Does religion deserve a free pass from criticism?

And how do we suppose to cure myriad social ills if we don't call out the source?
We shouldn't go easier on child molestors because they're "Catholic priests" and we shouldn't go easier on wife batterers because they think "all women are evil temptresses like Eve." Neither should we keep mum while AIDS sweeps parts of Africa because "the church doesn't believe in birth control."
Enough people. Enough! Call this crap out on the floor. People will get defensive, and that's just too bad.

Not Pat Robinson's religion.

No it does not deserve a free pass.

No. It is philosophy that supports an active agenda against strangers. That is RIPE for debate and criticism.

...........NO......................

Depends on the nature of the criticism.

The points you raise deserve our contempt.

No, because religion criticize those who don't believe.

Of course not. I'm not really sure why you're even asking this question.

No one & no institution deserves a free pass from legitimate criticism. No one & no institution deserves slander. Learn the difference.

That is stereotyping at its best.

OK, then don't get angry when I say things like 'I respect your inability to believe in god'. I really hocked off one of you guys by saying that, but isn't that what it is?

I don't think it does. but I'm not much a believer in the "sanctity of religion"-any of them.

That's not to say I don't have faith however!

Amen!

The trouble with Faith is that it cannot coexist with Reason. Either when the religious beliefs run into a conflict with the senses, or with the world of science, we must somehow accept incompatible ideas or we must choose. The number of intelligent people who attend church services regularly suggests that many people can live in a sort of schizophrenic reality, where the laws of nature operate at all times except when thinking religious thoughts. On the other hand, they pretend to believe both but really only believe one. However, some of us cannot do that, and we are asked to abdicate our intellects as to preserve the purity of the dogma. Arthur Schopenhauer, Religion: A Dialogue[9]

I think you are using religion as a crutch. ALL child molesters should be prosecuted and punished (let the punishment fit the crime) regardless if they are atheists or belong to some organized religion. The fact that they are not certainly is not the FAULT of any religion. Do you really think that the courts are going easier on wife batterers because of some religious belief? Aids is sweeping Africa because of lack of self control, or lack of education or many reasons,not because condoms are not used more often. Incidentally birth control takes many avenues, not just prophylactics.You need to get your head out of the ground and @$$ out of the air and look around and give more thought to the judgments you have. Have you an axe to grind with religion?

No free pass. All religions are not perfect look at the Muslims some kind thinking they have, they are nuts. Its not a peaceful religion. The list goes on and on
We need to keep Jesus in our hearts everyday and do the best we can. The Church doesn't believe in birth control they also believe one man and one woman only (married) the gays are responsible for the major spreading of the AIDS virus. We need to to pray for all of us who sin.

First off-I'm not catholic, so I won't even try to figure that one out, but I will say that any priests who are found to be child molesters don't get of easy.

Men who beat their wives (and wives who beat their husbands) will use whatever alibi they can grasp at, but I have never once heard of one quote the bible. And they certainly wouldn't get off easy if I were on the jury.

As far as Aids in Africa, the spread is due to the men there having unprotected sex with prostitutes, not because they are so religious, but because they feel it is unmanly or uncomfortable.

In all these instances, religion isn't really the cause. Quite the opposite, living an ungodly life actually seems to be the root cause of the issues you listed. In fact, if more people lived by the Bible, we'd have a lot less misery in the world.

So, you're saying religion causes ills?

That's a ridiculous assertion.

I do agree that child molesters, be they Catholic priests or not should be treated with equal disdain.

But, to blame the religion itself is not valid because there are plenty of non-religious wife beaters and child molesters out there.

The Catholic church also doesn't believe in sex out of wedlock, which has far more to do with the spread of AIDS than being against birth control.