< I also though know that it would be complicated to implement what your
asking.
Not complicated at all, and in fact it is something necessary. Freedom of
expression is something essential but as a lawyer I also know that any
freedom has the limit of respecting the rights of others. Only in this case
can a tolerant and free society exist. "My freedom ends where the freedom of
others ends". If this cannot be enforced freedom that not exist. In this case
the collision is against Freedom of religion.
< I would also add though Christianity has been misused ALOT...
I understand why they are skeptical, given the nature of people like hitler
and the crusades, etc,
It happens that in an institution like the Church having more than 2000 years
there have been very big errors made by people who clearly has abused . I
would also like to point out that Hitler was not Christian, he was a pagan
whose main aim was to destroy Christianity as it was completely opposed of
Nazi's ideas. This all is well documented in the pagan rituals of the SS. If
Hitler some time procured to get well with Christianity was just for the
purpose of regaining the power and not finding another adversary in the
opposition of billion people around the world if he declared his ideas
openly. That is the reason why having the control of Rome and willing to
kidnap the Pope he never dared to do so and he always respected that one of
the limits of his power was to respect the limits of Vatican City.
With regards to the errors that the Church as an institution may have done
through History, as being composed of men with passions and errors and others
that have clearly abused of Christianity for the sake of power, I need to
point out that all the recent Pope's have ask forgiveness for all the errors
that the Church and Christianity overall may have done in the past.
On the other side Christianity has built Western civilization: creating the
first universities, providing the first charitable organisations, the first
hospitals, the first social assistance, supporting the education of poor
people, etc... Although achieved through revolutionary means many of them,
all the freedoms that we all enjoy in the Western world are just a
consequence of the secularisation of the Christian way of thinking. They
could have never happen per se, as it has never been the case, in the context
of any other culture.
I understand that people just got a first impression about something
regarding the bad things, but those things really does not represent what
Christianity is about. If they really want to learn to appreciate
Christianity they should have an eye towards the life of the saints or to the
great achievements that Christianity has achieved in History on behalf of
Humanity.
< Stallman is an atheist also by the way...
As the Holy Father recently said, God is ok with people being atheist if they
really think in their hearts that is the Truth and they try to live life
being better persons in accordance with what they hearlty think it is the
Truth.
< Sometimes people need to see a light for a long period of
time to change.
I have no problem with that but in the meantime they do not need to be
purposely offensive towards the religion of others. Making fun about
Christianity may be easy as long as Christianity is a religion of tolerance
which does preach having love for opponent to it, but I am just curious if
they would dare to do also with regards to other religions? I don't think so.
On the other side I do not expect anyone "to change" as you said after a
period of time. For me it is enough everyone believes in what he/she truly
thinks it is the Truth in this life (including atheism), respecting all
others and trying to be good persons.
< We need to not be easily offended, revenge is the Lord's as God has said.
I do not have revenge against anyone I just ask for respect towards religious
feelings of people ... Not just for my religion, but for all.
