tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post6882080212418886535..comments2023-10-26T22:06:11.166+11:00Comments on Metamagician3000: Bouma: Secularists are responsible for social divisionRussell Blackfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12431324430596809958noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-59562261486189860542010-06-01T23:53:52.832+10:002010-06-01T23:53:52.832+10:00you FIGHT PAPER MONSTERS...
the blood and bodies ...you FIGHT PAPER MONSTERS...<br /><br />the blood and bodies of the atheist movement...<br /><br /><br />you mofos killed MICKEY MOUSE!!!!<br /><br /><br />this has more TRUTH then what Dawkins, Randi, Harris, Myers, and Shermer<br /><br />combined have said in their entire lives...<br /><br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=5R2wE8Sduhs&playnext_from=TL&videos=hht1U_19anc&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh%2Bdiv-1r-3-HM<br /><br /><br /><br />they tried to BULLDOZE the entire METAPHYSICAL DIMENSION...<br /><br />they LOST THE WAR......<br /><br />you have FORFEIT YOUR SOUL, shermer... you have become an object in the<br /><br />material world, as you WISHED...<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUB4j0n2UDU<br /><br />http://farm1.static.flickr.com/7/11792994_ffaaee87fa.jpg<br /><br />we're gonna smash that TV...<br /><br />They had become ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE AND OF GOD...<br />you pushed too much and *CROSSED THE LINE*<br /><br />degenerates (PZ) or children (HEMANT) - ATHEISTS!<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRRg2tWGDSY<br /><br />do you have anything to say, you STUPID LITTLE F*CKER?<br /><br />how about I tell you, Mr. Shermer, EVERYTHING YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORLD is<br /><br />*WRONG*<br /><br />THE BOOBQUAKE - 911!<br /><br />http://dissidentphilosophy.lifediscussion.net/philosophy-f1/the-boobquake-911-t1310.htm<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx7XNb3Q9Ek<br /><br />RUN, ATHEISTS, RUN!!!<br /><br />-------------------Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-10765465944025482202010-03-07T10:31:18.568+11:002010-03-07T10:31:18.568+11:00Reading the original ABC article, it is clear that...Reading the original ABC article, it is clear that Professor Bouma has a profound misunderstanding of what secularism is.<br /><br />Secularists do NOT want to “deny the right to build the mosques” – that would go against one of the basic tenants of secularism, that the state should not interfere in any way in people’s individual beliefs. I would not deny the right of anyone to build any temple, mosque, chanting house or spirit chapel they want – although I would reserve the right to let my opinions on such rubbish known. Respecting the RIGHT of people to hold and practice a religion is fundamental to secularism, although this does not imply respect for the religion itself.<br /><br />I doubt very much that the opposition to the construction of mosques that has occurred in parts of Australia in recent years has been led by secularists – more often it is the old bigots and racists as always, who more than often are religious.<br /><br />As for the growth of religious diversity creating problems for Australian schools, as I was a teacher in a very diverse school until a few years ago I can certainly say this is something to be grappled with, although I would not say the problems are as great as Professor Bouma believes they are. The answer, of course, is secularism – letting all students know they are welcome in the school regardless of whatever religious or ethnic background they come from, that they will be treated equally, and that is was the responsibility of all to respect this. Generally it worked pretty well, and the in public education system there are students from every religious and ethnic background one can imagine studying and working together, learning the skills of mutual respect and tolerance that will be so important after school in wider society.<br /><br />This should be contrasted with the sectarian religious schools which unfortunately are gaining more and more ground in Australia. These are based on division on religious grounds. They are allowed exemptions from anti-discrimination acts in regard to both students and teachers, and they are built on discrimination and the building of religious barriers.<br /><br />It is these schools, which I rather suspect that Anglican Professor Bouma supports, that are sowing the seeds of division in Australian society. If he is serious about “encouraging respectful engagement between students and teachers of various religions” then he should be advocating for them to close, or at the very least lose their exemptions from anti-discrimination legislation. Somehow I do not think we will be hearing him doing so.Ramasesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-60142346300993569792010-03-07T09:46:01.983+11:002010-03-07T09:46:01.983+11:00If any atheist wanted to satirise religious belief...If any atheist wanted to satirise religious beliefs,Prof Bouma's reported comments are just perfect,there's no need to change a word.macehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00077569413983513298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-65329244603449879042010-03-07T08:55:39.595+11:002010-03-07T08:55:39.595+11:00Lisa asked about who determines "community le...<b>Lisa</b> asked about who determines "community leaders."<br /><br />I don't think there's a general rule. People will put themselves forth. Governments will find it convenient to deal with some and not others, or even to produce institutional frameworks for community representation. It comes down to messy communitarian politics, most likely with a conservative bias to the process.