Perhaps there should be a forum for anti-religion posts where vitiol and hatred can be kept in one place

nightowl Don't say that. Do as I do. I ignore the threads once they get nasty and leave it to others to keep posting. There are many other more interesting threads on the site to post your comments on.

I can't go cold turkey. Have tried. Several times.

Perhaps cut down?

Very wise anno. It would be interesting to read about others' beliefs - religious and non-religious - but it always descends into arguments. I can't be bothered with it and to be honest I'm beginning to wonder whether I can be bothered with gransnet.

I didn't try to demonstrate anything Orca. Just made a suggestion. Primarily aimed at Gransnet HQ.

But if people make comments, I will reply.

J09?

Henceforward, I will keep off religious threads. I have previously stated my position as a humanist and don't feel the need to defend that or to attack other people's faiths. This is all fruitless. Amen

J09 & Ana quod erat demonstrandum

I guess I envisage posting things like my original post on the other thread I started yesterday - about the Pope's Tweet.

And perhaps stories about Saints days as they come up.

And any other matters of faith. (Any religion of course).

It would be gentler than the anti-religion one would be.

#pipedreamiguess

Not an interrogation! - just trying to balance the discussion. We have heard a lot about what non-believers and agnostics (like myself) believe, but nothing from the other side - no substance that I have been able to get a grip on to enhance the dialogue.

I was trying to understand where you are coming from, rather than just hearing that others' views are objectionable.

Presumably if the thread that you wish for were granted, these are exactly the things that would be discussed - hence my assumption that you were happy to discuss them.

Would you like a bright lamp? And a rubber cosh?

You can't interrogate me like that!

Thank you for the link J08. I would be interested to understand....

- to which church due you belong? - I am presuming it is one of the Christian churches.
- where does your faith come from? - is that a question that has an answer?
- what does ther practice of your faith entail?
- do you enjoy being part of the church?
- what sustains your faith?
- do you ever have any doubts? - and how do you deal with these?

All food for genuine discussion I feel.

In short, religion and religious people do not need protecting from the rest of humanity.

There must be a reason (or lots of reasons) why religions come in for the so-called 'barrage'. Perhaps those who object to the 'barrage' could think about that.

Perhaps it would be nice for religious people to have a place where they wouldn't meet the usual 'barrage'. Yes, perhaps it would. But it aint going to happen in today's world because fair people realise that there is no reason at all why religion or religious people should have special privileges that non-religions and non-religious people don't have.

Elegran I thought "Site Stuff" was for that.

Anyone else want to join in?

Mishap I expressed the feelings I have at the moment on this thread (tuesday 12th Feb 21.37.46)

I would still like to understand your beliefs and where they come from and what sustains them Jo8.

JO If you wanted to make a suggestion to GNHQ without opening it up to discussion, then you could have contacted them direct.

The mention of vitriol and hatred was in the your own original post. No-one else is feeling vitriolic or full of hate.

Is it just that you have been out of the spotlight for a while and thought it time to lob in a hand-grenade?

nanej, Mishap I agree with your comments regarding religion. I, too, an agnostic (if I must be classed as anything). I have no problem with people believing what they like. I just have a problem with religions.

anno I wanted to put my point across in the most honest way that I could.

I'm not criticising hatred of religion. Or the expressing of views in vitriolic terms. Just feel it would be nice to have a place where anyone can post something slightly religious without having to undergo the usual barrage.

#repeatingmyselfnow

In the real world there is far more hatred coming from the religious - their treatment of homosexuals and women for example. Their public burning of other people's 'holy' books - all that is far more vitriolic than llowing a dissenting voice now and again, in a forum such as this.

It would certainly help sometimes!

Good grief! We're all going to need a degree in semantics to take part in discussions soon!