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[ChairmanPoo]

Worth noting that no major media outlet has reported the story.

[Rolan7]

I didn't mean to imply that the kids weren't seized, just that it shouldn't be a religious issue.  The parents are accused of physical abuse (along with indoctrination).  I don't reflexively hate Christians, I hate that Christians are reflexively coming to this couple's defense.

If this was an atheist couple, or Islamic, would so many Christians presume their innocence?  It's disgusting because they're *using* Christianity.

And *also* because it's feeding into the myth of persecution of Christians in the first world, but we probably won't see eye to eye there.

[Lagslayer]

I didn't mean to imply that the kids weren't seized, just that it shouldn't be a religious issue.  The parents are accused of physical abuse (along with indoctrination).  I don't reflexively hate Christians, I hate that Christians are reflexively coming to this couple's defense.

If this was an atheist couple, or Islamic, would so many Christians presume their innocence?  It's disgusting because they're *using* Christianity.

And *also* because it's feeding into the myth of persecution of Christians in the first world, but we probably won't see eye to eye there.

I don't believe we will.

[ChairmanPoo]

   does anybody here actually  believe christianity is a persecuted religion in the first world?

[Descan]

Maybe the weird Christians. Like Mormons.

[Mr. Strange]

And Jehovan Witnessess. Ridiculed, at least.

[ChairmanPoo]

I don't regard not opening the door to would-be-preachers as oppression.

[Lagslayer]

Does anyone here actually believe the government approved media isn't pushing an agenda on you?

[Rolan7]

Article makes a bit more sense now that I know that Norway has a zero-tolerance policy towards "corporal punishment"... IE spanking and such.

Which I dunno, seems a bit extreme, but explains what happened.  Had nothing to do with their religion, they're just trying to get Christians on their side and paint themselves as victims of religious persecution.

...  Probably because they hope it'll work :/  I am a bit sad for them now, *assuming* the physical punishment was minor.  They're still taking advantage of other Christians but I can't really blame them.

[Neonivek]

And *also* because it's feeding into the myth of persecution of Christians in the first world, but we probably won't see eye to eye there.

It isn't QUITE a myth, but it isn't exactly true either... like everything in life, its complicated.

Mind you it has a LOT to do with the fact that judging or depicting religion is considered Faux Pas... so it has become taboo (suddenly breaking out in prayer at a restaurant might get you looks ). Especially in light that it can be seen as indoctrinating people of other religions.

So the shift from religious characters to "don't show religion at all costs" is often seen as prosecution. Especially since whenever religion is brought up it is only to parody/satire/besmirch it.

It isn't something Uniquely Christian anyway... and a lot of the complaints can be summed as "We don't control the world anymore WAAAAH!"

Article makes a bit more sense now that I know that Norway has a zero-tolerance policy towards "corporal punishment"... IE spanking and such.

I bet it is specific types of Corporal Punishment. Since corporal punishment only requires some form of physicality and some people have found that basically tapping a child's hand works even if no pain is transmitted

[MaximumZero]

WorldNetDaily (the first article linked,) has a long history of nutjob conspiracy theory "reporting." They point-blank admit to running misinformation in their paper here. If you're going to cite sources, please make sure they're reputable.

[Bauglir]

Does anyone here actually believe the government approved media isn't pushing an agenda on you?

they sure are, but part of that agenda is the idea that christians are widely persecuted so i don't really know what to say here

edit: Sorry, I should clarify. This post is a bit tongue-in-cheek - I'm not actually too into the idea that the media is skewing the news to suit a political or cultural agenda so much as to generate the most clickbait. But the people who most strongly disagree with your understanding of Christianity's social status will definitely agree that the media is pushing an agenda, but they'll think it's your agenda.

also edit: and i guess i am of the opinion that your agenda gets more clicks, but it's certainly not the only way to fuel the fires of the modern news cycle and i'll happily admit my preferred perspectives get plenty of biased reporting in their favor too

[Lagslayer]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Does anyone here actually believe the government approved media isn't pushing an agenda on you?

they sure are, but part of that agenda is the idea that christians are widely persecuted so i don't really know what to say here

edit: Sorry, I should clarify. This post is a bit tongue-in-cheek - I'm not actually too into the idea that the media is skewing the news to suit a political or cultural agenda so much as to generate the most clickbait. But the people who most strongly disagree with your understanding of Christianity's social status will definitely agree that the media is pushing an agenda, but they'll think it's your agenda.

also edit: and i guess i am of the opinion that your agenda gets more clicks, but it's certainly not the only way to fuel the fires of the modern news cycle

Way I figure, it's what direction everything is moving in, not what the media portrays the situation as. Regardless of who gets put in office, regardless of what rhetoric they spout, everything keeps moving in the same direction. This would imply that any opposition among major media players is controlled opposition, an easy feat when 94%+ of it is controlled by a mere 6 mega corporations. Anything smaller is "just printing conspiracy theories".

[Bauglir]

It might also imply that opposition among major media players doesn't control the outcomes you expect, is the thing. For what it's worth, it seems to me that the direction in question isn't one that's bad for Christians so much as it is good for everyone else, and when it comes to tolerance it's definitely not a zero-sum game. But I don't see persecution of Christians going up, I just see other groups getting screwed less.

[Lagslayer]

It might also imply that opposition among major media players doesn't control the outcomes you expect, is the thing. For what it's worth, it seems to me that the direction in question isn't one that's bad for Christians so much as it is good for everyone else, and when it comes to tolerance it's definitely not a zero-sum game. But I don't see persecution of Christians going up, I just see other groups getting screwed less.

I disagree. Though it may not be written into law, media is pushing a general culture of hostility against Christians. You can talk shit and bash Christians all you want and nobody bats an eye (except the previously mentioned "fundies" and "conspiracy theorists"), but if you make fun of any other religion, you get shouted down, or charged with hate speech or some other phony charge. If you make fun of muslims, you get fired because nobody wants to be blown up or shot. If you make fun of some pagan religion or nature religion, you're a bigot who's persecuting natives. If you criticize an "eastern" religion, you're an unenlightened, close-minded bigot with bad vibes. If you criticize the Jews, the government will shut you down personally.