Should we be free to express religion in public?

[LcLive]

Should we be free to express our religion in public? | 4thought.tv

Saw a short video on 4Thought and think it's a good argument.

Personally, I think that it is intimidating in certain situations, and scares my sister's children (9, 6 and 3). It should be left at home and not done in a country with a low percentage of muslims in its population. But hey... Discuss

[bmh16]

Surely that is defeating the object of free speech!? Ridiculous that sounds to me.

[ryan1087]

Should be free to express it but not force it, they should be there if people wish to ask questions but to not preach at people to join a particular religion.

[bmh16]

Originally Posted by ryan1087

Should be free to express it but not force it, they should be there if people wish to ask questions but to not preach at people to join a particular religion.

I think this is a sensible view on it!

[Cruelworld]

Isn't 'non intrusive' public expression just another form of subliminal messaging ?

[LcLive]

Originally Posted by bmh16

Surely that is defeating the object of free speech!? Ridiculous that sounds to me.

I hope you don;t think i meant in offensively... It does make me angry how there are special rules..

Kids of any age aren't allowed to wear hoodies in certain places with the hood up... Like airports, banks, stores etc... Yet muslims are allowed to cover their entire face bar their eyes?

School's is another example... School uniforms are there for a reason. If you are a member of that school, then you should stick to the guidelines of the uniform regardless of religion?

I am happy for anyone to believe in whatever they feel they should but like has already been mentioned it shouldn't be forced into everyone else's faces...

[bmh16]

Originally Posted by LcLive

I hope you don;t think i meant in offensively... It does make me angry how there are special rules..

Kids of any age aren't allowed to wear hoodies in certain places with the hood up... Like airports, banks, stores etc... Yet muslims are allowed to cover their entire face bar their eyes?

School's is another example... School uniforms are there for a reason. If you are a member of that school, then you should stick to the guidelines of the uniform regardless of religion?

I am happy for anyone to believe in whatever they feel they should but like has already been mentioned it shouldn't be forced into everyone else's faces...

No i know it wasn't meant offensively. It's a debate topic and i just said my initial thought to it :P

[LcLive]

I don't know how to delete that... :/ Left the box open hehe

[MJ10]

Hoodies and religion have nothing in common. Hoodies are banned for reasons of intimidation, however the only intimidation caused by a Burka is simply fear of the unknown by the onlooker.

I feel religion should not be forced upon people, but there as a choice for all to see. If someone wears a cross around their neck in or out of the workplace then that is 100% fine. Ditto with any other sacred part of someone's religion and dress. You wouldn't ask an Indian to remove the spot from her forehead? Or ask a Sikh to cut his hair? Or ask a Jew to eat pork because everyone else is.

I think it's admirable these people stick to what they believe and don't become sheep following the mass 'accepted look'.

With regards to School uniform, well that is two conflicting forms of dress: Ones religion strictly enforces the wearing of one thing, and the School requires another... Why exactly can't they cohabit? So long as the school uniform is worn then it should not matter if the head is covered.

My thoughts on your comments is that the Muslim dress offends you and this has little to do with other religions. The UK is a massively multicultural society and always has been. It was our 'fault' as an empire by travelling the world and returning with a new part each time. I think this is a very very good thing and am very thankful I am not American with so little knowledge of other cultures. (no offence to all Americans!!)

I myself am not religious, but was brought up a Christian, went to Catholic School, experienced a multicultural College (on the edge of Bristol, so you can imagine), travelled a little, went to University with a large proportion of foreign students (mainly Greeks and Cypriots but also many others), and now work in a regular office with a variety of people... So I can say I'm lucky enough to have seen many different cultures and religions and have an open enough mind to happily live along side them.

[FurbtasticM]

Originally Posted by MJ10

I think it's admirable these people stick to what they believe and don't become sheep

I'd agree if I believed that they all had a free and open choice. A number certainly won't have due to cultural pressure within and women are the ones who get the worse end of the deal.

[Dunstan]

The Burqa is a sign of repression. I don't feel it is outrageous to be intolerant of religion which restricts women's rights.

[williamblah]

Originally Posted by FurbtasticM

I'd agree if I believed that they all had a free and open choice. A number certainly won't have due to cultural pressure within and women are the ones who get the worse end of the deal.

I certainly agree with you, and I agree with pushing towards equal rights despite creed, colour, religion, sexual preference, gender wholeheartedly. This should not, however, encroach upon freedom of expression and freedom of speech.

The idea of making a certain item of clothing illegal in public is ridiculous.

We are talking about CLOTHING.

There are deep running issues intertwined with, for example, the burqa. These need to be dealt with at the root.

Do you really think that sexism has stopped in France?

In the contrary - some women have ended up more-or-less under house arrest, because their culture dictates that they should not be seen uncovered in public.

[the_icks]

Originally Posted by Dunstan

The Burqa is a sign of repression. I don't feel it is outrageous to be intolerant of religion which restricts women's rights.

A reporter went back to Afghanistan after a 30 year gap, and he was very impressed to see that the women walked 10 paces in front rather than 10 paces behind.

He approached one of the local clerics to ask what had brought about this remarkable change and was told......








......"landmines"

[LcLive]

Oooh that's evil hahahaha!!

[Dwana]

Should religion be expressed in public? ABSOLUTELY, so long as it's not being expressed in an offensive way, just like any other form of speech. Expression of religion in public by individuals is part of the free exercise of religion that's guaranteed to us ignorant Americans in our ignorant Constitution (ahem, MJ10). This freedom, almost above all others, is what has caused millions of people from all over the world to come to ignorant, culturally backward America (ahem, MJ10). So now we have in America Muslim women wearing hijab, Hindu women wearing saris, Jews wearing skullcaps. We have Amish, Buddhists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics, Protestants, pagans, wiccans, blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos, Arabs, Kurds, Nepalis, Africans, and God knows what else, coexisting in amazing harmony, considering. How that can happen in a country so devoid of knowledge of other cultures I'll never know (ahem, MJ10).

[the_icks]

Originally Posted by Dwana

Should religion be expressed in public? ABSOLUTELY, so long as it's not being expressed in an offensive way, just like any other form of speech. Expression of religion in public by individuals is part of the free exercise of religion that's guaranteed to us ignorant Americans in our ignorant Constitution (ahem, MJ10). This freedom, almost above all others, is what has caused millions of people from all over the world to come to ignorant, culturally backward America (ahem, MJ10). So now we have in America Muslim women wearing hijab, Hindu women wearing saris, Jews wearing skullcaps. We have Amish, Buddhists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics, Protestants, pagans, wiccans, blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos, Arabs, Kurds, Nepalis, Africans, and God knows what else, coexisting in amazing harmony, considering. How that can happen in a country so devoid of knowledge of other cultures I'll never know (ahem, MJ10).

especially the Texans ;o)

"God knows what else" made me giggle!!

[LcLive]

MJ10 is British. (ahem, Dwana).

[MJ10]

Lol. America is a lot better than it used to be, and my experience is limited to the uk.

[the_icks]

Originally Posted by MJ10

Lol. America is a lot better than it used to be, and my experience is limited to the uk. As icks says though, how many Muslims would you find in Texas?!

Wasn't what I said at all!!

[ReallyFree]

Hi

i am another newbie on here , i will ask questions about the main reason why i am here but in answer to this debate there should not be compulsion in any religion and people are free to worship the one true God as they please.