's what free speech is all about.
i can't take something mr bean said seriously enough to give an answer, i'd start laughing
I agree to an extent, I don't like to blatantly put someone down for having an Idea that I don't agree with, so I keep it to myself. However, I think being able to criticize it is ok, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone emotionally. I just like acceptance.
No.
One cannot be critical of any person for something which does not exist (which the first part of this quotation purports).
There is no such thing as a "race" among any currently extant human person, or group of persons.
criticizing, questioning, and claiming is different .. making fun, and disrespecting is different.. !1 it is acceptable and tolerable when a person of opposite belief criticizes yours but it obviously hurts when they are making fun of it .. its okay if two people have different beliefs and they can question it rather they should question it.. but should take care of the fact that disrespecting one's belief might cause grief to the other..
I am Muslim and its really irritating and unacceptable when people constantly label us for being terrorists.. and specially when the whole blame is claimed on the teachings of our religion.. it seems stupid when people can't accept a simple fact that DUE TO SOME PEOPLE THE WHOLE RELIGION AND THE WHOLE LOT OF BELIEVERS IS NOT WRONG , NOT THE ALL MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD ARE TERRORISTS and by he way don't we find criminals and terrorists amongst people of other religion see how its stereotyped.. but ohh its their freedom and they speak about what they don't often even know properly!! so they can or should speak up but not to offend people !!
After kelli (above) gets down off her stump, then I think that you should jump up next, and tell all the people there, that you are also an Archaic, Divided person, who believes in a different branch of the same religion.
Why are you falling for that cheap political trick, which serves only to Divide people further, and helping those Unethical political tricksters to spread this claptrap around?
Please do not use -ists or -isms.
Thank you.
Either you ARE a 'terror', or you are a fraud.
QUR'ĀN: Surat At-Tawbah (The Repentance) - سورة التوبة ; 9:29
Sahih International
Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.
The problem with this is: THIS IS NOT "The Religion of Truth", nor is ANY RELIGION, "The Religion of Truth". Nor is ANY PERSON, EVER, Told "THE TRUTH". We were ALL INCORRECT, MYSELF INCLUDED!!!
Please Undivide yourself from The Rest of Society, and discontinue spreading such Archaic, Divided nonsense around.
Thank you.
as for you don't know the very basics of it ..let me state
"And fight in the way of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits." -al-Baqarah 2:190
this is the very start when the nonbelievers were attacking the Muslims so Allah permitted us to DEFEND our selves.. the thing what you are stating is far beyond your understanding because you don't know what was before and after it!!
and if your talking about division then we all are divided yes!! when it comes to beliefs and concepts.. everyone is.. not only religious but many other issues divide us so we can't expect to finish it.. and I am not the one causing this division its from the very start..
Apparently, you simply don't get it!!!
The Life Form which was commonly known by some persons as Allah, is now Deceased, their Sentience dispersed by their own free will.
This message was (and is) communicated to me by the Progeny of Allah.
The fighting must end, and the fighting must end now!!!
This Planet Earth (and all life forms endemic thereto, including ALL humans) is in very serious trouble. We must ALL work together, if we wish to survive, and not become EXTINCT (sooner than you think).
WE WERE ALL INCORRECT, WHETHER WE WERE RELIGIOUS, OR WHETHER WE WERE NOT FORMERLY RELIGIOUS, MYSELF INCLUDED!!!
I understand that Abū al-Qāsim Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim had recognized that some very greedy and corrupt persons, had corrupted the Original Message communicated to the people of Ancient Sumer, and that he had endeavoured to correct this. That was about 1,400 (fourteen hundred) years ago!!!
IT IS NOW A NEW ERA OF ENLIGHTENMENT!!!
You continue to divide yourself and others, and continue to listen to greedy and corrupt persons who pretend to communicate with the (now deceased) creature, Allah.
END YOUR DIVISION PROMPTLY, OR BECOME EXTINCT!!!
I AM THE NEW AMBASSADOR OF PLANET EARTH!!!
The planet doesn't need "saving". It's just a fucking rock and the universe couldn't care less about it either.
Incorrect.
I had NOT stated that the planet needed "saving".
This is another Archaic ideology perpetuated by some very greedy and corrupt individuals.
I had stated that the life forms (including humans) on this Planet Earth, is presently in very serious trouble. Much of this is due to human activities.
The Planet Earth, is NOT "a fucking rock".
The 'universe' is NOT Sentient and Ethical, although many Sentient and Ethical life forms exist within the Universe.
Please communicate correctly, in future.
Negative, but these are important questions to answer.
I had previously answered these and similar questions on this Web Site, to the best of my knowledgeability.
I acknowledge that this might or might not be entirely accurate, and I am always open to informed challenges to this.
I had a dream that one day my kids will live in a nation where theyre not judged by their color but by their characteristics.
No, it is pandering to feeling and sentiment and subjectivity. To criticize anything at this stage of human evolution is fluff, baseless dribble. Prove god exists, prove he doesn't, both impossible. But we have got to "fill in the blanks" with fluff for our sanity, for our individuality. Because we are too weak as beings to cope without at this stage.
We must advance beyond these things to know with certainty. Something neither you or I, nor anybody else, has the ability to do yet.
I criticize anything I damn well please and if people don't like it, they can lump it!
Yeah, well, what about people that don't know anything else?
Uneducated people should be exempt from that, otherwise, it's fairly agreeable.
See, I disagree entirely. If someone is entirely uneducated about their own beliefs, then I think they in particular should be challenged.
Of course, time and place are always important. Knocking on doors (hem hem) seems a bit too far, but when the topic comes up it seems like challenging people is a good thing. It makes everyone rethink (hopefully) what they believe.