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10778996187937943820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-1071473272169807272010-03-07T07:46:30.506+11:002010-03-07T07:46:30.506+11:00Wow, Taner Edis, that was nothing if not a thoroug...Wow, Taner Edis, that was nothing if not a thoroughly depressing blog entry. I'm reminded of India's "secular" government, which nevertheless permits Muslims their own family law code (defined by rather traditionalist mullahs), subsidizes the Hajj and other religious pilgrimages, and bans "offensive" things like The Satanic Verses. If that's the kind of "secularism" we can look forward to in a postmodern multicultural society, I'm not sure I want it!<br /><br />One point leapt out at me -- the part about the government interacting with "communities" through "community leaders." Who decides who these leaders are and how is it decided which groups are "legitimate" representatives of the community as a whole? I'm thinking of the case in Britain where the MCB claims to represent Muslims in Britain but are very conservative and apparently most Muslims do NOT consider them representative of their views, yet the British government gives it a lot of legitimacy by dealing with them as if they did represent most British Muslims.<br /><br />I suppose there's also the Turkish model of secularism, though it's anything but liberal in the traditional sense!Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02604333162523856250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-51019150427907058422010-03-07T06:01:41.436+11:002010-03-07T06:01:41.436+11:00Russell,
I would like for things to be such as yo...Russell,<br /><br />I would like for things to be such as you describe them. I don't think they are. To some extent, I think you're misreading the perspective from which Bouma makes his comments. See<br /><br />http://secularoutpost.infidels.org/2010/03/postmodern-peace-keeping.htmlAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10778996187937943820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-19355417080642731762010-03-06T19:37:50.624+11:002010-03-06T19:37:50.624+11:00It's quite simple really. Just establish a the...It's quite simple really. Just establish a theocracy, lay down the official rules of belief, and execute or jail anyone who disagrees with them. Hey presto, no more divisiveness!<br /><br />Well, it works for Saudi Arabia...Jon Jermeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12802157835972797573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-30966385630702121682010-03-06T17:24:07.085+11:002010-03-06T17:24:07.085+11:00Thansk Scot. Excellent as usual. The upside is thi...Thansk Scot. Excellent as usual. The upside is this guy has inspired me to pay up and join the AFA. Some <a href="http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/forums/showthread.php?t=4177" rel="nofollow"> discussion </a> over there that he has taken money in the past from the Exclusive Brethren. <br /><br />Next time my alma mater (Monash) sends me a request for money they are getting a rocket about villification of atheists.<br /><br />MichaelMichaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160307126030657594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-45937892268496046602010-03-06T16:20:21.676+11:002010-03-06T16:20:21.676+11:00Wild applause. Thank you so much for responding o...Wild applause. Thank you so much for responding on our behalf, Russell.Chrys Stevensonhttp://www.atheistnexus.org/profile/kristyvenssonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-10498205307426956582010-03-06T16:07:50.937+11:002010-03-06T16:07:50.937+11:00It's interesting that nobody has seen fit to m...It's interesting that nobody has seen fit to mention the little fact that he's also an "Associate Priest in the Anglican Parishes of St John's Toorak, St Andrews Brighton and St Martin's Hawksburn, St Dunstan's Camberwell and St John’s East Malvern in the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne." (from <a href="http://arts.monash.edu.au/sociology/staff/gbouma.php" rel="nofollow">his own faculty profile at Monash University</a>)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02604333162523856250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-37055154198137920522010-03-06T15:26:54.835+11:002010-03-06T15:26:54.835+11:00When I made my submission to "Freedom of Reli...When I made my submission to "Freedom of Religion and Belief project", the first two things I held up were the affiliations of those running the project, and the template for responses which assumed all respondents had religious beliefs.<br /><br />In that context he does not even acknowledge the existence of those with secular values.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16494731273916705327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-73343332400155893772010-03-06T14:03:42.223+11:002010-03-06T14:03:42.223+11:00Thank you for responding on behalf of fellow secul...Thank you for responding on behalf of fellow secularists and atheists. A person of Bouma's supposed calibre should have known better.<br /><br />RC HenryRobin Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11768713486383482322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24761391.post-5078734203113833052010-03-06T13:06:30.839+11:002010-03-06T13:06:30.839+11:00I'm glad you commented on this. I saw it at Op...I'm glad you commented on this. I saw it at Ophelia's site, and I was just about to let you know.Charles Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09934402450298584577noreply@blogger.com