Comments on: The International Blasphemy Law: UN General Assembly President and Nicaraguan Priest D’Escoto Calls for World Ban on “Defaming Religion”

By: Kenneth Brown

Kenneth Brown — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:29:56 +0000

How do we stop this UN effort? Islam is an international crime syndicate masquerading as a religion. Who else can issue an international order to kill someone (Salman Rushdie for Satanic Verses) and get away with it? See what the late George Carlin thought about religion at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o&feature=related

By: Robert Clark

Robert Clark — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:49:11 +0000

Religion is delusion. It deserves no special protection whatsoever, and should be mocked and ridiculed at every opportunity.

By: June C.

June C. — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:42:57 +0000

I was hoping for a bill that would BAN religion.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:36:25 +0000

This is outrageous!

The world should abolish the United Nations.

By: Winter of Discontent: Far-Right Politician Convicted of “Humiliating a Religion” « JONATHAN TURLEY

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:39:46 +0000

[...] Winter of Discontent: Far-Right Politician Convicted of “Humiliating a Religion” Published 1, January 24, 2009 Constitutional Law , Criminal law , Politics , Religion , Society The international trend toward criminalizing any insulting of religion has reached Austria, which has now convicted far-right legislator Susanne Winter for making anti-Muslim statements, including the oft-stated charge that Mohammed was a pedophile for marrying an underaged girl. Winter is an obvious wingnut and her statements obnoxious. However, the first amendment is being sharply curtailed by a movement to criminalize insults to religion, including a United Nations resolution. [...]

By: Muslim and African Countries Push for Limiting Free Speech to Prevent Criticism of Religion « JONATHAN TURLEY

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:48:43 +0000

[...] previously discussed here, there is a coordinated international campaign to make criticism of religion an international [...]

By: Chariots of Iron » Blog Archive » Episode 11: Flood of BS - An Atheiskeptihumanist™ Podcast

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:33:46 +0000

[...] International Blasphemy Law [...]

By: It All Your Falk: Israel Bars Entry of UN Human Rights Council Official Richard Falk « JONATHAN TURLEY

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:57:08 +0000

[...] am certainly no fan of UN officials who can sometimes have authoritarian views of their own such as nited Nations General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann. However, Falk’s views are shared by many inside and outside of the country. To deny entry to [...]

By: harebell

harebell — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:38:56 +0000

Hi Jonathon
try as I might I cant find another source for this UN activity.
could you provide me with a source please.

By: harebell

harebell — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:37:38 +0000

Well I’d go one step further than Jill
Yes the religionists as Jill calls them are a serious issues, however more worrying is the number of “moderate” believers who fail to condemn the extremists within their midst.
The reasons for this are many, but one for sure is the infallibility of dogma. If this bit is wrong what else can you trust?
Another is that all the dogmatic texts claim to be right and declares all other beliefs wrong.
If this is so then conflict is not only inevitable but built in.
So combine this unavoidable conflict with a belief in the inerrancy of dogma and there really is only one way for an adherent to go, crusade, jihad etc.

If you don’t see this you are an apostate therefore an enemy. The “moderates don’t want to leave, but don’t want to be excommunicated so they allow their armed wing to do the killing for them.

By: rafflaw

rafflaw — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:00:49 +0000

Wow!
Jill, you opened up Pandora’s box here. I, for one, agree with your comments. You don’t have to be an atheist to believe that many religions, including the one I was brought up in, Catholicism, do not allow women any major role in the Church and certaintly not equality. How many people throughout history have been killed in the name of someone else’s God? I think the answer could be millions. I am not anti-religion as I still consider myself a Catholic, but I do not accept tenets that insult my intelligence or that do not follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Maybe I am a hybrid or a mutt when it comes to religion, but if everyone isn’t allowed at the table, it can’t be what Jesus wanted.

By: pardon me?

pardon me? — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:48:03 +0000

(pardon me for another interlude…)

Give me that old time religion
Give me that old time religion
Give me that old time religion
And that’s good enough for me

It was good for the Hebrew children
It was good for the Hebrew children
It was good for the Hebrew children
And that’s good enough for me

It was good for Paul and Silas
It was good for Paul and Silas
It was good for Paul and Silas
And that’s good enough for me

We will pray to Aphrodite
Even though she’s rather flighty
And they say she wears no nightie
And that’s good enough for me

We will pray with those Egyptians
Build pyramids to put our crypts in
Cover subways with inscriptions
And that’s good enough for me

O-old Odin we will follow
And in fighting we will wallow
‘Til we wind up in Valhalla
And that’s good enough for me

Let me follow dear old Buddha
For there is nobody cuter
He comes in plaster, wood, or pewter
And that’s good enough for me

We will pray with Zarathustra
Pray just like we use ta
I’m a Zarathustra booster
And that’s good enough for me

We will pray with those old Druids
They drink fermented fluids
Waltzing naked thru the woo-ids
And that’s good enough for me

Hare Krishna gets a laugh on
When he sees me dressed in saffron
With my hair that’s only half on
And that’s good enough for me

I’ll arise at early morning
When the sun gives me the warning
That the solar age is dawning
And that’s good enough for me
——————-C.Tillman

By: pardon me?

pardon me? — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:35:24 +0000

“Much further out than inevitable,
Halloween is thy game.
Sky king is come and Wilma’s done,
Uncertain as it is uneven.
Give us today hors’douvres in bed,
As we forgive those who have dressed up against us.
And need us not enter inflation.
Butter liver, onions and potatoes.
For wine is a shingle, and a mower,
And a story for your father.
Allright.”
———–John Hartford

By: Buddha Is Laughing

Buddha Is Laughing — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:28:04 +0000

seamus,

What about the nihilists? You left them out, so I’ll take care of it by making this comment. By doing something, anything, for a nihilist you insult them. And for your information, the sound of one hand clapping is indeed much as you describe. Now quit making me dragon’s breath Coke on my monitor.

