‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Upsets Hindu Group

[Kean]

I understand combating intolerance, but this case in point isn't even that. It's nitpicking to such an extent that I have to really wonder if this guy is being straight up or not. And if he is, then he seems more than a little unrealistic. There's nothing wrong with promoting religious tolerance and respect. I think that's great. But essentially demanding the entire world to appreciate your beliefs in the same way you do is not only ridiculous, but, in it's own way, intolerant as well. I'm not saying it's cool to rip on people's beliefs, it isn't at all, but throwaway lines like this garnering this level of attention just make me roll my eyes.

Countering missteps like this, even you can even call them that, don't make me want to "stop getting it wrong". They make me angry. I have things that I very strongly believe in (none are religious), but I understand and respect the fact that they're unique to me, and that they don't carry weight with other people. I also respect the fact that other people are free to disagree with what I believe in any way they choose.

I know I'm making a way bigger deal out of this than it deserves, but it's just so representative to me of one of the fundamental problems of cross-sectional faith today. You can think they're wrong, but to believe you have the right to tell people what they can and can't say because of a religion you believe absolutely reeks of arrogance to me.

I don't disagree with you. To be honest, I don't really have feelings one way or another on the specific issue of the joke. I'm more interested in this whole thing of speaking out against perceived intolerance, and even more interested in different people's reactions to it. My own reactions to similar types of situations have often been quite visceral and I always wonder why that is. This time around, I happen to not particularly care but the next time I could be like you and quite pissed off by the mere suggestion of reproach.

 

[The Bronze]

Ergh religion. All the texts etc. are written / made up by people with no better idea of the meaning of life than anyone else. Take your pick between there's a creative force and we're here by design or we're all here through chance. Then keep that pick to yourself and find out when you die. These people complaining about how their religion is depicted make me so angry. First rule of TV is if you don't like it, then don't watch it. The arrogance of these people thinking that because something is sacred to them anyone else should give a shit is unbelievable.

Any one of us is capable of inventing our own religion with it's own rules and sacred things. Picture the world with billions of people complaining about the way their brand of nonsense is depicted.

 

[OFAWB]

I've been thinking about this thread, and would like to claify my earlier statements...

I respect/disrespect all religions equally, and I certainly do not think they should be outlawed. It's interesting that this article was written just the other day and I responded to it then. This morning, I attended some dear friends' wedding in a Hindu temple, and I was even asked to participate in the ceremony, which I considered an honor.

Mainly, I respect people's RIGHT to be religious. I do not, however, think that religious people (or anyone, for that matter) have the right to avoid the taking of offense. True freedom of speech is more important than anyone's feelings, as beautiful and true as any religion may seem.

 

[VisionGirl]

Hmm, so this beings up a big question about when free speech crosses the line into intolerance or even hate speech? I'm not saying that the line from SHIELD did that, I'm just thinking about the bigger point.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

Hmm, so this beings up a big question about when free speech crosses the line into intolerance or even hate speech? I'm not saying that the line from SHIELD did that, I'm just thinking about the bigger point.

I am not a fan of hate speech laws. Some time ago, there was a medical researcher who published a paper showing that orientals were missing an enzyme that digests alcohol. Harmless enough. The oriental community didn't have any objection. But the native American community was split down the middle - one group said that this should be suppressed because it would mean that there was a good excuse to exclude native Americans from good jobs whereas another group said that it should be published so that native American groups could be allocated more money based on a known medical disability. The veracity of the research was never challenged by either group. The assumption by native Americans that they were regarded as orientals was never established either. In Buffy Season 7, Chao-An says that she is lactose intolerant like most orientals. Is that intolerance or hate speech about her own race? It seems like no one challenged that, even though it is a statement in the same category: medical differences between races.

I believe in the old adage that it is better to remain quiet and be considered a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt. I don't mind free speech for the lunatic fringe - it only serves to publicize that they are idiots and worthy of contempt. The hate speech laws drive this underground so that people will hear their message where they are not exposed to the contrary opinion.

 

[Blaze]

Hmm, so this beings up a big question about when free speech crosses the line into intolerance or even hate speech? I'm not saying that the line from SHIELD did that, I'm just thinking about the bigger point.

I think the difference is that SHIELD mentioned a belief. The thing is, a belief is arbitrary (as long as it doesn't hurt someone else eg: someone having a belief to hates all gays isn't a belief because it's a direct attack to someone else's life). In this example, the Hindu groups are completely allowed to believe in their God, as it benefits them and doesn't hurt anyone else. But I'm also allowed to believe that all Gods come from and alien species if I want, the same way it doesn't hurt anyone to believe that.

If the show would have attacked the Hindu group themselves, than that is hate and it would have been completely justifiable for them to get mad. For example, saying: "Hindu's are wrong to believe in their God because he doesn't exhist" might be intolerant, because who are you to dictates the beliefs of others. but saying "I don't believe in said God" is not intolerant of hateful, it just means that you believe something different. What they did in SHIELD was not an attack on anyone's religion, and really could have been said about any God.

I totally get your point, but to me intolerance of hate is when you target someone or a group of people based on their beliefs or who they are, but I don't think this was the case here.

 

[OFAWB]

I don't like hate speech laws, either.

 

[Blaze]

I think the issue is that hate speech laws are needed. The system might be broken, but there's a very good reason those laws are in place. If you're saying downright hateful things, than no you should in no way have freedom of speech. I think the issue is when the lines are blurred. The example Ethan Reigns gave is a good example where there's actually no hate in that paper, only facts that are crucial for medical development, I would not characterize that as a hate speech at all (I study drug design and work as a chemist, and those are things that we should and need to know). But all in all, I think hate speech laws are needed.

 

[The Scourge]

Other cultures Gods may be alien (like Stargate), but you will NEVER hear the show even mention the possibility that Jesus was an alien.

Jesus was the giant elephant in the room on the Stargate franchise. lol

Also, Supernatural is lucky it is so obscure that the mainstream hasn't really picked up on it or they'd be really upset at the way religion is portrayed. The fact that no one watches the CW has really helped it avoid such nonsense. The only controversy SPN had was P Diddy going crazy when we were trending [HASHTAG]#LuciferRising[/HASHTAG] on twitter and thinking we were all satanists and getting his followers to trend [HASHTAG]#GodIsHere[/HASHTAG].

 

[Black Eye Guy]

Other cultures Gods may be alien (like Stargate), but you will NEVER hear the show even mention the possibility that Jesus was an alien.

Jesus was the giant elephant in the room on the Stargate franchise. lol

Also, Supernatural is lucky it is so obscure that the mainstream hasn't really picked up on it or they'd be really upset at the way religion is portrayed. The fact that no one watches the CW has really helped it avoid such nonsense. The only controversy SPN had was P Diddy going crazy when we were trending #LuciferRising on twitter and thinking we were all satanists and getting his followers to trend #GodIsHere.

I dont think it's that they haven't noticed yet, I just dont think they are arsed to complain unless it gets them a big stage. They only do it for the publicity, Religious groups tend to be very attention seeking.

 

[Whitefang]

It was a harmless joke and made not to be taken seriously. I think they're overreacting imo. 🙄