Religion on radio: the BBC's Today programme

[rickycosmos]

I thought you all might like to see this email I sent to the BBC:

I wish to complain about the Thought for the Day from Anne Atkins on
Thursday 12 April. I understand that the policy of the BBC is that this slot
on the today programme is meant to provide an eponymous thought from a
faith, rather than rational or other perspective. Ms Atkins indulged in what I
can only describe as a tirade against single parents, gay people, and,
amazingly, half of humanity (men). The point of my complaint is that this
Thought for the Day was not about religion, nor from a faith perspective
(though it certainly wasn't rational either).

It was a clear breach of the BBC's promise that TFTD would be "reflections
from a faith perspective".

I am also concerned that the TFTD slot has never been given to one of the
fastest growing religions in the world, to which I happen to adhere myself:
http://www.venganza.org/ .

It seems high time that Thought for the Day came from a pastafarian
perspective. I would be quite happy to do this, being a pastafarian (and, as
it happens, a solicitor, so used to public speaking). 19 September would
be an appropriate date, given the customs of us pastafarians, as that is
also International Talk Like A Pirate day.

I look forward to hearing from you and may His Noodley Appendage be
upon you.
--

Rick Johnson
Lancaster UK

[blackeyedbutch]

Can I get a RAmen from the congrigation?

[Occam]

RAmen!

I was only saying this morning that TFTD should have a pastafari speaker.

[Zankou]

Can I get a RAmen from the congrigation?

No, but I am pretty sure the "congregation" will give you a bowl of RAmen.

[blackeyedbutch]

zankou shut up you nazi

[SauceBeUponYe]

i completely agree with you rickycosmos
i turn the radio off when it comes to TFTD, it is usually a load of religious rubbish put about by lying fools who seem to have forgotten all the bad bad things people claiming to belong to their religion have done. (i.e. crusades, massive Hindu/Muslim wars, inquisition etc.).

when the bbc write back to you, and they better do, can you post their response here?

May Your Meatballs Be Forever Round

[rickycosmos]

when the bbc write back to you, and they better do, can you post their response here?

Will do, though not even an acknowledgment yet!

[MPTrooper]

i completely agree with you rickycosmos
i turn the radio off when it comes to TFTD, it is usually a load of religious rubbish put about by lying fools who seem to have forgotten all the bad bad things people claiming to belong to their religion have done. (i.e. crusades, massive Hindu/Muslim wars, inquisition etc.).

when the bbc write back to you, and they better do, can you post their response here?

May Your Meatballs Be Forever Round

So the sins of the past makes religion today rubbish? I'm Catholic, I think the RCC has done much to improve the lives of countless millions. Yet none of that Matters because of the things we may or may not have done hundreds of years ago?

[Jean Bart]

I'm Catholic, I think the RCC has done much to improve the lives of countless millions.

Facts, facts, give us a couple of millons of facts... then we can see if it balances...

Yet none of that Matters because of the things we may or may not have done hundreds of years ago?

Huh, that sounds like politicians blaming the former government for actual problems... See former reply on balancing...

[SauceBeUponYe]

MPTrooper wrote:

Yet none of that Matters because of the things we may or may not have done hundreds of years ago?

Not just hundreds of years ago, Christians are committing atrocities as we speak.

Now correct me if I’m wrong but according to http://www.iraqbodycount.org, since the beginning of the Iraq war as many as 68428 (as of 25th April 2007) civilians have been reported killed by military intervention in Iraq. Now it may seem odd to hear that the majority of the coalition forces are from Christian based nations. The majority of US troops for example are, like many Americans, patriotic American Christians, likewise, but to a lesser extent I think, the British army has many Christian soldiers.
Now to me it seems odd that these people claim to be Christians when the teachings they follow, those of Jesus Christ; you may of heard of him, are based on love and forgiving. Additionally Christians claim to live by laws even older than Christ, the very rules that were sent to Moses by God, the Ten Commandments; again you may have heard of them. These are very explicit on the subject of killing, as I’m sure you know. But just in case you don’t:

Thou shalt not kill – Exodus 20:13

It appear to me that it is strange that such Christian nations, with Christian soldiers have managed to kill 68428 people, that is an awful lot of death for people who claim to follow the message of Christ.

