Religious Observances - Offensive or Not?

[Trey of Diamonds]

Is the observance of religious holidays, festivals or celebrations offensive to other religions? When Christian's celebrate Christmas with lights, trees and plastic nativity scenes, do Muslims and Jews find it offensive. When a Muslim is observing Ramadan do Christian's find it offensive? If a Wiccan ritual is being held in a park do Christians, Muslims or Jews find it offensive? etc, etc, etc.

Mother told to take down her Christmas lights... in case they offend her non-Christian neighbours | Mail Online

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I don't find individual observances of holidays offensive, and I've even got Christmas lights up on my own house.

A Wiccan ritual in a public park is trickier, though. I'm not sure about that one, but I'd lean toward it being inappropriate.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I don't think people need be offended. Lights are pretty decorations, and celebrations are symbols. If it is a public place, like a park, a line needs to be drawn on whether any or all celebrations may be held there.

If a Wiccan celebration is not allowed due to misunderstanding or offense, then neither can a Christian, Jewish, or Pastafarian be allowed.

 

[tomspug]

I think public parks are fine, as long as the local law allows for religious events... What's the difference between a religious event and a cultural event?

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I think people get a little too offended by religious symbolism. When done in the spirit of self-expression, and not for purposes of proselytizing or degrading another person, where is the harm?

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I'm not sure about that one, but I'd lean toward it being inappropriate.

Why? There are a number of ceremonies that are small and if observed would not be obvious as to what they were. I can agree that a large group of people would need to get a permit and such, as any group would have to do. But a single person or a family shouldn't need to. IMHO

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I think public parks are fine, as long as the local law allows for religious events... What's the difference between a religious event and a cultural event?

Yeah... that's why I said I wasn't sure. I think a Wicca celebration in the park is definitely in keeping with, say, parades for St. Patrick's Day or Khalsa Day, which we have here now.

I think people get a little too offended by religious symbolism. When done in the spirit of self-expression, and not for purposes of proselytizing or degrading another person, where is the harm?

My main worry isn't really from the dancing Wiccans in the park, it's from the nasty religious groups saying "well, you let the Wiccans do their thing, so now we get to do ours, too".

I dunno. Maybe I shouldn't make such a big deal out of a few dancing Wiccans.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

nasty religious groups

And who might they be?

I dunno. Maybe I shouldn't make such a big deal out of a few dancing Wiccans.

Depends on how you define a few. I do think a large gathering should get the proper permits or go to more out of the way locations. Public parks are just that, public. Still, a family holding hands and dancing in a circle to celebrate something pagan should be small enough to not need a permit. I'm sure the law has guidelines for that sort of thing.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

And who might they be?

IMO, any group that feels the need to display pictures of aborted fetuses, for one. I support their right to free speech on principle, but I sure don't feel the need to support their activities by providing them with a government-subsidized forum.

Depends on how you define a few. I do think a large gathering should get the proper permits or go to more out of the way locations. Public parks are just that, public. Still, a family holding hands and dancing in a circle to celebrate something pagan should be small enough to not need a permit. I'm sure the law has guidelines for that sort of thing.

Sure, and I think that even if there were a law against it, any police force that would be patrolling the parks looking for families holding hands and dancing in a circle has some very messed up priorities.

 

[Apex]

My main worry isn't really from the dancing Wiccans in the park, it's from the nasty religious groups saying "well, you let the Wiccans do their thing, so now we get to do ours, too".

And exactly what is wrong with that? Are you suggesting Christians should be denied rights enjoyed by other religions? I think you should elaborate exactly what you meant.

 

[Sententia]

And exactly what is wrong with that? Are you suggesting Christians should be denied rights enjoyed by other religions? I think you should elaborate exactly what you meant.

I thought he did clarify... In addition to religious groups that may march around with aborted fetus signs and displays you could also end up with groups declaring believing in Santa will send you to hell.

My personal view is that we should remove or not allow any religious displays on government owned land or facilities... They have churches and homes for religions. Displaying signs that advocate any particular religion in our secular nation is inappropiate and could lead to debaucles like what is happening in Olympia.

Local News | Atheists' sign at Capitol stolen, found | Seattle Times Newspaper
Enough! No more signs at Olympia Capitol

If we want to protect religion we need to embrace a freedom of all religions and a secular run government. Wasn't that the idea when we founded this country?

