bilby
Fair dinkum thinkum
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2007
- Messages
- 40,352
- Gender
- He/Him
- Basic Beliefs
- Strong Atheist
There are two completely separate issues here.
1) The locals don't want tourists wandering around naked.
2) The locals have an irrational belief that naked tourists cause earthquakes.
Issue number 2 is quite rightly generating mirth from the rationalists on this board. Claims about gods are laughable, and are often harmful. They should be, and are being, ridiculed.
Issue number 1 hasn't really been considered until the last few posts. The locals have a right to demand any standard of behaviour from tourists, for any reason (or for no reason) as long as they own the place. If it is their mountain, then they get to say who climbs it, and what conditions those climbers must agree to.
You can wander around naked all you like in your own place; but if you are in my house, or on my land, you have to obey my rules.
It really is that simple. No Gods need be invoked, and if they are, then that part of the complaint can and should be laughed out of court. That the courts (in Malaysia and elsewhere) take religious sensibilities into account is disgusting, and it is the duty of all reasonable people to object to them so doing. But if the owners of the mountain say 'you can climb it but you mustn't get naked up there', that is their right, and should be respected - without regard to their reasons for making that stipulation.
1) The locals don't want tourists wandering around naked.
2) The locals have an irrational belief that naked tourists cause earthquakes.
Issue number 2 is quite rightly generating mirth from the rationalists on this board. Claims about gods are laughable, and are often harmful. They should be, and are being, ridiculed.
Issue number 1 hasn't really been considered until the last few posts. The locals have a right to demand any standard of behaviour from tourists, for any reason (or for no reason) as long as they own the place. If it is their mountain, then they get to say who climbs it, and what conditions those climbers must agree to.
You can wander around naked all you like in your own place; but if you are in my house, or on my land, you have to obey my rules.
It really is that simple. No Gods need be invoked, and if they are, then that part of the complaint can and should be laughed out of court. That the courts (in Malaysia and elsewhere) take religious sensibilities into account is disgusting, and it is the duty of all reasonable people to object to them so doing. But if the owners of the mountain say 'you can climb it but you mustn't get naked up there', that is their right, and should be respected - without regard to their reasons for making that stipulation.
