That's true, but if I publicly denounce a religion like Islam for its sexism, homophobia, whatever, I'm officially breaking the law. That's fucked.

In fact, teaching the Holocaust is going to become compulsory from next year in UK schools.

A good point; surely most people get the joke with them though? The old law of Marxist groups - "Have no more than two anarchists. You'll only argue about who's making the coffee".

aaaaaaah..... the way it was presented here (i shouldn't use the board as a source of news, really), i thought it was national policy. i'm relieved, except for those two schools of course, but there are stupid fucks everywhere... you should look at what some of those home-schooled children in america are taught... absolute tripe...

well it was shown on the board. toilet showed the report from the guardian that had what was actually happenening rather that the original report from the daily mail that speculated it was accross the board. the daily mail is a right wing rag which has headlines like 'asylum seekers are to blame for everything'.

yeah... i see..

so, what's the real story on this new law? are you not allowed to call the pope a cunt anymore??

Who posted a Daily Mail report? Tut tut.

THE POPE IS A CUNT.

I'll find out whether I'm allowed to say that presently, I'll report straight back.

Whic pope are we talking about?

I think a true test would be if one of us reports you to the police.

I'll pop into the police station on my way home.

See you after Easter.

I wonder how a law like that would be here in America?

if we start letting things stand in the way of speech, wouldn't it cease to be free?

Some very interesting and thoughtful opinions here. I'm of the somewhat less-considered opinion that all religions can go eat shit, but being a hypocrite, reserve the right to marvel at the artistic creations that religions have inspired. I thought that the destruction of the Buddhist statues in Bamiyam was a fucking disgrace, and I can't believe that I would not be moved by the artwork in the Sistine Chapel.

Christianity is the only religion that I have a really significant amount of knowledge in, so that's the perspective I'm coming from. With that in mind, of course religion shouldn't stand in the way of free speech and nor should it want to. We spiritual types should be comfortable with debate and interrogation, because firstly it is a chance to show people a different viewpoint and secondly it is the perfect chance to examine your own.

i hate religion its jsut another exucse for people to be assholes

I'm opposed to religion, so no, it should never stand in the way.

on the face of it most major religions are basically the same. you always get someone who bends it or misinterprits it for their own aims.

jesus would shoot himself if he saw catholics today

I'm thinking of joining the local church to get my daughter into a decent school. Is that bad?