 

[Elessar]

The Westboro Baptist Church needs to go shove it. They aren't citizens of Washington, and have no right to use their state Capitol to spread their message of hate.

In the topic, I am not offended by the religious or cultural displays of others, unless they are specifically intended to offend me. For example, someone displaying a cross on their lawn is not trying to invoke the Crusaders; they intend to invoke their Christian faith. My family puts up blue-and-white lights during this time, and we display our Chanukiah in the window over the eight nights of Chanukah. We don't mean to offend non-Jews by our celebration.

What people use to display their faith and express themselves is none of the business of others nor the state, as long as offense is not intended. Also, any sort of religious observance or occurrence in a public area should be allowed, for example, in a park, unless it involves some illegal or unsafe activity (for example, slaughtering an animal in public, in the latter case). Of course, if a group grows to be a certain size, it should get proper permits before using public lands, but, a group of 10-15 Wiccans doing a ritual in the park is no more offensive than a group of 10-15 Christians conducting a Bible Study in the same.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

And exactly what is wrong with that? Are you suggesting Christians should be denied rights enjoyed by other religions? I think you should elaborate exactly what you meant.

I just mean that if dancing Wiccans were to be the "foot in the door" that allows some other group to display dead fetuses or something equally offensive, then the dancing Wiccans should find a non-taxpayer-subsidized place to do their thing... as inocuous as they are by themselves.

 

[Riverwolf]

I don't care how others observe their religions; they can observe their rituals in any way they see fit, as long as they aren't causing harm.

That's my opinion.

 

[Sententia]

I don't care how others observe their religions; they can observe their rituals in any way they see fit, as long as they aren't causing harm.

That's my opinion.

Ahh but sometimes that is a judgement call and who gets to make that judgement? Is marching through a park with signs of aborted fetuses and pictures of santa taking children to hell doing harm to familys trying to see the lights on a night out in the town center?

Is a sign that says there is no god offensive? Surely it is to some. Is a cross offensive to some? No doubt... We are a nation of many beliefs and religions (or lack there of) and we need to come to terms with that. It seemed to take a long time to get past race but how much time can we afford to get over our differences when it comes to religion and personal beliefs?

Really thats what were talking about. Nationalizing a personal belief discriminates and is offensive to others and is unacceptable in a nation that is smelting pot of races and beliefs. I think we should be respectful of all beliefs and will defend the imposition of one persons personal beliefs onto others.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Nationalizing a personal belief discriminates and is offensive to others and is unacceptable in nation that is smelting pot of races and beliefs.

interesting imagery

 

[Sententia]

interesting imagery

I tried to frubal you again but it won't let me. Great use of sarcasm mate. I guess you have a very different view of america?

 

[ChristineES]

I never thought of lights as being religious. But a person should be able to do what they want on their own property. If someone gets offended, they can easily turn their head to another house or on the road, which is where they are supposed to be looking.
Before you know it, they will ban ugly people from leaving their houses because they offend pretty people or even vice versa. That is how ridiculous this is.

 

[sindbad5]

Is the observance of religious holidays, festivals or celebrations offensive to other religions? When Christian's celebrate Christmas with lights, trees and plastic nativity scenes, do Muslims and Jews find it offensive.

Not at all
by contrast, i congratulate my christian friends, they are fasting these days.
Peter, Emad, Kmal, and Mena ... congratulations and happy new year

 

[Riverwolf]

Ahh but sometimes that is a judgement call and who gets to make that judgement? Is marching through a park with signs of aborted fetuses and pictures of santa taking children to hell doing harm to familys trying to see the lights on a night out in the town center?

Is a sign that says there is no god offensive? Surely it is to some. Is a cross offensive to some? No doubt... We are a nation of many beliefs and religions (or lack there of) and we need to come to terms with that. It seemed to take a long time to get past race but how much time can we afford to get over our differences when it comes to religion and personal beliefs?

Really thats what were talking about. Nationalizing a personal belief discriminates and is offensive to others and is unacceptable in a nation that is smelting pot of races and beliefs. I think we should be respectful of all beliefs and will defend the imposition of one persons personal beliefs onto others.

I was speaking my own opinion, and if someone paraded around saying that Tolkien's works were the work of the devil, I wouldn't care.

EDIT: Not only do we have freedom of religion, we also have freedom of speech, and I encourage anyone to share their thoughts, and if someone finds it offensive, that's their problem.