Not Burning Holy Books

[watervole]

It strikes me that I have many friends of different faiths, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Pagan, and possibly others.

And one of the reasons they are my friends is that I cannot imagine any of them burning the holy book of any of my other friends.

I like my friends.  You're sane, caring, rational people.  Long may it remain that way.

Comments

[rpdom]

I can agree with "caring", but "sane" and "rational"???

I'm not religious, but agree that people should be allowed to believe in whatever they feel is right (barring causing harm to others) and no one should have the right to antagonise them by burning their books, crosses or hamburgers.

[watervole]

For fannish values of 'sane' and 'rational'...

I'm an atheist myself, but try to respect people's religious views.

[melodyclark]

It's one old codger in Georgia who is lapping up his 15 minutes of fame. It doesn't matter to him that he's causing pain to millions of people and endangering the lives of service people. He just wants his narcissistic needs met.

In contrast, here in wacky southern California (which I love dearly), the head of the Lutheran church is having a Koran blessed and given to the head of the local Muslim mosque. I think all religion is fairly silly, but I have to side with the religions that bless rather than burn.

[melodyclark]

Make that "an old codger in Northern Florida" (which may as well be the south). I guess I had Georgia on my mind. lol

[watervole]

What a lovely man!

[davidwake.livejournal.com]

I'm Jedi and I'd certainly burn the book of "The Phantom Menace", but that doesn't really count as burning someone else's religious book. Or sane for that matter.

It is very telling that all totalitarian movements start with book burning. That, and simply banning books, is a way of controlling thought. I'd suggest used when deep down they can't be that convinced of their own arguments.

I recently built myself a real fire and, by chance, an old book fell to bits and I chucked it into paper recycling. Hang on, I thought, perfectly good paper to use to light a fire. So I burnt a book. It felt so wrong and the rosy glow of the hearth was not warming at all.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I don't regard Phantom Menace as canonical, therefore one can legitimately burn it.

[davidwake.livejournal.com]

I think the point is that you must respect all knowledge, even that of the non-orthodox Jedi. Really I can't force my religion on someone else, they are entitled to watch "The Phantom Menace", realise it's tosh and then spend years in therapy expunging it from their mind.

In summary: burning books is wrong, recommended reading lists are good.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Touché!

[sammason.livejournal.com]

Do you like the books of Ursula le Guin? I've noticed that her recent work has a theme of totalitarian movements which ban and destroy books.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I adore Earthsea. the poetry of the writing is wonderful.

Other books of hers vary. Some I love, some are middling.

[davidwake.livejournal.com]

To my shame I've only read Ursula le Guin's how-to-write book "Steering the Craft", which is excellent.

[ssirienna.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear!

A person's colour, faith or country hasn't stopped my from talking to and liking a variety of wonderful people!

And I DO hope it will never change

[rockwell-666.livejournal.com]

As I've posted elsewhere:

To paraphrase Voltaire: "I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. (Doesn't mean I don't think you're a complete a$$hole, though!)"

[raspberryfool.livejournal.com]

I'm sad that one extremist from Hicksville is paid such attention by the world's media. If they'd ignored him, he wouldn't have had a platform for his views. Although he was making a point about free speech, he did so in a country where free speech is guaranteed. I bet he wouldn't have dared to pull a stunt like that in Iran.

I like to think I'm tolerant; I have my opinions and prejudices, but at the end of the day, we're all the same species. I'm glad you're a rational, tolerant person too.

[melodyclark.livejournal.com]

I agree completely. As I said to Judth over on DW, there's a minister in Los Angeles who is having a Koran blessed and given to the head of the local mosque, but no one is talking about him.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

I cherish my friends and respect their faith or whatever they feel. I am quite appalled to read the news about burning the holy book. I don´t care who is what. There are good and bad people ( a simplistic phrase but I am sure you understand). You are an excellent, wise friend. I share your view fully!

[kerravonsen]

Amen.

[gaspodia.livejournal.com]

And so say we all! Dammit, that just slipped out :)

[davidwake.livejournal.com]

Actually I think you can say 'good' and 'evil'. The trouble is evil likes to label itself as Christian, Muslim, Corporate America, etc, etc, even though their are good Christian, Muslims, businessmen, etc, etc. Luckily there's a simply test. Good makes things: lives, relationships, cultures, tall buildings, books. Evil destroys things: lives, relationships, cultures, tall buildings, books.

[temeres.livejournal.com]

I really don't see the point of burning books. It's outright cowardice. If you hate people that much, set fire to them. And see where it gets you.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

The Klu Klux Klan...