I made the point after watching those 2 progs doing sketches about Stephen's beliefs and thought how insulting. I also said they'd never have done the same if it had been a Muslim as that would be too hot to handle.

Yellow Rose, they wouldn't dare. The backlash would be too hot to handle.

Christians don't stand and be counted, just in the same way being English has been eroded and branded racist if you dare to fly the Cross of St. George. I am only assuming that we must be the group least likely to complain when discriminated against by councils etc.

Turning other cheeks etc...

Don't understand So you believe that the producers of BB feel it is ok to diss someones religious beliefs because they will turn the other cheek. Have I understood you correctly?

...and no, it wouldn't have happened if he was a Muslim/ Jew etc....

didn't see it. What did they do? 

Personally I think all religious faiths should be mocked as often as possible. If they can't take it they ain't worth it - not that any are as far as I am concerned. It's all bloody codswallop anyway.

Oh God!

Cariad, you obviously think so, hence your comments, but many don't and I think its not fair to single out one particular belief for riducle. Just my opinion

You could write in and suggest they do 10 hail mary's as a penance?

Your post count on this comment was 666....

I didn't see the sketches but I do agree that people find it an easy option to ridicule Christians but no others.

It doesn't really bother me as a Christian but I find it a shame that other faiths are not treated the same way. Surely you get Muslims that can take a joke too

Well I'll be damned

No one is above or beyond being questioned surely.
What a horrible world that would be.

No you haven't understood me correctly.

Ok Suzy, fair enough, but what did you mean?

Brisket, all I have asked was if it was ok to slag someone's religous beliefs, to riducle what they believe. I never ever suggested that no one was above being questioned. For me its just a matter or respect.

I meant just because other religions don't open themselves up to ridicule doesn't mean that Christianity should become (more) intolerant and sacrosant. Having a sense of humour and not being so precious and dogmatic means being more open to debate and dialogue. Turning the other cheek works for me.

Thanks for the response Suzy. I fully understand where you are coming from and was not at all trying to be contentious.

No worries Fairfax. Didn't think you were.

Hence my remark that ALL should be mocked as often as possible hon...any organised religious faith should be challenged at every conceivable opportunity. 

What frustrated me about Steven was that he comes from an environment where what he says is not challenged and no-one stood up and challenged him in the house. The dufus can't even get his evolutionary arguments right...

Anyway - he's on 8 Out of 10 cats right now. You might find Jimmy Carr even worse.

Hehehe...
Which would be funny except they've since realised that's yet another thing they got wrong in translation. It's 616 isn't it?

It suprises me that in today's day and age, people still believe in God at all.

I'm watching it Cariad..

Richard Dawkins wrote in the Times the other day about the Christian hypocrisy over Pat Robinson's comments regarding Haiti.  Someone commented there about how he doesn't go on anything like as much about Islam and probably wouldn't dare.  Which is right, I think, much as I like Dawkins' work.

In "The God Delusion" Dawkins doesn't "go on" more about Christianity than Islam.

He doesn't go on about any particular branch of religion - he's much more against  religion in general and the idea of a God - any god - and life after death etc. That could apply to any religion.
He DOES mention various aspects of Christianity but he also mentions Islamic beliefs too.
He is just against the idea of religion - ANY religion. And I agree with him.

Apologies - I haven't read the thread in it's entirety ....................I believe that anyone has the right to believe what they wish. Stephen was quite ridiculous IMo to push his beliefs in the way that he did. The OTT pious voice and manner in which he preached left himself wide open to ridicule and criticism ........................it really wasn't about the content .........it was the OTT way of presenting or rather pushing his beliefs ................it was toe curlingly cringey ............and I'm a Christian.

What is an Evangelist anyway?....

I know what you mean. but, as a catholic atheist, I find it reassuring. 

Me too! It's the cause of more arguments than enough! If there were no religion I think the world would be a better place  Each 'religion' thinking they're the best.

Personal thoughts, so just my opinion. BBLB and BBM created sketches and made condescending remarks or jokes about Stephen's belief, but that's not really my point as not all Christians may have found it offensive, we'll never know who did or didn't.


My thoughts have been about how different it would have been if he was Muslim, simply because of the political climate atm, so I cannot believe BB would have created the same scenarios if he was Muslim, especially after the Shilpa Shetty affair. Of course there will be Muslims who have a sense of humour so if similar jokes or sketches had been made re Muslim faith they would have laughed it off, so we can't generalise about anything or anyone. Religion has always caused divides and always will. Just thought it was ignorant of BB to try and make Stephen's beliefs a jokey part of their programmes instead of coming up with something more interesting.

I suppose a Muslim Fundy Mentalist, similar to Stephen, would have been made fun of, quite easily.

I think the Shilpa Shetty fiasco was about race rather than religion. IMO re Stephen - it wasn't so much about 'what' he was preaching - more 'how' ...................it made me cringe. I'd like to think - if a muslim. hindu, jew or wharever went about it in the same pious/ridiculous way they would have been mocked too ( i doubt it but) as I said before - it was nothing to do with the actual religious content - simply the way in which Stephen chose to deliver it.

True, soozy.

Cameron was a devout Christian, but nothing much was made of it, probably because he didn't accuse another housemate of being Satan!

I really liked Stephen, thought he was "fun", up to others whether they thought he was a "da mentalist" lol

I agree Rose.  The fact that Jade and her family were called White Trash by Shilpa and Jermaine Jackson was ignored. 
When she defended herself the Press turned on her.

You're probably right about the Shilpa scenario being about race rather than religion. I can also understand why the way Stephen shared his beliefs would irritate or whatever some people, I didn't react in the same way some would have because I went through all that some years ago. 


Some friends who'd never shown interest in religion before through certain circumstances became born again Christians. There came a time when I became a target because of my beliefs. They'd known me for some years so I was surprised that they became either wary of me or as they said worried for me because of my beliefs. I was the same person they'd always known but through their conversion they suddenly saw me differently which I found difficult and upsetting at times to deal with. A few years on from that now I'm still in touch with some of them and thankfully over the last few years acceptance has been reached on both sides, to me they're my friends even though we have a different belief system.

Didn't the media and BB poke fun at his Christian-based lack of in-the-pants action and rather boring, probably Christian-based, lifestyle?  Or was that just because he came from a remote Scottish isle like place thingy? 

i think there is an element of safety in ripping the piss out of tub thumping christians, and doubt it would happen  to  some one muslim or jewis.

having said that, if some one expounds their theories,beliefs  they should be questioned or ridiculed for it, a lot of stephen saying was utter drivel,so as far as i am concerned he put himself in the firing line for the potshots.

i really can't see a devout muslim putting themselves in the same place.

that comedian bloke from iran does though, but tis rare, and i don'6t know if he is devout or not.