Shame on... this
 

Stephen was funny, but his views on God are genuine and his religious views should have been respected. It says a lot about certain people that they don't respect the religious views of others. That kind of attitude and lack of tolerance is what breeds extremism and hatred.

Laugh all you want but it's that kind of laughing and intolerance that causes terrorism against intolerant societies.

People need to stop making assumptions about the viewers - and the posters on here - based on the housemates they do or don't support.

Posts deleted. Back on-topic?

I absoloutely agree.

Also we don't need to respect others religious beliefs. Not at all. Who says we do?

rlmao.

The topic being the OP. Thanks James.

Okay then, give me a reason why I should respect others religious beliefs. I don't have to. There is no legal reason as to why I have to. I despise all organised religions and feel no reason to respect it. You want to oppose that?

I think we should respect beliefs too. As long as no one is forcing anything in your face, what's the problem? Live and let live!

Stephen "found God" only 8 years ago.

If ever anyone has "the zeal of the converted" it is Stephen. He is totally OTT about his new-found religion rather than just quietly getting on with it AND respecting the fact that not everyone wants his religion thrust in their faces.

That is why he is laughed at - and deservedly so.

Well said Girlinstatic. That's the point. Respect for the beliefs of others no matter what your faith is. Only someone with no respect for themselves wouldn't understand that.

Stephen is not being laughed at for his beliefs but for his thrusting of them in other people's faces.

There is a BIG difference!

For what he has done he thoroughly deserves to be laughed at!

The point is not whether Stephen was right to preach or not. And he was funny, but he also doesn't take himself too seriously and that is part of what makes him a good guy.

The point is that certain people have reacted badly to Stephen's Christianity itself. It's as if they are scared of someone like Stephen having such a strong faith. Maybe it just makes them realise the fear they have of having no faith (or anything of their own) to believe in?

Steven found the American version of AA much much longer ago. If you examime the mantra it is very close to a religion in itself. I believe this is where he got into mindset which led him to be Born Again and quite a fundamentalist.

Bullshit. The whole reason I despise organised religion is because I have respect for myself. Again, I ask you, on what grounds should we respect others religions? It's fully within my right to not respect what others believe. I don't expect them to respect what I believe.

Why should I respect The Bible, for instance, when it has no respect for some of the things that I believe in? What about that? Why should I respect a faith that has no respect for me?

This topic is not about what or why Stephen found his faith. It is about why certain people are so afraid of a person with strong faith that they have to deride it.

Even Stephen did funny things to make people laugh. That isn't the point.

Stephen should be admired for having such a strong faith. Especially in a world where many only have 'faith' in their next mobile phone or computer game.

Sure it's not in the law, but it is just the decent thing to do. No one is asking you to embrace it, but laughing at people because you disagree with something is just immature. I personally don't agree with preaching but Stephen obviously has reason to believe in what he does, and he obviously finds immense comfort in it, why should we poke fun of that!?

And who said people fear his faith?

More assumptions.

Assumptions assumptions assumptions.

Your nothing but it.

A very good point. He probably slipped seamlesly from AA to JC. ;)

Many Christians have not reacted well to Stephen's behaviour. Evangelism of his type is felt by some to actually bring Christianity into disrepute.

Thank you Girlinstatic. Couldn't have said it better.

Just wsh they'd had a fundamentalist Muslin in - would whack job have made them bless the meals or say amen? Where was the respect for aethiests as well?

Who said I'm poking fun at it? I just don't respect it. Why should I? Give me a reason why? The Bible has no respect for what I am or what I believe in. Why should I have respect for something I believe to be a fable just because some people believe in it?

I see where you are coming from but I don't have to respect something just because people believe in it, mate.

I wouldn't say 'many', a few may have. But that is just because British people are always a bit less likely to be outwardly showy in their belief's. That is more of a cultural difference rather than their disagreement with his faith.

Respect for others is about having respect for yourself and the world you live in.

Christians I have spoken to, including churchgoing members of my own family, have generally found Stephen's OTT proselytising rather cringeworthy.

Maybe in the US it is run of the mill, but there are a high proportion of religious nutters over there anyway! Lol! :D

Like I said, I think you should respect the fact that it gives thousands of people all over the world comfort and something to live for. Having a strong belief in something can be empowering and can even drag some people out of the gutter. The bible would comdemn what I am too, but I still am not judgemental to those who have that faith.