On Religion

I'm not really religious myself- in fact I'm an atheist, so I guess calling myself "not really religious" is like Luxembourg referring to itself as "not really fond of the ocean". If it could talk, which it can't.

Man that was a terrible analogy.

Anyway, I'm not religous but I do have some opinions on religion. For example, earlier to day I saw this article:

A Christian couple have been charged with a criminal offence after taking part in what they regarded as a reasonable discussion about religion with guests at their hotel. Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang were arrested after a Muslim woman complained to police that she had been offended by their comments.

They have been charged under public order laws with using ‘threatening, abusive or insulting words’ that were ‘religiously aggravated’. 

The couple, whose trial has been set for December, face a fine of up to £5,000 and a criminal record if they are convicted. Although the facts are disputed, it is thought that during the conversation the couple were challenged over their Christian beliefs.

Incidents like this often make me want to go to the nearest rooftop with a megaphone and politely ask everyone to stop what they're doing, take a deep breath and calm the fuck down.

There's this pervasive belief in society at large, one that seems to be growing, that religion is a topic that you need to treat with kid-gloves lest you offend someone. Not only that, but there's an assumption that people have some sort of inherrant right to not be offended, ever, and that if you are offended you can sue the people responsible, or maybe even get them sent to jail. It doesn't just happen in relation to religion, but that seems to be where the attitude finds its most dramatic outlet.

And it's no use pointing the finger at Muslims- every religious group does it. I can guarentee you someone, somewhere, was offended by the very fact that I jut said I'm an atheist, and is even now fuming at this blog as if their human rights have been violated. Hell, while we're on the topic, even atheists do this.

Let me just spell it out for you: you do not have a right not to be offended. People can express whatever opinion they want, and if you don't like it, too fucking bad.

Right then, that's my rant over.