By: Gyges

Gyges — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:51:55 +0000

Ugly,

There’s a wide variety within the Atheist community. The problem is that Atheist is a term used by Theists to describe everyone who disagrees with them, regardless of how much their viewpoints have in common with each other.

What you are saying is similar to someone saying, “There’s a wide variety of people who are born in France; All non-french people aren’t born in France so they are all the same.”

By: Ugly American

Ugly American — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:06:20 +0000

All atheists can come to the exact same conclusion about gods regardless of race, country, economic status, gender or period in history.

Religious people on the other hand can be raised in the same house still disagree.

One conclusion is objective and repeatable, the other is not.

How many people have met (a) God and how many are just playing along with the crazies and con-men?

By: seamus

seamus — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:21:55 +0000

I’m going home and wiping my ass with my Bible. Then I’m going to make fun of that elephant-headed god. What’s his name, Ganesh? Then I’m going to eat lots of pork while I fart towards Mecca. Then I’ll contemplate the sound of one hand clapping while I slap my wife’s ass. I’ve always defended the U.N. fro m wing-nut criticism, today I say fuck the U.N. and the horse baby Jebus road in on.

By: MASkeptic

MASkeptic — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:31:19 +0000

One interpretation given the context would be:
People seem to think there is some kind of difference between atrocities committed in the name of religion and atrocities committed in the name of politics/war/justice/ect. They are all the same, the difference is merely one of perspective, as with most issues.

By: CEJ

CEJ — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:55:48 +0000

Maskeptic,
If you have a minute could you please explain that snake,dragon,monk statement I don’t get it. Thank-you.

By: Gyges

Gyges — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:26:58 +0000

Jill,

I’m glad you included the New-Agers. My wife and I have heard many times that she doesn’t NEED her anti-depressants, but that she can choose to feel better, never-mind that whole “chemical imbalance” thing.

Aidan,

I like that you assume that because Jill is a part of a particular group people that Jill missed the point about not assuming things about other groups of people.

By: MASkeptic

MASkeptic — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:15:31 +0000

The whole world can tell a snake from a dragon, but you cannot fool a zen monk.

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:10:52 +0000

Hi Aidan,

I didn’t miss the point. I know there are many kind people in many faiths and you’ll neve hear me dispute this. I will dispute the texts and tennants of most faiths from a ethical basis.

By: Aidan G

Aidan G — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:07:05 +0000

Jill – like most atheists, you seem to have missed the point. In my experience, atheists don’t have problems with religion (mine is never criticized, for example), but with STUPID people who are religious. Atheism is not the only answer – imagine Lenin and Stalin, for example, and their strict anti-religion atrocities. Stupid people are stupid, whether they’re religious or not.

As for the actual post – wow. Talk about blind. Criticism is necessary to any healthy religion. It’s sad that the UN gave this man time to speak about removing yet more rights.

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:04:11 +0000

MASkeptic,

I use the term “religionists” to refere to people who desire the domination of their religion over any others or non-believers– people who would like to see a theocracy if they could. That is a term I use to distiquish the desire for power under the guise of a religion. That being said, I believe it is incumbent upon those people who do practice a religion to take a look at what it is actually teaching. Are we being unjust to others as the result of our belief system? Many religions do teach the inferiority of women. In the new age movement, there is the practice of despising the poor and sick. Just becuase something is taught as a religious practice does not mean it should not be questioned. Ethical questions pertain to atheists as well. An atheist who believes in the inferiority of women or the poor and sick should not be left unchallenged either.

By: epaminondas

epaminondas — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:46:35 +0000

The UN is incompatible with free speech.
UNICEF and UNESCO have both degenerated in racist phenomena

I wonder what can possible be accomplished there which furthers the cause of the Founding Brothers, and all men’s (yes I mean women as well) individual freedoms?

Acheson was right.

Really sad, actually.

By: MASkeptic

MASkeptic — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:40:33 +0000

Jill said,
“Religionists don’t allow women to have rights.”
“Relgionists don’t like science because it contradicts their text of choice.”
“If you want to see a nexus of ideology that promotes ignorance, hunger and disease, check out religionists from every faith.”

Wow. I never knew that I did any of those things.

From the context by ‘religionists’ you are refering to anyone who’s not an athiest? I would just want a clarification on the finer nuances of your point.

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:43:32 +0000

“What we are only trying to do is to forge a front against ignorance, hunger and disease.” DUDE–you’re going to have to criticize religion if that’s your cause! Religionists don’t allow women to have rights. They cannot use condoms to prevent pregnancy or AIDS, resulting in more death and hunger. Relgionists don’t like science because it contradicts their text of choice. If you want to see a nexus of ideology that promotes ignorance, hunger and disease, check out religionists from every faith. Is telling the truth the same thing as defamation anyway?

By: rcampbell

rcampbell — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:20:03 +0000

I’d prefer to see a worldwide ban on practicing a religion.