The UN-Chosen One...

[magnavox_23]

I laughed when I read that more Americans were planning to boycott the new Harry Potter film now that Daniel Radcliffe has come out as an Atheist. Gee, I wonder where they got that information - their tv from China, their computer from Microsoft?

Better be careful, those godless vibes will be projected quite strongly from cinema screens, showering the audience with heathenish thoughts and rays of pure evil!

Good on him anyway, I only wish politicians had the balls to do the same thing, then we wouldn't have all that religious bias weighing down on equal rights, health and freedoms issues.

I should be going to see the film next week. I didn't read the books (a little long winded (not Stephanie Meyer long winded, but still :P)) but I have enjoyed the films. And Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint did some excellent interviews on Rove last night.

Comments

[callygal1.livejournal.com]

More Americans? Did we americans boycott it before? The only people I knew about where the peope that are like "ohhh no witchcraft!" I had a boss that wouldn't watch it cause of that reason. *rolls eyes*
Who cares what his religion, beliefs ect are?? His work should speak for itself! I'm not going to stop watching Tom Cruise or John Travolttat's movies or boycott them because I don't agree with Scientology.

Just wanna say I'm american but I'm not that stupid!

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

More Americans? Did we americans boycott it before? The only people I knew about where the peope that are like "ohhh no witchcraft!" I had a boss that wouldn't watch it cause of that reason. *rolls eyes*

Heh, yeah that's who I was referring to. Mostly the Fundies decrying evil and witchcraft with all their other nonsense.

Who cares what his religion, beliefs ect are?? His work should speak for itself! I'm not going to stop watching Tom Cruise or John Travolttat's movies or boycott them because I don't agree with Scientology.

Agreed. I'm also an extremely picky film goer, I rarely watch movies unless they have one of my favourite actors in them. :P

Just wanna say I'm american but I'm not that stupid!

Of course not. Please don't take what I'm saying to apply to all Americans (or all religious people). We don't think you're all bible thumping, gun toting wackos. I was in this case referring to those who let their religion obscure common sense and reality. ;)

[callygal1.livejournal.com]

I know honey though Lord knows we have enough of the crazy bible thumpers in this country.. Who I would like to strangle incidentally.

Not that my boss wasn't a good person. he was, but he also left one of our coworkers weddings because there was alcohol at the reception.. I guess that's ok I mean it's against ur beliefs, but to actively boycott a movie/a book/whatever because of what the person who's in it believes?? Why get that involved anyway? It's entertainment for crying out loud. Not a personal crusade... that's what those people do though, they make it one.

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

I know honey though Lord knows we have enough of the crazy bible thumpers in this country.. Who I would like to strangle incidentally.

They can bible thump as much as they want IMO, as long as their actions are not at the detriment of anyone else. I welcome the free exchange of ideas, but it's a two way street, and sadly, the Atheist or non-believer and to some extent the moderate voice is drowned out all too often. (Although the moderate enabler is for another discussion, heh.)

Not that my boss wasn't a good person. he was, but he also left one of our coworkers weddings because there was alcohol at the reception.

I have seen alot of good people warped by bogus ideas. Was he offended by the presence of alcohol or because there was nothing else to drink?

Not a personal crusade... that's what those people do though, they make it one.

All this business kinda reminds me of Maggie from Little Britain who tends to have an adverse reaction to anything against her beliefs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aKrBrjpKWE

hehehe...

[callygal1.livejournal.com]

that's one hell of an adverse reaction roflmao! I had to cover my eyes from teh puking lol!
well, I tell you if you aren't aware of the Phelps family or Westboro Baptist Church... everyone should be warned about people like this.

This woman is bugfuck nuts as is everyone in her family and to see the way they brainwash their kids is soo sad. Just click on anything they show about her and you can't turn away it's just sickly fascinating how crazy the bitch is ; Christians like her scare the hell outta me.. really

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Shirely+Phelps&search_type=&aq=f

[callygal1.livejournal.com]

oh yeah and she is hurting people. Picketing soldiers funerals and yelling obscene things at hte families... makes me ill.

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

I know all about the Phelps. I also saw this documentary on them by Louis Theroux 'The most hated family in America'(2007) wherein they allowed him to follow them around for a week and see how they operate. Quite similar to any other cult really. Peter Phelps acts all mysterious and hides away most of the time, everyone else in the family hang on his every word. Clearly alot of brainwashing from a very early age going on there.

One of the things that disgusted me the most was during one of their picketings, signs and all, on the side of the road, some guys in a car threw a bottle as Shirley's 4 year old son's head as he carried a sign stating that god hates gay soldiers or whatever.

Not only is he being mentally abused by his family, but his mother is also setting him up for physical abuse from the outside world. It's scary to think what that child is going to turn into.

