Abdul Rahman to be executed for apostasy

[neilcoalesce]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Rahman_%28convert%29

I'd only just heard about this. Infuriating (but not particularly surprising). A belief is just that. It doesn't make it fact. The scary thing is that it's reported that a lot of Afghans support this.

[kj]

Originally Posted by neilcoalesce

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Rahman_%28convert%29

I'd only just heard about this. Infuriating (but not particularly surprising). A belief is just that. It doesn't make it fact. The scary thing is that it's reported that a lot of Afghans support this.

You have to remember though that Afghanistan's population is 99% Muslim and many of those are extremely conservative and always have been. Although it may be outrageous to us, its part of their culture over there and dont forget that life over there is mostly based on tribal tradition. Just because America invaded Afghanistan doesn't mean that the culture has changed. I don't know if we have the right to influence that country's religious beliefs.

In saying that though the government should recognise people's right to freedom of religion.

[neilcoalesce]

Fair comment. I appreciate that their culture is vastly different from ours, however, like you say, they should respect religious freedom and address the apparent contradiction in their constitution that allows that while still allowing people to be executed for Apostasy.

[kj]

Update: Pope gets involved too.

He speaks sense.

[humndislocation]

I remember when we converted Afganistan to FREEDOM... oh wait...

It saddens me to say this, and I remember the day when I chastised fellow atheist friends for saying this, but the sooner we ban religion, the sooner this world can become a better place to live.

If people could bark at the moon, and not affect other peoples' freedom, then I'd be happy for religion to exist, but it's become pretty clear that religious people can't be trusted to respect other peoples' freedom, so now it's time to take the ball away.

I hate myself for aspousing such an arrogant belief, which is against my belief that religious beliefs are inherently unknowable, but I think in the 21st century, it's time we stopped blaming natural phenomena on mogroth the eternal sky horse, who slowly eats the moon every month (which is why it dissapears, and if your scientific data disputes it, then it's because it's wrong and science is a religion, and dissenting viewpoints should be given equal time, because barking at the moon is as valid as overwhelming physical evidence.

You can play football all you want, but when you want to force other people to play football, then that's when it becomes a problem.

[neilcoalesce]

Originally Posted by humndislocation

I remember when we converted Afganistan to FREEDOM... oh wait...

It saddens me to say this, and I remember the day when I chastised fellow atheist friends for saying this, but the sooner we ban religion, the sooner this world can become a better place to live.

If people could bark at the moon, and not affect other peoples' freedom, then I'd be happy for religion to exist, but it's become pretty clear that religious people can't be trusted to respect other peoples' freedom, so now it's time to take the ball away.

While it's unfair on the people who are religious and just get own with it (not bothering anyone else in the process), it's increasingly hard to disagree with Brian's point of view on this.

[humndislocation]

Yeah, I agree that it's harsh on those that practice their religion without hurting anyone else, and as I said, I feel guilty for having this view. Increasingly though, I'm starting to feel like banning religion would be a million times more constructive for the human race, than just leaving it be.

I feel really bad for feeling that way though.

I feel like I understand the Europe way of doing things, way more than any other. In Scandanavian countries, religion seems to be much less of an issue, and they seemed to have moved beyond it somewhat. Even the UK is like this to some extent, when you compare it with other places.

To be fair, I was raised as a religious person, and I feel very bitter towards religion, for what I feel was brainwashing as a child. Isn't it convenient for example, that catholics have confirmation, their rite where you say "I'm an adult, I'm an adult member of this church, I promise never to leave it" at the age of 10, when you're far to young to have your own opinion about it? Get fucked.

I don't have so much of a problem with religions that are kind of like, "Hey, life is pretty cool. Here are a general series of rules that are kind of cool to follow, but you don't have to." as opposed to the way most religions are, which is "MOGOROTH THE SKY DRAGON GIVES YOU FREE WILL BUT ALSO DISAPPROVES OF X FORM OF BEHAVIOUR WHICH WE MUST MAKE ILLEGAL EVEN THOUGH MOGOROTH GIVES US FREE WILL, BECAUSE WE KNOW BETTER THAN MOGOROTH, EVEN THOUGH TO SAY SO OPENLY WOULD BE BLASPHEMY. ALSO ANY EVIDENCE AGAINST CLAIMS MADE IN THE BOOK OF MORGOROTH ARE FALSE, BECAUSE MORGOROTH IS INFALLIBLE, AND WE SHOULD TEACH THE BOOK OF MORGOROTH IN SCIENCE CLASS INSTEAD OF SCIENCE. (OR AT LEAST TEACH "THE CONTROVERSY" BECAUSE THE BELIEFS OF PEOPLE THAT KNOW FUCK ALL ABOUT SCIENCE, AND CHOOSE TO REMAIN WILFULLY IGNORNANT, ARE JUST AS VALID AS ACTUAL SCIENCE, AND VALIDLY BE CONSIDERED CONTROVERSY)

Please, creationists, never breed. Fucking abort yourselves now. I know you've been born already, but there's no rule that says you can't jam a coathanger in your fucking neanderthal skull.

[dOUgIe]

You talk about banning religon then haver on about free will. Nice one.

[TNF]

In my opinion religion is stupid. However no one has the right to take away someones beliefs.

[humndislocation]

Originally Posted by dOUgIe

You talk about banning religon then haver on about free will. Nice one.

It's not ideal, but I think it's the lesser of two evils. Over time, I'm starting to think that a far greater number of freedoms will be banned if we allow religion to continue as it is, than if we just said, "that's enough".

As I say, I don't think it's the ideal situation, but I think it's getting to the point that it's a matter of self-defence for those of us that don't want religion to be forced upon us.

I'm just getting fed up of this "we must ban gay marriage/abortion/the ability to believe in something other that our religion/teaching evolution" schtick

[dOUgIe]

gay marriage is stupid. it's a bond between a man and a woman.