Science Forums 2

[Boerseun]

Right...

Cartoons depicting some hairy fella with a bomb in his turban, agitating countries and individuals to the point where we've seen casualties?

Countries apologizing left, right and center because they've 'allowed' their free press (let's stress the 'free' part here) to print these cartoons?

Who's in the right, and who's in the wrong?

From my perspective, the whole thing is telling of our communal, collective (yes - that includes you AND all the Muslims/Christians/Hindus/Jews/Hairybacks/Rockspiders/etc) idiocy.

Jesus did not walk on water. He simply was not buoyant enough.
Moses did not split the Red Sea with his Magic Wand. It's physically impossible.
Nobody can survive a trip inside a whale.
Five loaves of bread and two fishes cannot feed thousands.
Mohammed did not bring God's Will to the people, because...

< Drum roll...>

There is no such thing as God.

I know.

I will get burnt (possibly at the stake, if I'm lucky) for this from all possible sides.

But I actually don't give a rip.

Why should I be sensitive (i.e. not print cartoons that might offend a whole lot of people suffering from the same mass delusion)?
Shouldn't I be compassionate and inform them that there are helplines for people suffering from these kind of neurological disorders?
Why should I feel compelled to appease them (be it any of the common religions), make them feel that: 'Sure - there's this Big Guy up in the Sky lookin' after your interests - I don't believe it, but seeing as you've got the masses behind you, I must pussyfoot around your delusion'?

Why, being an atheist, should I feel that they've got a bigger stake in world affairs than I've got? Is Truth decided by popular vote nowadays?

I personally feel offended at such childish things as belief in a 'God' and offense taken at such a 'God' (or his prophet) being depicted in a badly rendered cartoon having such an influence in my world.

Why should I pussyfoot around a Christian or Muslim's delusion, saying "Sure, you're probably right - lemme shut the f*ck up rather" , and not be offended when the courts (in my so-called free, non-secular country) insist on me taking an oath with my hand on the Bible? WTF?!?! Should I insist on somebody testifying putting his hand on the latest 'Auto Trader'?

Why, exactly, should I feel even the slightest guilt about offending Mohammed? Or Jesus, or Brahma, or Barney the Dinosaur, for that matter? They are all imaginary characters, with superpowers, the likes of which Superman is the closest my kids will ever be exposed to, outside of an historical context.

If the majority of Earthlings should feel offended at their mass delusions being exposed for what they are - hot air - should I feel bad about it, or should I feel good for showing them the stupidity (and danger) of their ways?

Jesus showed us the Path of Love, right? Go an' explain that to the guys in the Mid East, who's still pissed off about the Crusades. Go and tell that to Joan of Arc. Go and tell that to... whoever.

So why should I give the slightest rip for cartoons, making fun of a figure who represents a mass delusion? Or why should I give a rip for the thousands of idiots who are offended by this?

"I've got this imaginary friend Bob. You said he's an asshole. Therefore I will kill you." Why should I tolerate such stupidity, such idiocy?

Religion is a mass delusion, and the single most harmful thing yet invented by Man (apart from lighting farts with a tendency to backfire).

What should I do?

Should I just 'let it be', thereby condone it?

Thoughts?