(Submitter's note: This is Birmingham, England as opposed to Birmingham, Alabama - although you'd be forgiven for thinking it's the latter!)
A city council has blocked its staff from looking at websites about atheism.
Lawyers at the National Secular Society said the move by Birmingham City Council was "discriminatory" and they would consider legal action.
The rules also ban sites that promote witchcraft, the paranormal, sexual deviancy and criminal activity.
The authority's Bluecoat Software computer system allows staff to look at websites relating to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and other religions but blocks sites to do with "witchcraft or Satanism" and "occult practices, atheistic views, voodoo rituals or any other form of mysticism".
46 comments
Now, doesn't the UK have a state religion? Is there a right to freedom of religion there?
If there is no such right in the UK, do national religious laws trump local religious laws?
Hmm... seems to me it would be better to just let people practice whatever religion they choose to practice, or none at all, if they so choose. Seems like it would be a lot easier. Either that or block all religions equally.
@ Razark
In name only, the state religion is Christianity, since the queen is (again in name only) head of the Church of England.
However we have several laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of religion, in addition to the European Convention of Human Rights which guarentees freedom of belief.
There are, however, a few blasphemy laws left on the books, but they are due for reformation. There hasn't been a public prosecution since the 1920's though.
I am outraged. Not only at the discrimination, but why are city council staff looking at religious websites anyway? They are there to do a job, my taxes pay their wages! (Well, not really since I live in NZ, but still...)
Oh no! I can't look at that website! It makes me doubt my faith![/sarcasm]
Honestly, if you were set in your faith, Christian or otherwise, you'd be able to go on a website without it wavering.
@James
Thank you for that.
"However we have several laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of religion, in addition to the European Convention of Human Rights which guarentees freedom of belief."
In that case, Birmingham can fuck off.
And just HOW are "Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and other religions" not forms of mysticism again? (That is, what makes one thing "mysticism" and another thing not other than some people saying that one superstition is credible and another isn't?)
Birmingham isn't a bad place. There are Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Christians, agnostics, atheists... It's pretty much live and let live.
The City Council, on the other hand, are a bunch of loons terrified of giving offence where there is none to be taken.
A few years ago these buffoons tried to ban Christmas and replace it with something called - get this - Winterval.
Everybody thought they were wankers.
I'm glad to see Brummies' council tax is being used on such useful internet-censoring technology.
@ Metatron
Yes, but this is the first time I've seen us behave like we have one, generally you wouldn't guess most of the time, especially since our laws generally don't allow this kind of crap. Also if this was completely about state religion they would have banned all non-CofE sites.
Before the yanks get too smug about this you guys should probably remember which country most of the quotes on this site originate from.
"witchcraft or Satanism" and "occult practices, voodoo rituals or any other form of mysticism".
The above has absolutely nothing to do with atheism? I would've thought they would ban science.com, wikipedia, britanica and richarddawkins dot net?
Sure some Satanists are actually not worshiping a god, or anything, and claim to be atheists (According to Mr Gilmore). The title "Satanist" is a little misleading.
If they really wanted to ban something of a sexual deviant nature, ban anything Ted Haggard...mmkay :D
The "state Religion" in England is the Church of England or Anglican Church as it is known outside the UK. The head is nominaly the Queen and bishops from the church have several seats in the House of Lords (parliaments second chamber).
In reality most people are secular and don't give a flying f about peoples religion as long as they don't shout about it. We have several openly atheist politicians and anyone espousing any religious view in public is seen by most people as a loon and quietly ignored.
Unfortunately some councils (of which Birmingham is one) have bought into this whole paranoia of "offence", "tolerance" and "respect" no matter how outlandish some views are to the majority (the more outlandish the better). Unfortunately in doing so, they forget to show the same to the majority itself; regulary shooting their own foot.
The good news is that this has been challenged already since it would appear to be a clear breach of anti discrimination legislation which, amongst other things, makes it an offence to discriminate against ANY religion or against any person of no religion.
(The even better news is that those idiots at Conservadickia think this sort of ban is a good idea whilst blathering on about the right to free speech.....a right which only appears to apply if its xians making the speech! But what the hell, that conservaduckia for you!)
@ Onoma:
Over the long run, Britain would be a lousy choice for relocation (at least, for a non-Muslim) because it's being taken over by brutish Islamist fundies who are far more extreme than the fundies in this country. The British are apparently going to keep capitulating to these violent thugs until they end up under Sharia Law. Watch Pat Condell's commentaries or read the book "Londonistan" and you'll see what I mean.
Odds are, the initial idea was to do something about websites that promote "criminal activities", though I'm unsure what they're referring to by that. While it's not a terrible initial idea, it may have gotten distorted beyond recognition when people started trying to be specific about what was getting banned.
Then again, that's assuming they're not just a bunch of idiots, which is certainly possible, as far as I know.
We do have an established Church in England, but there are also laws that ban discrimination on religious grounds, not to mention the European Convention on Human Rights. I'm pretty sure this is illegal discrimination.
The authority's Bluecoat Software computer system allows staff to look at websites relating to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and other religions but blocks sites to do with "witchcraft or Satanism" and "occult practices, atheistic views, voodoo rituals or any other form of mysticism".
Don't pretty much all religions count as "mysticism"? Atheism sure as hell doesn't, despite their implication.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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