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Has Britain Become A Nation Of Religious Illiterates?

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anotheoldgit | 12:42 Sat 19th Oct 2013 | News
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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/its-no-laughing-matter-britain-has-become-a-nation-of-religious-illiterates-who-are-baffled-by-biblical-references-in-monty-python-film-the-life-of-brian-8890338.html

This is good a Muslim criticising us for not knowing enough about Christianity, but even more laughable is the following;

/// Ahmed also claimed that a key reason that Islam is not the subject of more humorous discussion is that the life of the Prophet Muhammad is poorly understood by large sections of the British public. “How can anybody tell a joke about Muhammad when they don’t even know how to spell his name, let alone anything about his life? The day we have people standing up and telling detailed jokes about Muhammad and have the audience understanding that humour, then we will have come a long way in society and we will have a lot more religious literacy about a major world figure.” ///

Would anyone be allowed to stand up and tell jokes about Muhammad, (have I spelt that correctly) and even if they were, how long would it be before they were forced into hiding?
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I think he might have a point about people not knowing much about what's in the Bible (if they're not churchgoers) - but his point about the spelling of Mohammed is not logical, it's spelled differently in many different settings, e.g. Mohammed, Muhammad, Mehmet - and so on - the original Arabic doesn't take well to translation.
that sounds correct (though boxtops is right about the spelling of the Prophet's name). Atheists may cheer the spread of ignorance as people who go into a cathedral these days will just say "what's all this supposed to be for?"
I think most people understand the religious jokes in Monty Python, and I am sure Mr Ahmed is wrong about that. Though I know many people the same age as myself or even old people who do not know their bible stories and characters. I used to set a quiz, and I used to lob in a couple of bible questions which had a low number of correct answers.

It is clear that Ahmed is correct when he states that many people are clueless about other faiths. You have demonstrated your lack of knowledge of Islam many times AOG.

// Would anyone be allowed to stand up and tell jokes about Muhammad, //
Let us not forget that Life of Brian was accused of blasphemy by the church and was banned by local councils up and down the nation.

I am not entirely sure he is right. It depends on what he thinks the public are ignorant of. As an atheist, I welcome progress toward a more secular society. I would prefer though that people have some basic understandings regarding the major religions, rather than complete ignorance, although a detailed knowledge of scripture or rites is largely unnecessary.

Not sure I would agree with him that younger generations do not get the humour in "The Life of Brian", although he might be right. Again though, in a way thats not all that important. Comedy, even acute social observation, does not have to stand the test of time, since culture and society and comedy evolves.

Not at all sure he was right about the comedy of islam. I have never heard any jokes about Muhammed, and indeed thought making jokes would be -ermm, frowned upon? Anyone got any examples of approved Muhammed jokes?
Where religion is concerned, the British are in the main, illiterate - even those who are religious.

//Let us not forget that Life of Brian was accused of blasphemy by the church and was banned by local councils up and down the nation. //

... but no one had a death sentence hanging over his head for it.

//Would anyone be allowed to stand up and tell jokes about Muhammad//

They'd do it at their peril.



Naomi24

// ... but no one had a death sentence hanging over his head for it. //

Actually, they did.

// Cinemas that did show it were picketed by religious groups, and the Pythons – John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam – received death threats. //

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2046493/Monty-Pythons-Life-Of-Brian-caused-uproar-release-BBC-drama-reveals.html#ixzz2iAbpam90 
Is telling a joke similar to drawing a cartoon? Both try to amuse people.
Come now, Gromit. That's the Daily Mail. ;o)
I don't think I have ever heard a muhammad joke. I get sent many racist anti muslim jokes but that is different.

But I do not recall hearing a Jesus joke either. Certainly not for a long time. That kind of thing died out with Dave Allen in the 1970s.
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Gromit

/// It is clear that Ahmed is correct when he states that many people are clueless about other faiths. You have demonstrated your lack of knowledge of Islam many times AOG. ///

Ah yes you usual defence of anything Muslim, further displayed when one reads these words of yours below;

// Would anyone be allowed to stand up and tell jokes about Muhammad, //
Let us not forget that Life of Brian was accused of blasphemy by the church and was banned by local councils up and down the nation.

