Atheists to organise book-burning of Hindu scriptures and Indian epics

[mdwh]

Does it specify that this is athiests...?

I guess the equivalent in the UK or US would be people protesting with Bible burning to make a protest against Christianity ... and well, sometimes people do do that.

If it's not being covered by the mainstream media, well surely that's bad for them, as they're not getting the coverage they want?

And yes, it does matter whether this is about burning copies as a symbolic protest, or is actually intended as an attempt to destroy all copies of rare material.

 

[Babbler]

*Sigh*

I grow weary of this sort of news.

Because this is done to Hindu and Indian books, the mainstream media does not even cover this. I wonder what the reaction would have been if it the Bible of the Quran.

Maybe because the mainstream media doesn't cover the antics of crazy minor cranks because they are too busy covering the antics of major cranks.

 

[Leifmk]

As an atheist, I'll represent myself: burning of those books is a dumb idea.

I'm with you. Book burning pushes all the wrong buttons in my head. (Well, maybe not all of them, but enough anyway.)

 

[Grisu]

It is a pleasure to burn. It is special to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed.

no really, burning any book is stupid, but idiots come in all colors, so there's nothing that can really be done about this.

 

[El_Machinae]

I'll try to put myself in Aneesh's shoes:

Do you think there's a parallel to how I'd feel if a church-group/political-party burned a bunch of textbooks symbolically?

 

[Winner]

As an atheist, I'll represent myself: burning of those books is a dumb idea.

Seconded .

 

[Shaihulud]

Burning books never help put your point across, so its ridiculous. Makes them look like barbarians and reactionist.

 

[Che Guava]

I'll try to put myself in Aneesh's shoes:

Do you think there's a parallel to how I'd feel if a church-group/political-party burned a bunch of textbooks symbolically?

An excellent point, although I think there are some problems with the analogy: there is a certain personal affiliation that those have to religious texts, wheras not all texts, even if you beleive strongly in the principles, have teh same personal connection to culture and ethics.

Having said that, if someone were to say, symbolically burn texts on the history of Canada, I'd be pretty dang pissed...

 

[El_Machinae]

Actually, I'm drifting away from that point, actually. I don't liken it to burning a cross, or burning a flag. If people do that, then I feel little sympathy for the offense they feel.

I think that Aneesh feels that those text contain truths, truths which are better if they are understood. I feel that a textbook has the same theme. It's a symbolic destruction of beneficial information.

Of course, a symbolic burning is a damn sight different that attempting to eradicate all copies of a text. I certainly condemn that, all the way up to the Necronomicron (er, maybe)

 

[Bad Player]

I can truly feel your pain. I myself would be upset if a bunch of atheist decided to burn Christianity's holy scriptures.

Muslims: They would be up in arms against the act and vow a jihad against the atheist

Christians: They would be deeply upset and would begin to fear that there would be a persecution against the Christians.

Jews: Millions of lawyers would file court cases across the world!


(joke!)

 

[Bad Player]

What if it was a bunch of Jews? Or a bunch of Hindus? It's idiotic behavior, but it's totally incidental that they're atheists. (The reason I'm upset by this bit is that atheists are endlessly demonized, while the vast majority hold nothing against religious people, and condemn this sort of nonsense.)

I think Christians feel atheists attack them too so it probably works both ways.

 

[Che Guava]

Actually, I'm drifting away from that point, actually. I don't liken it to burning a cross, or burning a flag. If people do that, then I feel little sympathy for the offense they feel.

I think that Aneesh feels that those text contain truths, truths which are better if they are understood. I feel that a textbook has the same theme. It's a symbolic destruction of beneficial information.

The difference being is that religious texts require faith, and by that, the participation of the adherents, wheras textbooks contain (or at least should contain) facts that stand up without faith or even any participation from the reader. In that way, I feel like religious texts are more in the catagory of flags or crosses...

Of course, a symbolic burning is a damn sight different that attempting to eradicate all copies of a text. I certainly condemn that, all the way up to the Necronomicron (er, maybe)

What? That book in the Evil Dead movies??

 

[El_Machinae]

Oh, I don't deny that there's a crossover on the 'flags and crosses' theme.

(I wasn't referring to the Evil Dead movies, but they are drawing upon the same allusion)

 

[GenMarshall]

In that way, I feel like religious texts are more in the catagory of flags or crosses...

Well don't come crying to the religious if you PO some other religious group for burning their holy scripture that they hold dear to . I higly disagree with you since I place sacred scripture up on the same playing field as regular books. It's not because I am biased for religion, its that I just find the act of buring books for no reason distasteful.

And yes, I am a bibliophile (aka. Bookworm, avid reader of books. NOT to be confused with bible thumper).

 

[Shadylookin]

I disagree with the book burning. I think they should focus on the positive like how women can excel in the workforce

 

[silver 2039]

Where in the article does it say they are atheists?

 

[Che Guava]

Well don't come crying to the religious if you PO some other religious group for burning their holy scripture that they hold dear to . I higly disagree with you since I place sacred scripture up on the same playing field as regular books. It's not because I am biased for religion, its that I just find the act of buring books for no reason distasteful.

And yes, I am a bibliophile (aka. Bookworm, avid reader of books. NOT to be confused with bible thumper).

Well, I see your point, but I feel the need to point out that a religious text is more than a book: it is a symbol, a testament to faith that is indivisible from its adherents as long as they still exist. I mean, a flag is nothing but a retangular rag, but we treat them with reverence because of the meaning they have.

Burning books is a disgrace and a waste of time and matches. Burning a symbol of faith, nationality or culture for the explicit purpose of infuriating someone else is counter-productive and just plain disrespectful. Doing both at once is just.....silly.

 

[aneeshm]

Where in the article does it say they are atheists?

The DK is an atheist organisation. Hell, the founder of the thing used to garland statues of the Hindu Avatar Rama with footwear!

 

[silver 2039]

The DK is an atheist organisation. Hell, the founder of the thing used to garland statues of the Hindu Avatar Rama with footwear!

Thats cool. I didn't think there were any atheist politcal organzations in India.... where do I join?

 

[aneeshm]

Thats cool. I didn't think there were any atheist politcal organzations in India.... where do I join?

They're also virulently anti-Brahmin.