Good piece on criticizing other religions

[Theophylact]

by Eugene Volokh:

... I think that it's perfectly proper for people to argue that others are wrong on religious matters. It's not "intoleran[t]" or uncivil to say that someone's religion is wrong -- rather, it is indeed a treasured aspect of American religious freedom.

Naturally, the other person may strenuously disagree with the speaker's views, and feel offended. But people have no ethical obligation to avoid such offense. If their view is that Islam, or Catholicism, or all religiosity is false -- that religion is the opium of the masses, or that Christ was not the son of God, or that Jews aren't The Chosen People, or that Allah doesn't exist, or that Muhammad was a bad person -- they are entitled to express that view. And they must, I think, be entitled to express this view if we are going to have a vibrant debate about religious truth. No-one is entitled (even if we're talking just about ethical entitlement, not legal entitlement) to have his religion's fundamental claims remain unchallenged.

I do think that it tends to be wrong to call other religions evil, at least unless you have pretty solid proof of that. But that's true because of a confluence of reasons -- you don't have to call a religion evil to argue that it's wrong; calling a religion evil is generally seen as making a claim that most of its adherents are evil (as opposed to just mistaken in their theological beliefs), or are at least pushed towards evil by the religion, and this claim generally requires, as a matter of ethics and good manners, some serious justification; and most such claims that a religion is evil end up not meeting that burden of justification. These reasons may generally lead us to frown on claims that some religion is "wicked and evil," but they don't apply to many other claims.

In particular, assertions about which religion is right (pretty important arguments, if we think that such questions matter to people's present and future lives) suggest error on articles of faith, not wickedness; and such assertions must at times state, explicitly or implicitly, that Islam is or is not a false religion, that Allah does or does not exist, that there is or is not a God other than Allah, and that Mohammed is or is not his prophet. And if Muslims are entitled to say that Allah exists (and no other Gods do), Buddhists are entitled to say that he doesn't.

[OuTpaTienT]

Wow! Something posted by Theo that I can agree with!

[Dear Diary, you'll never guess what happened today...]

[tmx468]

Out... hell has frozen over - prepare for the invasions!!

That is a truly interesting read - I know a few 'friends' that could so with reading it too..

[vass0922]

Good article

I agree, people SHOULD have their freedom of speech to say I don't agree with your religion and here's why.
NOT You are hateful evil sinners that will burn in hell for your evil atrocities of ... believing in something I don't.

<is wondering if Theo actually has a job in between all of the articles >

[Knothead]

I liked that. Good food for thought, Theo!

But Vass beat me to it here:

Originally posted by vass0922
I agree, people SHOULD have their freedom of speech to say I don't agree with your religion and here's why.
NOT You are hateful evil sinners that will burn in hell for your evil atrocities of ... believing in something I don't.

**also wondering, where does Theo find the time?**

[Epidemic]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK

... I think that it's perfectly proper for people to argue that others are wrong on religious matters. It's not "intoleran[t]" or uncivil to say that someone's religion is wrong -- rather, it is indeed a treasured aspect of American religious freedom

I think this is craperoo. Total BS.

It is NOT proper for anyone to tell me what my religion is or isn't.

I do NOT critisize anyone's religion and I expect no one to judge mine.

If that makes me intolerant, so be it.

[OuTpaTienT]

Originally posted by shahani


I think this is craperoo. Total BS.

It is NOT proper for anyone to tell me what my religion is or isn't.

I do NOT critisize anyone's religion and I expect no one to judge mine.

If that makes me intolerant, so be it.

Everyone has the right to judge or criticize your religion. They don't have the right to do anything about it, but they can judge and criticize it all day long if they want.

You? Intolerant? Nah. If that were the case you'd probably be banned from here. Oh, nevermind...

[Detritus]

Everyone has the right to judge or criticize your religion. They don't have the right to do anything about it, but they can judge and criticize it all day long if they want.

Very true... and yeah, hell has frozen over, I finally agree with something Theo has posted.

You? Intolerant? Nah. If that were the case you'd probably be banned from here. Oh, nevermind...

*Detritus goes and stands in the corner furthest from Out and hopes none of the flak sticks to him...*

It isn't a faith if I don't agree with it strongly enough to disagree with someone else... that would be too wish washy for faith...

[Theophylact]

From Siliconjunkie's "Bill of No-Rights" thread:

ARTICLE II:

You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be ... and like the rest of us you need to simply deal with it.