Atrocities have been committed by Christians, are being committed by Christians and will be committed by Christians.

[blackeyedbutch]

[quote="SauceBeUponYe
Thou shalt not kill – Exodus 20:13

[/quote]

I thought this was common knowledge but here it goes anyway: Moses' handwritting was horrible and worse when carving in stone. what the tablets were ment to say was

Thou shaln't not kill

Which is a double negative meaning it should have been

KILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KILL UM' ALL!!!!!! – Exodus 20:13

seriously how didn't you see that


[sarcasum]

[MPTrooper]

MPTrooper wrote:

Yet none of that Matters because of the things we may or may not have done hundreds of years ago?

Not just hundreds of years ago, Christians are committing atrocities as we speak.

Now correct me if I’m wrong but according to http://www.iraqbodycount.org, since the beginning of the Iraq war as many as 68428 (as of 25th April 2007) civilians have been reported killed by military intervention in Iraq. Now it may seem odd to hear that the majority of the coalition forces are from Christian based nations. The majority of US troops for example are, like many Americans, patriotic American Christians, likewise, but to a lesser extent I think, the British army has many Christian soldiers.
Now to me it seems odd that these people claim to be Christians when the teachings they follow, those of Jesus Christ; you may of heard of him, are based on love and forgiving. Additionally Christians claim to live by laws even older than Christ, the very rules that were sent to Moses by God, the Ten Commandments; again you may have heard of them. These are very explicit on the subject of killing, as I’m sure you know. But just in case you don’t:

Thou shalt not kill – Exodus 20:13

It appear to me that it is strange that such Christian nations, with Christian soldiers have managed to kill 68428 people, that is an awful lot of death for people who claim to follow the message of Christ.

Atrocities have been committed by Christians, are being committed by Christians and will be committed by Christians.

If you're going to accuse us of killing civilians how about you try finding how many were killed by U.S. Soldiers and how many were killed by other civilians.

Thanks!

[MPTrooper]

While I'm at it, could you also please find proof that we Catholic soldiers are purposely seeking civilians to murder? Thanks again!

[EarthRise]

Watch yourself, Sauce; MPT has this argument perfectly worked out. You'll not make any progress.

[Occam]

There's religion everywhere in the Iraq debacle. Religious patriots believe they are fighting the godless occupier. Fanatics seek martyrdom in battle with the great Satan or by slaughtering apostates in suicidal conflagrations. The multitude of sectarian conflicts are well documented.

The invaders also have dragged god in to their messed up war. Bush called it a crusade almost from the beginning although it could be argued that he didn't know what he was saying. But it wasn't just Bush. Who can forget the words of Marine Colonel Brandl, "The enemy has got a face. He's called Satan. He lives in Falluja. And we're going to destroy him." His troops then barbecued the civilian occupants of the city with white phosphorus. News reports never did confirm whether Satan had been amongst those killed but many of the bodies were so badly burned as to be unrecognisable.

It is true that most of the casualties in Iraq have been the result of civilian on civilian violence. It is not known how many have died in total, never mind how many were killed by the invading and occupying forces. What can be stated with certainty is that a Catholic (Blair) and a Methodist (Bush) ordered the bombing of targets that would result in collateral damage. These acts were in breach of the UN Charter, the Geneva Convention and the 6th Commandment. Whether you believe these crimes were justifiable in order to stave off an immediate threat to our countries is irrelevent. The motivation for the invasion and destruction of Iraq should only be taken into consideration during sentencing.

Personally I do not think that either Blair or Bush were motivated by their religion to commit their attrocities. However, I am not certain that the wars would have had the popular backing of the American and British people if Iraqis were Christians.