[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Why is it disrespectful to say that you think Satan is fiction if you genuinely think that? There's actually alot of religious people who don't believe in Satan either

I think it is disrespectful because if people have that strong belief then it is not fiction to them and if someone does have a strong faith,unless you ask them, you will not know for sure if they do not believe in a devil, Satan or whatever..

Fine to say such things to someone you know not to have such faith but to say it in the presence of others, not knowing what they all believe or what faith they have or even if they have no faith at all.
Is disrespectful.

Anyway, indicating someone is a spawn of Satan or a Devil, is indicating they are pure evil,now evil is a word I would use to describe actions of ISIS or really cruel Dictators.
As bad as any of the people in that house is,none of them justify,in a calm pre meditated way to be described as 'evil', whatever the form used as to it.
Just as equally, the terms used in strong anger by Helen towards Brian were also disrespectful inmy view.

Religion is a touchy subject,one best avoided, however to those with strong religious beliefs such terms are not fiction to them.

You have no belief so to you it is fiction,I respect that.
I have a kind of belief still,so I would however choose to be careful myself how I termed anything of a religious element both with people I know for sure who have a strong faith and also around people I know nothing about who are in earshot.
I see that myself as respecting others no matter how different in any way they may be to me.