re: #978 Charles

It’s becoming more and more common to see “right-wing” Christians trying to co-opt the tactics of the left, and define “hate speech” downward, so that it includes anyone who criticizes their religion.

Yes, I do see a similarity in tactics here, between the OIC, who are trying to get blasphemy classified as “hate speech,” and the point of view you’re advocating, which is that your religion should somehow be above criticism — and above mockery.

For what it’s worth, I don’t agree with Pat Condell’s sometimes-offensive approach to religion; it’s not my style to do that. But calling it hate speech is simply wrong. Harsh, yes. Offensive, yes. But it’s over the top and rather thin-skinned to say that because you’re offended by someone criticizing your viewpoints, they’re “hating” you.

I just noticed this as I was scanning through. I missed it earlier because I normally just do a search for my screen name to find comments where people have replied directly to me or quoted me (meaning my screen name shows up in their posts).

As I’ve made clear since my first comment in this topic (and as I’ve stated in other topics), I am not really a religious person. I don’t dismiss the possibility that there is a God, but I don’t necessarily believe there is one either. However, I am definitely respectful towards religion, and Pat Condell’s videos offend me because his purpose is clearly to offend and demean religious people. But you have no basis to label me as a “‘right-wing’ Christian” or to accuse me of being offended by Condell simply because he is attacking my views or my religion. The views he is attacking are not mine, and my lack of a religion makes it difficult for him to attack mine. I’m not labeling you as a racial minority for being offended by the CCC. You obviously just don’t like people being hateful and offensive to others purely for the sake of doing so, and neither do I.

Also, I am in no way urging religious criticism (hateful or not) to be classified as hate speech in any official capacity. A legal definition of any kind of “hate speech” is a ridiculous idea. If someone wants to stand at a podium and yell the most racist/sexist/anti-religious/whatever things he can think of, more power to him. The consequences are his to deal with, but I don’t believe one of those consequences should be legal punishment for speaking his mind. I’ve repeated several times that the discussion is over what you will permit. You control the field here. If you don’t believe that saying hateful things about religion falls under your definition of hate speech that you will not tolerate or promote, then that’s how it will be.