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1. Comment by Chris, 19 Jan, 2009

   Hi there. I just found your site and I'm a little annoyed.

   The reason for this is that I have been drafting and making notes for an essay on why we should NOT, in fact, respect other people's beliefs. (However we must respect their right to believe what they like, providing such beliefs impinge on no-one else's freedom).

   And now I see you already have such an essay on your site!

   If I go ahead and do my own I will certainly be referencing yours.

   So keep up the good work and keep on annoying people (particularly people who believe, or say they believe, in silly things).

   Me, I'm with the Jatravartids.

2. Comment by the 'Silly Beliefs' Team, 20 Jan, 2009

   I know the feeling Chris. Imagine my annoyance when I discovered someone called Bill Shakespeare had already written "Bob and Sheila", or as he called it, "Romeo and Juliet". Seriously though, if you have time you should still get your essay out there, as the more we debunk this silly 'Respect my beliefs' idea the better.

   And for the uninitiated, the Jatravartids that Chris mentioned are an alien race from Douglas Adams' excellent book "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy". They "firmly believe that the entire universe was sneezed out of the nose of a being called 'The Great Green Arkleseizure'. They live in perpetual fear of the time they call 'The Coming Of The Great White Handkerchief'."

3. Comment by Rob, 16 Mar, 2009

   Hello John, thought you might like a copy of my letter published in this week's Listener (March 21), which follows the "respect my religion" line of thought as well.

   Blasphemy
   "I am saddened to see Rev DH Battley (Letters, March 14) criticising the Listener for accurately printing a quote from actor Sam Neill, which ends in the line "and Christ knows we could do with that". Battley would prefer that, in the interest of "respect" for a religion, the quote be edited or left out altogether. If the Listener did follow this line, how many other stories, quotes and articles would need to be adjusted just to give respect to a fictional character from a prominent Bronze Age myth?
   It is important to uphold an ideal that ideas, stories and religions should not get respect automatically but only if the respect is earned. If similar comments are not often made about other religions, it doesn't necessarily mean those religions have earned respect, but may be more to do with the concern about an over-the-top reaction from radical followers.
   Prominent scientist and author Richard Dawkins asks: "Why has our society so meekly acquiesced in the convenient fiction that religious views have some sort of right to be respected automatically and without question? If I want you to respect my views on politics, science or art, I have to earn that respect by argument, reason, eloquence or relevant knowledge… But if I have a view that is part of my religion, critics must tiptoe away or brave the indignation of society at large. Why are religious opinions off-limits in this way?"
   Please don't edit based on whether you may offend someone, as difference of opinion encourages healthy debate. Without this debate, the exchange of ideas in arts, politics and practically every section of the Listener would need to be edited down until the magazine consisted of little more than its covers."

4. Comment by the 'Silly Beliefs' Team, 17 Mar, 2009

   Excellent letter Rob. Naturally I couldn't agree more. And obviously the Listener also agrees with your sentiments as well, nominating your effort "Letter of the Week" I see.

   It never ceases to amaze me that some people are so precious and sensitive over their particular belief, but they have no sense or concern that they might be trampling blindly over the beliefs of others. Rev Battley may be offended by Neill's casual use of the word "Christ", but I am equally offended by his desire to brainwash small children with phrases such as "God loves you". As you say, censoring every phrase or opinion that might offend someone, somewhere, would just open a Pandora's Box.

   I just read an apt quote from Salman Rushdie yesterday regarding free speech. Addressing the Ayatollah he asked: "What is freedom of speech? Without the freedom to offend it ceases to exist".

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