Quote:
Originally Posted by photon
The problem is where do we draw the line? I don't want to ban poorly constructed nonsensical non-productive posts. I don't want to ban unpopular opinions, or even offensive ones. People have a right to be completely wrong and intransigent. While we are a private forum we would still like to have free speech except for specific things.
On the flip side insulting someone or advocating action against someone because of their opinions is clearly over the line, but if I say "I think the principles at the foundations of Religion X are morally flawed." is that over the line? What about "I think Religion X is stupid"? What about "I think Religion X is harmful to society"?
Saying "Anyone who follows Religion X is stupid" is usually a flawed argument but is it over the line? In one way yes because anyone who reads that and is a member of Religion X is implicitly being called stupid. But the FoI forum does that every single day for fans of or people from Edmonton or Vancouver.
Saying "Followers of Religion X should be killed" seems over the line, but how can calling for the killing of members of a different group like ISIS be ok then?
Maybe it's because I over analyse things, but it's challenging IMO.
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I think its pretty clear to me that when discussing religion's affect on society as a whole or religion in general is obviously okay. Calling people stupid regardless of reason should not be. Especially when done in a general sense. (exclusions being made for liking different hockey teams). I think where religious people should be criticized is if they are using religion as the basis for why they do something and that something is harmful to society. So you shouldn't be allowed to say your are stupid because you believe in god and go to church. But you could say your position on Birth Control and Abstanece only education is harmful to society.
Attack the idea not the person.
One thing to remember is although people say that religion is a choice it isn't really. Essentially religion is brainwashed into children to varying degrees as they age and coming out as an athiest can be as ostricising as coming out. So I think some degree of empathy needs to be taken.
So if the goal is conversion or at least broadening perspectives than the approach shouldn't be your ideas are stupid. It should be your ideas cause harm.