tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4318375667051435937.post7697193128566470558..comments2023-08-25T16:13:51.356+01:00Comments on Martin In The Margins: Is there a right to propagate religious beliefs in public?Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15608932251584881007noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4318375667051435937.post-9348633424397719122007-11-01T15:28:00.000+00:002007-11-01T15:28:00.000+00:00"But what about placards that condemn particular g..."But what about placards that condemn particular groups - believers in different faiths, gays, etc - to hell, or threaten them with divine punishment for their sins."<BR/><BR/>I guess I'd characterize it more as ineffective speech rather than hate speech, since I can't see it being effective at persuasion. Some of it I find offensive, but I don't see it as a legal matter if it doesn't disturb the general peace. I don't argue with those that consider it hatefulSweating Through foghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07138602196953744517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4318375667051435937.post-49009548817243165612007-11-01T14:49:00.000+00:002007-11-01T14:49:00.000+00:00Thanks for the comment. After I'd written this pos...Thanks for the comment. After I'd written this post, I wondered whether I'd been too censorious about public expressions of belief. After all, if you followed my logic here, you'd probably proscribe political speech-making in town squares.<BR/><BR/>However, I think there are difficult issues to be addressed. Here in the UK, after the Danish cartoons furore, some extremist Muslims demonstrated with placards that threatened to behead 'unbelievers'. Thankfully, they were charged with public order offences and found guilty, since their intention was clearly to stir up religious hatred.<BR/><BR/>But what about placards that condemn particular groups - believers in different faiths, gays, etc - to hell, or threaten them with divine punishment for their sins. Is this hate-speech - or legitimate religious preaching?<BR/><BR/>If the former, then the noticeboards outside a good many evangelical churches - with their biblical quotations threatening divine wrath - could fall into this category.<BR/><BR/>I totally agree with the sentence on the Westboro fanatics, but I still think the case poses important questions about the limits of free (religious) expression.<BR/><BR/>Martin<BR/><BR/>PS Thanks for linking to my blog.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15608932251584881007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4318375667051435937.post-29410120051898545622007-11-01T14:02:00.000+00:002007-11-01T14:02:00.000+00:00i think you have this just about right. I don't ha...i think you have this just about right. I don't have a problem with preaching in public, since I consider that legitimate exercise of frees speech.<BR/><BR/>But what the "preachers" did at this this funeral is disgusting and it seems to me it is properly covered under harassment and disturbing the peace. Not even close to a free speech issue in my view - this is simple harassment.Sweating Through foghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07138602196953744517noreply@blogger.com