[callygal1.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've seen that documentary. Have you seen the one Michael Moore did where he went around the old man with the bus of sodom? LOL. I also have seen that video where that poor little poor was hit while spewing hate that the family has taught him.

really very very sad circumstances. One keeps hoping that something will break their cycle of hate.

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the Michael Moore one. What's it called?

The Phelps' situation is an odd one, because the majority of the church are members of the one family. So unless there's 2-3 outsiders brought into the church every generation, I don't see them lasting very long anyway.

Their hate mongering has also been spread by the media - these documentaries and all the news reports (there's this one interview where Shirley blows up at a Fox news reporter, they both lose their shit, funny stuff) serve to give Fred Phelps a much louder voice on these issues than he obviously deserves.

[callygal1.livejournal.com]

here is the michael moore one it's soo funny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra_fAYl4Th4

I agree, the media gives them way more of an outlet to be heard yet at the same time i think the public should be aware that there are people like this and that something needs to be done about it. i've watched nearly all the vids on them and it was amazing this british reporter that interviewed them over a period of time almost almost managed to get through to Shirley.. it gave me hope.. but the old man has got to go *strangles him*

lol

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

lol @ the video. Kinda reminds me of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

[sparkysluvchild.livejournal.com]

Haha. Awesome!
"Hermione's eyes widen as Ron pulls out his wand" hahaha!

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. That just made me think, someone is going to make a porno version of Harry Potter some day, if they haven't already.

"Oh Harry, put your wand in my chamber of secrets!"

[dannysgirlsg1.livejournal.com]

There is the vid on youtube: Harry Potter and the Brokeback Goblet...funny little parody if you haven't seen it yet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9D0veHTxh0

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

Heh, oh dear. Actually, it's pretty well edited, puts my SG one to shame. :P

[dannysgirlsg1.livejournal.com]

What's funny is they're boycotting the movie b/c he's an Atheist, but they can completely overlook the fact that the whole story is about witchcraft!

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

There's an odd little section of the religious community that thinks that it doesn't matter what you believe in, as long as you believe in *something*. Therefore us Atheists are the worst kind of scum because we have no sense of moral guidance from whatever 'higher power'. Clearly I am out raping and pillaging all the time, and care for no one and nothing with my godless ways.

Witchcraft, well at least that's something. There may not be some anthropomorphic god around, but I suppose it could be classed as supernatural worship in a way. Giving ones self over to the supernatural nature of magic.

[mslogica.livejournal.com]

I will be going to see it because I have a girl-crush on Emma Watson. Actually, not so much of a crush as I want to be her. She is totally awesome.

hehe. I forget how seriously Americans take religion (I mean generally as a nation, not as individuals - I'm sure lots of you are quite sane!). The news that Daniel Radcliffe is an atheist didn't even make news here (until you mentioned it I had no idea, but I've just googled it and a couple of papers casually mentioned it). I think we'd be more shocked if he came out as a christian. We really don't feel comfortable talking about religion!

Actually, I saw this poll that the bbc did once and 80% of Brits find talking about God uncomfortable.

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Emma Watson, there's a pic over at atheism comparing her facial features to those of Richard Dawkins. It's most certainly photoshopped, but the original image is in there somewhere and they do look quite similar anyway.

The news that Daniel Radcliffe is an atheist didn't even make news here (until you mentioned it I had no idea, but I've just googled it and a couple of papers casually mentioned it).

Probably because like you said, America tends to take religion alot more seriously. And alot of the time, the loudest religious voice coming from the US that we hear is that of the fundamentalists, literalists and what have you.

I doubt his Atheism will effect any large number of movie going patrons, but like I said to dannysgirlsg1 there is that small cross section of the religious community that see Atheism as worst possibly sin.

Actually, I saw this poll that the bbc did once and 80% of Brits find talking about God uncomfortable.

I'm not surprised. From what I have seen, when having their faith questioned, religious people struggle with coming up with a reasonable explanation as to why they believe, given that there is no evidence to support it and are basing it only on faith, or because that's what they were bought up to believe etc etc. Same for the 'my god vs your god' debates.

[mslogica.livejournal.com]

I don't think Brits feel uncomfortable talking about god for fearing of having a debate. I think it's more that we don't really consider religion a suitable topic of conversation in most circles. It's a private matter and should be treated as such.

To employ a cliche, it's probably part of our British reserve...

I don't really know why I say 'we' there - I'm not even a proper Brit, and I don't find talking about god uncomfortable! In fact, I take great interest in it!

(I'm an atheist.)

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

I think it's more that we don't really consider religion a suitable topic of conversation in most circles.

I can see where you're coming from. But, as personal as religion is for some folks (and the ones that wants to keep it to themselves, that's completely ok by me), when that religion is affecting other people - and this is mostly in a negative way and mixed in with politics :P, then I don't see the problem with talking about religion in a social forum. Religion does not deserve to stand above discussion, be it a debate or a friendly exchange of ideas/beliefs etc.