On religion, culture and the world

[year_x]

Britain's reaction to religious theocracies is a good marker in how close were are to a secular state. By a Secular state, I mean one which separates church and state, which does not persecute, but at the same time does not favour individuals by religious belief or ortherwise lack thereof. I see Britain as a country which has always worn religion (

Comments

[llamarines]

"Either we hold our noses and fight for the culture we agree with, or we stick to the hand-wringing, 'trust-in-progress' children of the enlightenment we have worked hard to be (and I believe we should be, in a world where that was not threatened)" Very tough. Too far on the first option and you end up sounding like Julie Burchill spouting off (may her vagina wither away and fall off - thank fuck she's finally stopped writing); too far on the second option and you've got Marcus Brigstocke, neither of which I can abide.

"The evangelist with all of us can't help but point out flaws in the opposition" - Yes, I am hugely guilty of this. Some of the things I hear pointed out as arguments by religious folk in various issues seem so bafflingly primitive to me that I can't help but snort in derisory disgust, probably due to my deep and possibly wilful lack of understanding, especially when fundamentalist religious values are concerned. Note to self - work on this.

[year_x]

I really can't see what is a better option. My headstrong, red-blooded patriot says fuck 'em, let them get irrationally pissed off. Then my lefty hand-wringer says what right do we have to judge them, and surely it is terribly rude to go around disrespecting people's views

[ghostsmut]

Simple. Get 'em smashed. C'mon my son, Blair. Gotta go for the hattrick - Iran! Get 'em telt. Get 'em smashed.

I have a friend at work who speaks like that. He's leaving work next week after being there for 10 years. He compares it to Tony Blair and thinks he deserves a medal. He's from Newcastle, of course.

I'm really not sure how I feel about this issue. So kudos for attempting to have a stab at it. At a basic level I appear to hate all British people and applaud the bombings. Other times I think that both sides have to be willing to take some measures in understanding each other. I mean, let's face it - we are NEVER going to get on if people are going to be like "Islam can never be made fun of ever under penalty of death." Because, that by default makes it even more extremely, extremely funny.

Just like wheeling cripples off cliffs.

[year_x]

Thank you. I appreciate you being truthful with me, and ignoring some of my ignorance

[year_x]

I tried throughout to hint that in most ways I was getting at the US as well as Islamic states. The interaction between Church and State being just as close in the US as in Iran, Pakistan etc