There is a great deal of difference to being accused of blasphemy by the church, they are just words, and being banned by local councils up and down the country is no great deal, but to bring hordes of angry mobs onto the streets, along with death threats, riots, and people killed etc etc. that is something that scares me.

Or have I once again failed due once more to my lack of knowledge of Islam?

Please address this instead of cautiously skirting round the subject.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6SQr7gKTnk
Rashid was making the perilous crossing from Libya when his boat begins to sink. He s flapping in the water and shouts "Allah! Save me!" Nothing happens. Just when he thinks he is about to die, he hears rotas from above and sees a rope. He ignores it and shout "Allah will save me!". Itflies off without him. Then he sees a light coming towards him, it is the coastguard. Again he refuses help and says "Allah will save me". The vessel leaves him and he drowns.
Up in heaven he meets Muhammad and rather crossly asked how come he drowned? Muhammed replies "Well we sent you an helicopter and a boat, what more did you want?"
I have heard jokes about vicars, priests, nuns and even rabbi's but never about muslim preachers.
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Gromit

Actually, they did.

// Cinemas that did show it were picketed by religious groups, and the Pythons – John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam – received death threats. //

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2046493/Monty-Pythons-Life-Of-Brian-caused-uproar-release-BBC-drama-reveals.html#ixzz2iAbpam90&;nbsp;

Shame on you Gromit for daring to use the Daily Mail to support your argument, you know they tell lies (well at least that is what you are always telling us) and what were you doing delving into the Femail section of the DM, a complete 'NONE STORY', if you ask me.
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Gromit

/// I don't think I have ever heard a muhammad joke. I get sent many racist anti muslim jokes but that is different. ///

Ah that's the reason you have never heard a Muhammad joke, look under the label 'RACIST and ANTI-MUSLIM' jokes, you will find them there.
AOG

Not sure what that clip about French Jews being divided about the Danish cartoons has anything to do with anything?

// Gromit. Ah yes you usual defence of anything Muslim //

I am not defending Islam, I am agreeing with someone who says our knowledge of Christianity and also Islam is poor. I also think our knowledge is poor. You may have a vast knowledge of Islam and so may the majority of the public, but on evidence I see, you and they do not.

Of course I condemn anyone who uses religion to issue death threats to silence criticism. You blame all muslims whereas I just condemned the extremists.
// /// I don't think I have ever heard a muhammad joke. I get sent many racist anti muslim jokes but that is different. ///

Ah that's the reason you have never heard a Muhammad joke, look under the label 'RACIST and ANTI-MUSLIM' jokes, you will find them there. //

I worry about your comprehension skills sometimes AOG.
Question Author
Gromit

I know what you did Gromit you typed Muslim jokes into Google, and came out with the least offensive one, I know I did.

Q: How does every Islamic joke start?

A: By looking over your shoulder.


AOG

// Shame on you Gromit for daring to use the Daily Mail to support your argument //

Stop being so childish. I will use whatever links I like to support my comments. I have praised the Daily Mail website many times.
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Gromit

/// Of course I condemn anyone who uses religion to issue death threats to silence criticism. You blame all muslims whereas I just condemned the extremists. ///

Until they go around with labels pinned on themselves, 'Extremist' and 'Non-Extremist', it is the safest bet.

If you can tell me how to recognise an extremist, then that is something else I will have learned about Islam.
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Gromit

/// Stop being so childish. I will use whatever links I like to support my comments. I have praised the Daily Mail website many times. ///

Oh dear you have resorted to the usual insults, when you have lost the argument, sorry about that, I will leave you alone now until you have repaired the nerve ends.

But before I leave and knowing how experienced you are in delving into the archives, I would appreciate a look at examples of where you have praised the Daily Mail.

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