Shorten your time in purgatory

Does that mean if you are Catholic you cannot tweet god but if you are a Protestant you can?

#onlyasking

That was to Tegan

There are characters on Twitter calling themselves @tweetofgod, @tweetofgods, @tweetofgodsprog, @tweetofgodson. I don't follow them but I do see and occasional tweet from one or other. Often funny. Very often mocky, as you'd expect.

Does anyone else follow @Queen_UK. She's a good laugh.

Well, given that I can't do Facebook or Twittering I reckon it's hell fire and damnation for me [power of the internet is getting even more powerful, methinks].

I'm a silly old fart, amongst other things, jings Slept well, had a very busy time in my dreams [seem to go on forever] and ready to face another day. Very muggy here in bonnie Kintyre. There is a haar over the sea. Can just about determine where the sea and sky meet.

Bags A beautiful heron has just skimmed over the shoreline. Camera not at hand. Bah!

Bags I know you don't accept it, but people are hurt when their beliefs are mocked. You can't cop out with 'never attack the person, only their opinions'. You do rather seek out news stories etc that invite others to ridicule religious beliefs.

I think that most people respect other peoples beliefs; I certainly do because I feel that religion is an outlet for the spirituality that we all have inside us, but there are certain aspects of most religions that non religious people find hard to comprehend [in a Life of Pi way, I guess] and it involves a sort of suspension of disbelief.

Definitely disbelief but not superstition or ridicule. Why not challenge or question things that make no sense to those who don't believe what appear to be man-made stories explaining supernatural notions that scientists have been able to explain logically, and can replicate to demonstrate those explanations? Eminent scientists who believed in a god in previous centuries would be prepared to re-think in the light of what science has shown us in the last few decades.

I respect the right of others to believe in a god as long as they don't try to convert me, and I don't try to convert them, but I have the right to express my opinion, as does everyone else. Just don't hector me, preach at me, or rant

The concept of God is very powerful. Even atheists spend a lot of time and energy thinking about him/ her/it.

Lily, I do accept that people are hurt, or say they are offended, when certain beliefs they hold are mocked. I also argue that that's something they have to live with in a free society. They have the same freedom to mock my beliefs as I have to mock theirs. Feeling hurt/offended by what someone else says is part of the price of freedom.

The "You can't say that, I'm hurt/offended hoo-ha" is just a shutting up device. If people give in to it, they are cow-towing to bullying.

There was no preaching or ranting in the OP. Just amazement and, yes, ridicule. But mice's explanation subdued that and was accepted. She didn't argue that people shouldn't mock; she gave them a reason not to.

I still think the whole indulgences malarky is bonkers, but if some people gain something from believing in it, that's fine by me. But I'm still allowed to believe it's bonkers AND TO SAY SO.

Why^ do you spend so much time seeking out atheist Tweets Bags? Just curious. Feel free to tell me to mind my own business.

@petallus - atheist people are actually thinking about the people, and trying to puzzle out why they think as they do, not wasting time on thinking about imaginary gods (of which there are so many - each being the 'only true' one!)

It was a Gransnet tweet that alerted me to the pope's Twitter indulgences offer. Naturally I follow @Gransnet .

Yes, but all the others? You do seem to find so many out.

Still think it's hilarious

God, I don't follow Gransnet!!!

I wouldn't say "hilarious". Takes a bit more than that to make me laugh.

But I do think it comes across as a bit odd. Could be the way it's been over by the Vatican.

They have always (for centuries) had "indulgencies" in the Catholic Church. At least now you can't buy them with wealth! These days they expect you to read, digest, and follow the Pope's preaching.

Oh I follow other people who happen to be atheists and whose tweets amuse me. I'm interested in atheism, among other things. Hadn't you noticed?

And, funnily enough, I talk about stuff I'm interested in, and mock stuff that seems silly. Always have been strange, not like other people who talk about what interests them and get cross about important things ... like bare feet

put over

So some people are allowed to preach?

I see.

Another example of religious people being more equal than others.

Not that I did preach. I flagged something up and laughed at it. Such a sin.

[black soul emoticon]

Seems quite a negative thing to be interested in though. If you don't mind my saying so.

Doesn't seem to have a lot to say for itself, atheism. Can only be discussed in terms of non-belief.

I think 'trying to understand why people think these things' is a cop-out as well! What's it to you, feetle? I don't try to convert and I don't think I rant (not about religion, anyway). And if you know it upsets people, why do you go on doing it,*Bags*? Even if we felt inclined to mock your most important beliefs, what are they? Don't believe, think it's all ludicrous. A mistake in my view but not to be ridiculed, surely? Of course freedom of speech is central to all our other freedoms. Freedom of insult is a different matter.

You haven't got a black soul. I don't believe that.

My feet are bare, Bags...even when I go down the drive to the post box. Hardly ever wear shoes in the garden. Just sayin'