A good example of why athiests suck

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

"CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST (Cross & Crown) Not shown because of copyrights."

Does anyone else find this as amusing as I do?

lol yup

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

"CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST (Cross & Crown) Not shown because of copyrights."

Does anyone else find this as amusing as I do?

Bingo is soooooooooo in trouble now!

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

Imagine you are driving and see this huge cross by the side of the road. First thought - Christian? Or Grave?

I'm saying Christian, particularly because it is a large cross.

In this context it will likely be interpreted as religious symbol. Since it cannot be avoided (due to size), it shouldn't be on public land.

I would think very large accident if it's a very large cross by the side of the road.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Are there any rabbis issuing bounties on the cartoonist?

What does that have to do with a court metting out a fine for so called free speech?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

...Because my government should remain neutral towards religion. It should neither advocate, nor oppress religion. This is so that neither you, nor I am discriminated against...

But are the displaying of road-side crosses a clear advocation of a religion? Even if they are religious symbols (this is again completely dependent upon context, as symbols can carry multiple meanings), is the display of a symbol always an endorsement?

Perhaps I am not being clear, but what I am attempting to suggest is that the interpretation of what does or does not "advocate" is not clear, especially in this case where crosses are very commonly used as memorial markers not intended to convey any religious meaning.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

Ok - so we agree that a cross (of the type at issue here) is a religious symbol, although it can have other connotations (memorial for example).

Historically a religious symbol, yes. I would note, however, that the cross is a symbol as old as the circle, and pre-dates Christianity by millennia.

Imagine you are driving and see this huge cross by the side of the road. First thought - Christian? Or Grave?

I'm saying Christian, particularly because it is a large cross.

By the side of the road? Memorial. I do not place any religious context on it. I am also confused why you are so hung up on the size of the cross. Is there a size limit where a cross goes from "not religious" to "religious"?

In this context it will likely be interpreted as religious symbol. Since it cannot be avoided (due to size), it shouldn't be on public land.

Obviously we disagree on this point. I wonder if there have been any polls or studies done on this debate?

Because my government should remain neutral towards religion. It should neither advocate, nor oppress religion. This is so that neither you, nor I am discriminated against.

Disliking something is not discrimination, nor is being unreasonably offended by something.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Not in the least. Obviously the cross's symbolism surrounding sacrifice is rooted in a relgion's history, but there is ample evidence that the symbolism has long since transcended that religion.

One does not need to believe in a god to understand that these crosses symbolize sacrifice:

If they do then why do some have stars or crescents on them?

[HPLovecraft]

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

"CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST (Cross & Crown) Not shown because of copyrights."

Does anyone else find this as amusing as I do?

I find that amusing. My grandparents on my dad's side were Christian Scientists. The quickly lost the faith when my grandpa got cancer, unfortunately, it was a little too late.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

What does that have to do with a court metting out a fine for so called free speech?

Did the cartoon run in a government-owned publication? I'm not sure what your point is.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Since everyone is here what do you guys think about this?

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Dutch+M...552/story.html

Free speech is free speech isnt it?

Not really comparable, different nations, different systems of law, different protections.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by tjinaz

I take it this is strictly christian too.... Better tell the armed forces of all the western nations, they need to remove it as it offends you.

have you heard of the Red Crescent.

I dont know this for a fact but Im willing to bet that war time medical help probably was in relation to the Catholic Church...if only there was some kinda way to look that up on this internet thingy

[pepper24]

People that still believe in a god after thousands of years of zero scientific proof suck even more.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by pepper24

People that still believe in a god after thousands of years of zero scientific proof suck even more.

Thanks for that.

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

have you heard of the Red Crescent.

I dont know this for a fact but Im willing to bet that war time medical help probably was in relation to the Catholic Church...if only there was some kinda way to look that up on this internet thingy

As far as I know, the Red Cross itself did not derive its symbol directly from the Christian cross.

[Traditional_Ale]

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Did the cartoon run in a government-owned publication? I'm not sure what your point is.

Its not comparable to this, I should have made a different thread. Basically they fined these guys for making a cartoon about the Holocaust yet the Islamic cartoons were ok based on free-speech. I figured people would make the parallel.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by tjinaz

I take it this is strictly christian too....

It's an inverted Swiss flag. The organization is based in Switzerland.

The Swiss flag has Christian roots,

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

It's an inverted Swiss flag. The organization is based in Switzerland.

The Swiss flag has Christian roots,

Funny how that symbol evolved, eh?

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

Funny how that symbol evolved, eh?

If I saw it in a war or disaster zone, I'd immediately think "oh, here comes first aid from a country with Christian roots" as opposed to first aid from a Muslim country.