Anyone non-religious here? Please be nice!

[Prettiest Frog]

Quote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-commonly_challenged_books_in_the_United_States

Over the years I've made an effort to read all the books on that list. A few I think are poorly written (Catcher in the Rye comes to mind) and thus shouldn't be taught as required reading, but the rest, I think that no one has a right to prevent anyone from reading any book.

 

[KDbeads]

Yep, I've read about half of what is on that list. Most of those before I was 15.

 

[deb1]

I have read several books on that list.

I read Salman Rushdie's book just because the Muslim Extremist were seeking to kill him. Any book that inspired people to kill its author was one that I felt that I needed to read.

 

[mom'sfolly]

I've read almost two thirds of the list. What are people's objections to James and the Giant Peach? I can understand if people were griping about Dahl's adult fiction, but classic kid's fiction? What's up with that?

 

[KDbeads]

I have NO idea why Kaffir Boy is on that list, it's an eye opening account of the apartheid. It's an excellent, if not brutal, book on a boy's life. I still own a copy and will never ever part with it. Read it in 10th grade.

Oh... and Harry Potter? And just how many non reading kids wanted/begged to read those books, and they were banned from so many schools!

 

[redux]

We really seem to have strayed from the topic here.

 

[thaiturkey]

Please read the news report below.

This man is either completely out of touch with reality or is deliberately attempting to anger people. He is the only person allowed to preach to the pope so he, presumably, is something of an expert in the teachings of the Christian bible. He stood up in front of the whole world yesterday, the day on which his church marks the death on the cross of the claimed savior of believers, and said that the public reaction against revelations of child abuse by priests was similar to ant-semitism. The RC church is backing away from his statement saying that it's not the official view but how can it not be official? Words uttered publicly by a senior member of that church on Good Friday cannot be anything but official policy. That's why he spoke, to preach to the mass of supporters.

I'm beside myself with fury having read this morning that this man should attempt to turn child abusers into victims. His statement is an insult to all abused children and to Jews who have suffered persecution. It's an insult to any decent person. I'm glad to see that members of the Jewish community are already speaking out against his statement. When officials such as him can say such things then it's no wonder that people walk away from organised religion. He does the reputation of his god no good at all.

I know that we have avoided this subject here but enough is enough. If Mods want to delete my words, I understand. However, I'm going to vent my wrath. This man's church has been known for decades, at least, to be riddled with child abusers and they are very rarely brought to justice. I cannot believe that its leaders did not have knowledge of what has been going on. It's not just this church, of course, and we might, sooner or later, find out about what goes on in other churches. However, it's the RC church that is under scrutiny at the moment because it remains in denial about the scandal. Even on Good Friday the pope could not bring himself to refer to the disgraceful goings on in his own organisation. It's an utter disgrace and I wait for the pope to show us now whether he is going to deal with the abusers and their protectors and offer some of the church's money to compensate and support victims. Alternatively, he will show himself to be either weak and not in control or a supporter of the abuse.

I'm sorry if what I have written is out of bounds but this is a very serious issue and it's probably one that causes many people to be non-religious.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8601084.stm

 

[Reinbeau]

Gentle guidance: That whole issue of what the Catholic Church has allowed to happen is a real hot topic, I don't think we want to go down that road here. As a person, not a moderator, I agree with you, but - well, let's keep on with our non-religious discussion.

 

[thaiturkey]

Quote:
Fair enough. Thanks. It is something that encourages people to be non-religious, though.

 

[EweSheep]

Thai, you have spoken well and it is a downright shame, particuarly the Pope himself, whether he knew of it or not but he has to take some responsibility.

It is a very touchy subject when we get hot and bothered about certain religions doing something wrong but wrongdoings have been going around for centeries.