Reading University Atheist, Humanist and Secularist Society was forced to remove a “blasphemous pineapple” named Mohammed as a form of hateful or discriminatory speech. The pineapple was intended to spark debate over whether
The Reading University Atheist, Humanist and Secularist Society (RAHS) took part in the fair on Wednesday, in order to to “encourage discussion about blasphemy, religion, and liberty.”
The society named the pineapple Mohammed “to celebrate the fact that we live in a country in which free speech is protected, and where it is lawful to call a pineapple by whatever name one chooses.” It appears that that is not true when it comes to fruit bearing the prophet’s name. The group was told by the Reading University Student Union that, due to complaints, the pineapple would have to go . . . or at least go by a different name. The society refused but it did re-name the pineapple . . . as Jesus.
The society was then set upon by a group which took the pineapple’s name tag and the society was then forced to leave the event.
Nick Cook, vice-president of student activities at Reading University, insisted that the act of censorship was justified in order to guarantee “all students feel welcome and included in all of our activities.”
It was the classic confrontation between free speech and discrimination laws. The interesting thing is that religious organizations are increasingly being accused of violating discriminatory views, as discussed in this column. Would Muslim or Christian groups be barred for discussing view of homosexuality as a sin or, in some groups, professing the divine basis for limiting rights of women? This was clearly designed to be a provocative display and quickly led to a confrontation with what was described as five Muslim students. One approach is to say that the society could have raised the issue of blasphemy without the insulting display. Yet, the society wanted to show that what is blasphemous to some is a joke to others. What do you think?
Source: Huffington Post
Source:
@the51percent.
You are funny to say the least and you flaunt your ignorance quite gallantly. So, according to you is your Jesus a blonde with blue eyes white man from the Middle East rather than from Europe? It seems like it because you have accepted him as a Caucasian. No one knows what he looked like in reality. It could be just a myth.
@Frankly.
Well said. There have been 1400 Christian Sharia laws passed around the country on the local and state levels where the majority is Taliban Christian. Even to pass the strictest voter ID laws by the GOP are based on Christian Sharia theology because for them, Obama is a Muslim for many Christian fundies and it may be true for the51percent. I hope I am wrong in the latter.
I am glad the GOP got caught in the 5 states for falsely registering voters and throwing out the Democratic ones. The GOP contracted this company and hence got caught with its pants down with no cajones to show for. I hope the felons get strict penalties under the Christian Sharia law.
@the51percent, again.
I would start here to give you a hand in understanding your own faith and others. FYI, the Cartoonist who was killed in Denmark some years ago by a Fundy Muslim drew cartoons of people who looked like in reality as Sikhs with the turbans look like in the US and all over. The reason being is that no one in actuality knows what Mohammed and/or Jesus looked like.
The same Turbaned Sikhs who were gunned down by Page a devoChrit Christian in the Wisconsin Temple in August of this year, and also one in Arizona after 9-11 by another ignorant Christian who told the Turbaned Sikh to go back to Iraq. The idiot Christian had no idea that Sikhs are from India and yes, they wear Turbans. One more piece of information for you, The murderer in Arizona was given the death penalty which the victim’s family is fighting against, so he can have life is prison without parole. They have hired their own lawyer for that.
Some more tit bits for you, @ the51percent,
The first person arrested after 9-11 was a Sikh who was dragged out from the train and the person who set up the first triage after 9-11 was Dr. Singh,a Sikh with a turban who had just finished his 24 hour shift at ER.
So, it is better to learn than to ignore your own realities and become an ignorant religioso, no matter what name it has or what deity is being worshiped.
As the Abrahamic religions claim that god is omnipresent, then Mohamed or Jesus are in the pineapple too.
How about making pineapple with a tag having Nick Cook’s name on it.
He just proved everything the student group was advocating. Talk about falling into their trap. Good for the students.
“all students feel welcome and included in all of our activities.”
I guess that doesn’t apply to pineapples.
“Sharia Law is demonic, insulting and a plague on America.”
51percent,
As are Christian fundamentalists denouncing evolution, homosexuals, birth control and abortion. They want to enforce a Christian version of Sharia Law here in the U.S. and want their particular beliefs taught in public schools
Who you gonna join when push comes to shove?
Zeus must be rolling in his cave, teary eyed wondering where all his defenders went.
The absurdity of the whole thing is unbelievable. Good on the RAHS for demonstrating just how mindless, petty, and ridiculous the religious can be. Good grief.
Manuel Noriega was called La Pina because of his complexion. Did Mohammed have acne scars?
I think if you want to make people feel welcome, you should put out pineapples named Mohammad, apples named Moses, oranges named Jesus (pronounced Hay-soos), little cookies named Buddha, a honey cake named Vishnu, and bananas named:
Ratta tatta bo-batta
Banana fana fo fatta,
Mi mai mo-matta, Schmatta! 😈
Being deliberately provocative and humorous is an American college tradition. Shame on Reading University and Nick Cook and their “guarantee of welcomeness” which apparently is extended to the tolerant and intolerant alike.
My wife just got an Edible Arrangement for her birthday. It included some chocolate covered pineapple which was a taste and texture delight. We didn’t give them a name. It didn’t seem right since they weren’t long for this world.
@Frankly… This subject is important to me and you are typical liberal hater that wants everybody in this world to see things your way.
If I don’t see things your way? You cry and spew nonsense like the little girl you are.
Now go urinate on a pineapple, call it Jesus, and then sell it on Ebay.
Peace
At whom is the ad hominem directed — the monotheists or the RAHS?
Naming a pineapple after a religious leader to humorously point out the extreme religious belief (or the extreme actions over an innocuous belief) seems to be a rather frank and serious religious argument.
So some people were uncomfortable. They may even feel unwelcomed. It is an academic environment to which the students have been welcomed. BEING DISABUSED OF CHERISHED IDEAS IS PART OF THE TEACHING ENVIRONMENT. Uncomfortable should be the norm.
Kudos to RAHS.
Moses? You did not say his name buy you darn well implied it! How dare you speak of Moses like that! I’m calling the ACLU on you right now!
Lol… have a great day!
the51IQ
Sharia law is also a huge threat to America. Well, not the Islamic version that has you wetting yourself but the Chritianist one that is being enacted in State houses across the country. But that, like your rant is not germane to the topic at hand is it?
The only reason Piss Christ made the front page was because of morons who wanted to use it for their own political ends and pants wetting fools who eat this sort of thing up. Since the society did not name a pineapple or even a kumquat Jesus we don’t know how the school would react.
BTW I have two comments about your equally lame attempt to troll for clicks:
Do you really expect people here to be dumb enough to click on a link that you would reblog on after your rant? It must be quite the cesspool.
And
Montenegro? WTH? What kind of American would use .me domain?
So wait, they stole this name tag?
Isn’t there something in the 10 Commandments about not stealing?
Reblogged this on freeupcapital.
Amazing… Please don’t be disgusted by this, but I’m quite positive that if I named the Pineapple “Jesus”, the Art Department would show up and urinate on it.
Then, the Art Department would call it “art” and the “Pinapple Jesus” would make the front page of the paper.
Then the Law School would make sure that Art Department was legally protected.
But God forbid we name a pineapple “Mohammed”!
Sharia Law is demonic, insulting and a plague on America.
Good political or religious argument does not need, or even include, ad hominem distraction.
Muslims should be forced to squat on the offending pineapple…..