There is nothing wrong with a critique be it for humour or philosophical reasons. Movies such as “The Last Temptation of Christ,” are understandably offensive, but does not serve great reason to be banned or have a fatwa issued against them in 2009.
Take the author Anne Rice, A fictional exploration of the Childhod of Christ (Christ the Lord; out of Egypt) where was lauded with praise by Christians, and an exploration of the relationship between God and Satan (Memnoch the Devil) casue outrage. I don’t see any difference

You said: [“Can you not see the very real inconsistencies in islam?…Its claim to be peaceful and the manner in which it is followed in most countries?”] This of course is an inconsistency of the people not the religion, and yes I’d agree very few Muslims adhere to the religion in the way they should.
[You ask “is there such a thing as offense”? “yes,” when hatred is vented against the person with the intent to physically harm, “No” when one chooses to take offense for the reason that one’s ideas are challenged. In other words, go after the person rather than the idea.]
That’s a very limited view of harm, surely you recognise that psychological harm can be as damaging. We legislate for all manner of harms that are not physically injurious. Does a person choose to be offended? Even if that were true, does that vindicate the right to be offensive? Should we now offend black people and retort, ‘well it’s their choice to be offended or not’.
[Muj, I have tried in this comment to explain in a non-threatening manner why I think that all unquestioning belief systems (including my own) can be evil where they are accepted in an unquestioning manner. ] Do you think it correct to assume that all people simply accept a belief system without investigation?
[I fail to understand how anyone who honestly questions any religion based on a god, can fail to realise that it’s all a load of bunkum, unless they are afraid to so do.] Afraid? Again Jack, could it not be simply that as believers we find the theories of origins based on speculative science simply unbelievable?
[Afraid of not surviving their death when death is a natural end that is not something to fear intellectually.] Again Jack you completely misunderstand the issue here. No true believer fears death, rather they embrace it seeing it as a release from the prison of this world. I put this to you, as Paul did to those who did not believe in his day, if all that is ahead of us is darkness then eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. However, as believers we believe that there is a hereafter, a recompense for this world and our time spent on it. If, according to you, we are wrong then we have still benefitted as our lifestyles have made us better people, living better lives. However if, as we wholeheartedly believe, we are right, then we have benefitted not only in this life, but also the next.

[Now I realise I’ve gone on here a bit, but I’m trying to show, in a non threatening manner, that religion is probably the single biggest threat to peace on the Earth at present.] Reality of course says otherwise. Stalin’s atheism that drove his pogroms saw more killed than ALL the religious wars in history combined.

[Having said that I have no problem with anyone believing whatever they wish, provided a) they do not attempt to coerce either me or anybody else into that belief and b) they do not blackmail others by way of social exclusion, teaching of religion as part of everyday schooling etc into conformity.] You can’t state that you have no problems with belief and then relegate it to the private sphere. You have no right to do that. Now, I believe some changes do need to occur to take into account non-believers, I do believe the current requirement to make an oath to a religion you do not follow is discriminatory and accordingly seek an amendment in that regard. Allah tells us, to you your religion, to me mine. Now that to me seems to be the way forward.

General Discussion and Comments Part 2

If you continue your discussions within the newer thread, more new readers will see it.

“religion is probably the single biggest threat to peace on the Earth at present”

I would dispute this. Its certainly a factor but I would put corporate greed at the top of the pile.

Compared to the treatment many young children received at the hands of Irishmen and women, this scholars example would be positively tame. But so you don’t embarrass yourself any further, go look up what a young man is in classic Arabic parlance.

You ask “is there such a thing as offense”? “yes,” when hatred is vented against the person with the intent to physically harm, “No” when one chooses to take offense for the reason that one’s ideas are challenged. In other words, go after the person rather than the idea.

Muj, I have tried in this comment to explain in a non-threatening manner why I think that all unquestioning belief systems (including my own) can be evil where they are accepted in an unquestioning manner. I fail to understand how anyone who honestly questions any religion based on a god, can fail to realise that it’s all a load of bunkum, unless they are afraid to so do. Afraid of not surviving their death when death is a natural end that is not something to fear intellectually.
Now I realise I’ve gone on here a bit, but I’m trying to show, in a non threatening manner, that religion is probably the single biggest threat to peace on the Earth at present.
Having said that I have no problem with anyone believing whatever they wish, provided a) they do not attempt mo coerce either me or anybody else into that belief and b) they do not blackmail others by way of social exclusion, teaching of religion as part of everyday schooling etc into conformity.
On the basis of a) and b) above, all god-based religions I know of (including yours) fail the test

BTW I really LOVED that slap-in-the-face story Muj. You’ve really convinced me that jislam is the right path because a deluded (?hate) preacher assaulted a young man who had some questions *rolleyes*

Are you suggesting that there really is no such thing as offense, that it’s completely subjective and can therefore be dismissed? I’d love to see you put that idea to the test. Go into a republican stronghold and sing ‘God save the Queen’ or better still a loyalist enclave and talk about all Ireland – put your hypothesis to the test, if your a man.