Pope Francis: Free expression doesn't mean right to insult others' faith

I've said it once and I'll say it again- feel free to question other people's beliefs but don't treat the people liks their stupid for believing it.

In what way exactly is the opinion ridiculous?

I'm a Christian but believe that the drawing of muhammed was taking it too far.

Also how is religion outdated

It's ridiculous because it holds religion beyond criticism, beyond satire, and beyond ridicule. Given religious beliefs are inherently ridiculous, it is the height of arrogance to demand that instead they be treated with tones of hushed reverence.



Good for you, you've chosen your fellow theists over a rational, humanist worldview. Should I bow?



You don't think a belief that tells us that humans are inherently sinful because they ate a piece of cursed fruit upon instructions from a talking snake can probably be discarded as a laughable ancient fairy tale?

So you don't believe there is a superior being to humans?

So you don't believe there is a superior being to humans?

There is zero evidence for that proposition, therefore if I were to commit to believing in it, that would be a decision based on emotion not on facts

One man's piece of evidence is another man's, er... lack of it. What would you be prepared to accept as evidence?

"says a swear word against my mother, then a punch awaits him,"

I would be prepared to accept evidence of this "superior being" being perceived by a direct manner of perception (and that perception was repeatable and empirically supported, rather than conveniently transient). Or if that being could be photographed, or detected on radar, or if it could make any sort of recordable and empirically supportable communication with human beings.

Why don't you tell me what evidence is on offer? Because I'm aware of none that would stand up to the ordinary standards of scientific scrutiny

... if you stick a Babel fish in your ear you can instantly understand anything said to you in any form of language. The speech patterns you actually hear decode the brainwave matrix which has been fed into your mind by your Babel fish.
Now it is such a bizarrely improbable coincidence that anything so mindbogglingly useful could have evolved purely by chance that some thinkers have chosen it to see it as a final and clinching proof of the non-existence of God.
The argument goes something like this: "I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing."
"But," says Man, "the Babel fish is a dead giveaway isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. QED."
"Oh dear," says God, "I hadn't thought of that," and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic.
"Oh, that was easy," says Man, and for an encore goes on to prove that black is white and gets killed on the next zebra crossing.

In what way exactly is the opinion ridiculous? I'm a Christian but believe that the drawing of muhammed was taking it too far. Also how is religion outdated, the only place its declining is Europe. Outside of Europe religion is increasing.

Freedom of speech is something that is fundamentally virtuous. This is not, however, equivalent to saying that it should be encouraged in all circumstances. We all have the right to swear at our parents or tell our teacher they are a manic tyrant. Should we do this? Best not.

The answer, though, is not to leave the issue at that. If you have serious issues with your teacher, sit them down and talk. That's the key word here - talk.

Criticism of religion is healthy and, as a Christian, I welcome and encourage it. I respect that you have the right to mock my religion - many people do - though I would much rather civilised discussion rather than inflammatory cartoons.

Completely agree with the Pope on this, I think he's possibly the best thing to happen to the modern Catholic Church. No-one in their right mind will justify the attacks on Charlie Hebdo or any terrorist attacks but the point does still stand, insulting and provoking entire religions is dangerous, not to mention hurtful to a lot of people.

Criticism is healthy to the development of beliefs within Humanity as a whole, creating resentment and hate through provocation is not.

So, we should criticise religions without provoking anyone?

As we have seen, the religious will interpret any form of criticism as provocation.