More book burning..

Fenris · 20 Jan 2011 at 20:36

The Halk said:
Most likely yes, if you did it in the same manner. As has been said already do you really think he was doing it as quietly and peacefully as possible, or do you think he was trying to create a scene?

So covering myself in silver glitter and giving myself a perm is out then.

So to be serious for 5 seconds, what this guy is doing is no different to those clips we see on the BBC of people burning the American/English/Whatever flag, it is done for one reason, to get attention and cause offence, he could have gone about his protest (what he was protesting is another matter) peaceful but no, he decided to stand in the middle of a town and burn a book for all the world to see. If I went out wearing a sandwich board saying "I hate (n words)" people would say "Oh look he's expressing his opinion", no, they would be rightly annoyed and have me removed.

Castiel · 20 Jan 2011 at 20:37

rypt said:
Treating religious belief as any other delusional belief is all that is needed, where people are given therapy and drugs to helps them recover from their mental illness

Being tolerant of other people and their beliefs, cultures and lives is what is needed.

People believe a whole range of things, you and what you believe about Unions for example, shall we give you drugs and therapy as well.

What is the matter with people. :rolleyes:

Vonhelmet · 20 Jan 2011 at 20:37

rypt said:
Not really, as the crazy people can finally be sectioned and given the help that they need

And the rest of us can just carry on as normal without the crazies that believe in magical beings

This would truly be a financially viable option.

Sorry, I'm religious and thus crazy, which is why I believe that this idea is economically feasible.

steve-h · 20 Jan 2011 at 20:52

A man has been arrested after police received reports that a copy of the Koran was being burned in the centre of Carlisle.

lolwut?

burning crap in a public place I suppose...

Fenris · 20 Jan 2011 at 20:57

steve-h said:
lolwut?

burning crap in a public place I suppose...

Naturally, inciting religious hatred would have nothing to do with it.

Monkeynut · 20 Jan 2011 at 20:58

I think it's funny when someone says "I've burned your book!" No, you haven't, you've burned your own book.

Darkstaruk · 20 Jan 2011 at 21:00

Being a bigoted intolerant atheist I'd like to see the Qur'ran and Bible burned.

Both these two major religions have spread by the sword and not by preaching peave and love as some suggest. On one side you have a guy that claimed to be the son of god and on the other an Arab war criminal who slaughtered thousands?

RDM · 20 Jan 2011 at 21:57

Castiel said:
Burning books is wrong regardless of the content.

I disagree. If done correctly, with the right motivations and the right message being conveyed it can be a very powerful political statement. Much the same as burning a flag or effigy.

Obviously I would need to know the exact details of why he was arrested and if he is then charged but I am more uncomfortable with the state arresting people for burning a book than with people actually burning a book.

Gackt · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:12

a1ex2001 said:
You can't ban religion it has been tried before and failed, imagine if someone passed a law making religious belief compulsory could you adhere to it? That is exactly the same situation for someone who has a religious belief it is not something that can be turned on and off like a tap and certainly isn't something that makes someone certifiable.

Man kind has a way of finding something to argue and fight about be it land, money, food or oil religion has been used as an excuse for many but is not very often the cause.

Indeed. If we are to move away from religion completely, it'll either be a universal change in consciousness (i.e. massive event) or a gradual shift, which many would say is already happening.

Castiel · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:16

RDM said:
I disagree. If done correctly, with the right motivations and the right message being conveyed it can be a very powerful political statement. Much the same as burning a flag or effigy.

Obviously I would need to know the exact details of why he was arrested and if he is then charged but I am more uncomfortable with the state arresting people for burning a book than with people actually burning a book.

If you have a political statement to make, write a book, dont burn one.

I expect the chap was arrested for incitement rather than the act of burning a book.

Darkstaruk · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:17

If you fear Muslims simply carry a piece of pork with you it works like garlic on vampires.

Personally I hate pork, but we've eaten it for thousands of years and survived.

What they consider clean and unclean is hilarious.

RDM · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:18

Castiel said:
If you have a political statement to make, write a book, dont burn one.

Burning one is quicker, trust me!

Castiel said:
I expect the chap was arrested for incitement rather than the act of burning a book.

What worries me if it is just the act of burning a book that is enough for an incitement charge. It is after all, just a book.

Castiel · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:20

Gackt said:
Indeed. If we are to move away from religion completely, it'll either be a universal change in consciousness (i.e. massive event) or a gradual shift, which many would say is already happening.

You only think it is happening because you live in the UK, which is going through an identity crisis fuelled by immigration and political correctness, outside Europe religion is actually increasing not decreasing. Among western nations the US specifically is becoming more religious by the year.

Gackt · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:21

Castiel said:
You only think it is happening because you live in the UK, which is going through an identity crisis fuelled by immigration and political correctness, outside Europe religion is actually increasing not decreasing. Among western nations the US specifically is becoming more religious by the year.

Interesting. True, I am going by much of what I've seen, do you have any sources/sites of information about the increase in religiosity? (Genuine curiosity)

Castiel · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:21

RDM said:
What worries me if it is just the act of burning a book that is enough for an incitement charge. It is after all, just a book.

It is the intent, not the act.

RDM · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:27

Castiel said:
It is the intent, not the act.

As I said, I don't know the details of the case. But if just the act of burning the Koran or any other book is enough to get you up on incitement charges then we are having problems. Incitement needs to be directed at others to also act against the target. If I was to say "I do not believe in Islam, I do not think the Koran is holy, I value freedom of expression over oppression." and was then to burn a Koran would that see me up on charges? Should it see me up on charges?

Frankly someone going "I hate Islam!" and burning the Koran, whilst crass, should not be illegal. After all, there is no incitement going on with it.

Castiel · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:29

Gackt said:
Interesting. True, I am going by much of what I've seen, do you have any sources/sites of information about the increase in religiosity? (Genuine curiosity)

Not to hand, I'm on a phone. I was watching a recent documentary on US increases in both Chritianity and Islam since 2001.

Darkstaruk · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:30

Religions oppressive but so would banning religion. Do two wrongs make a right?
But at the same time liberals like to think tolerance in the answer to everything when it's not. If we were more tolerant towards nazi's views we would have joined Germany.

RDM · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:32

Darkstaruk said:
Religions oppressive but so would banning religion. Do two wrongs make a right?

When was the last time you saw a quaker oppress someone? Or a buddhist?

Darkstaruk said:
But at the same time liberals like to think tolerance in the answer to everything when it's not. If we were more tolerant towards nazi's views we would have joined Germany.

Ignoring the retarded Godwin, you do realise that a truely liberal point of view would be to allow book burning to go ahead don't you?

Castiel · 20 Jan 2011 at 22:35

RDM said:
As I said, I don't know the details of the case. But if just the act of burning the Koran or any other book is enough to get you up on incitement charges then we are having problems. Incitement needs to be directed at others to also act against the target. If I was to say "I do not believe in Islam, I do not think the Koran is holy, I value freedom of expression over oppression." and was then to burn a Koran would that see me up on charges? Should it see me up on charges?

Frankly someone going "I hate Islam!" and burning the Koran, whilst crass, should not be illegal. After all, there is no incitement going on with it.

Sure there is, you burn the quran for a reaction to your statement, you know it is going to incite a reaction from those who do revere it. The same as if you say "I hate war" and then pee on a memorial. It is offensive.

If you are simply making a statement, then the speech would be fine on its own really. You know that defacing their holy book is offensive to them, so the intent is to incite however you try to justify it.

If you burn the quran (or any revered symbol) in privacy fine, the intent is not to offend as there is no one to offend, however if you stand in the middle of the highstreet and do it, then the intent is clear.