Is this harmless free speech?

Originally Posted by peterinmalaga

... “Christian” parents in the UK send their kids to church schools too but the number of such parents is not very great and the motive for sending their kids there generally has little or nothing to do with religion.

Without doing a lot of research, the best figures I have are that the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church were in control of, or had a part ownership of, about 25% of schools in about 2001. This was reported at around the time the government started to expand the number of school places being given over to other religious interests including the aforementioned branches of Islam and smaller Christian-rooted interests, including near where I live, a school opened by the cultish Plymouth Brethren. Voluntary Aided schools are pretty much run by the church while Voluntary Controlled schools have a minority input, whilst retaining ownership of the buildings and land. Pupils in RC schools take part in catholic rituals and all schools have to have a daily gathering or assembly which is "largely Christian in nature". These figures are significant whether your assertion of the number or motives of the parents of these children can be made to hold water.

I'm not sure whether the early and enforced exposure to Christianity in all our schools has a bearing on church attendance in later life. I would suggest that a lot of time is wasted in an overcrowded curriculum giving so much significance to such mythology, but I am pretty sure that many of our European neighbours are puzzled by our perpetuation (and now, of course, the expansion) of a system, which was designed in the nineteenth century to teach children to read the Bible and maintain the churches' power. The USA is legally obliged not to mix church and state, but we have seen there a rise in the power and influence of the churches.

Short background reading for anyone interested [Only registered members can see links. ].

Every religion have their fanatics, who believe they are chosen by god to destroy any who oppose and question their beliefs. Which is their own interpretation of their religion, they do not have the right to dictate to anyone on how to live, that is your right as free people. These fanatics are dangerous and should be barred from the church for inciting people to hate each other.

Just a thought, if Jesus came back to earth and told all the baptist minsters to give away their money, houses and big cars. How many would, how many would get Jesus sectioned for being insane and how big the price would they pay for a contract on Jesus.

[ardus]

Clearly that preacher is a moron, and a hypocrite, and should not be speaking to anyone, much less in public.
However, I've said this before and I really do believe it, I think that one of the most important freedoms we are guaranteed in this country is the freedom of speech. The only way I know to ensure that I can say whatever I want is to ensure that idiots and hypocrites can also say whatever they want to.
Richard