Why is it so?? Your opinion needed.

Anyone who has been to SE Asia can vouch it is a region with endless photo oportunities..

Here in Vientiane Laos there is a photo exhibition held sometimes weekly by some very talented photographers..Most of these exhibitions are held in cafes and resturants which are hangouts for the ex-pat community..

One photographer wanted to hold an exhibition in a cafe which is a bit of a hangout,,not a problem..The stipulation was no images of temples, monks, images of Buddha, stupas etc..What exhibition is complete without images of the above..

Surprise surprise the cafe is owned by fundamentalist Christians..

It's their cafe - they can do whatever they want. Since "SE Asia is a region with endless photo oportunities.." I would think it would be a great opportunity to stretch your imagination to shoot something OTHER than MORE temples, MORE monks, MORE images of Buddha, MORE stupas etc to represent the local flavor of Laos.

"One photographer wanted to hold an exhibition in a cafe which is a bit of a hangout," ... so that sounds like they're nice folks and that people like to "hang out" there.

If the owners were fundamentalist Muslims, who would certainly proscribe any Buddhist relics, related images, or symbols---along with music and alcohol for that matter---would you view the issue with similar contempt? Or would you just say, well, my multicultural love of diversity forces me to tolerate these differences.

Religion causes trouble.
I believe what Homer says
"Jesus, Buddah, Allah, I love you all"

sjones wrote in post #5706492
If the owners were fundamentalist Muslims, who would certainly proscribe any Buddhist relics, related images, or symbols---along with music and alcohol for that matter---would you view the issue with similar contempt? Or would you just say, well, my multicultural love of diversity forces me to tolerate these differences.

Contempt isn't my issue here..It's the cultural intolerance of these people..

Heck what do these people do,,close their eyes every time they pass a monk or temple??

Jurgen my friend, you have probably been on this earth about as long as I have, long enough to see mankind's prejudices,
oftentimes fueled by religious differences and Christianity has no lock on prejudice.

A brief study of Greek history will point out that it was prevalent then as it is now.
The first recorded war was fought about 2700BC.
Mankind's inhumanity to man knows no boundary.

Enough ranting, be safe my friend.

yogestee wrote in post #5710130
Contempt isn't my issue here..It's the cultural intolerance of these people..

Heck what do these people do,,close their eyes every time they pass a monk or temple??

And yet you are being just as intolerant by not accepting that they have their own beliefs and are free to express them in their own way.

If they don't want buddhist images in their place of business which they own, what right do you have to say anything?

If the photographer wants to display these images, then he is free to find another venue in which to display them. It's not like they are saying that he can't display them anywhere, ever. They just don't want them on their property.

It's one thing to respect the beliefs of others. It's another to not want religious imagery contrary to your own personal beliefs displayed on your own privately held property.

It's not like if they see a temple or monk out in public that they are going to burn the temple and kill the monk.

Pot. Meet kettle.

A few people have touched on this but I would like to point something out. To steer this discussion in a direction that will allow the participants to not get the thread locked. Partially because of the rules of this forum and mostly because it's not exclusively a religious issue.

The greater(est) issue is that of intolerance. The belief that one way is superior to another. This is not found just in religion but throughout society in many forms. Whether it be social class, skin color or pedigree there is an underlying desire to separate ones self from others.

Unfortunately, this manifests itself as a loathing of others that are seen as inferior. It is easier and quite often more popular to degrade them. Rather than improve upon and celebrate yourself. Many people require an example of something that is deemed inferior in order to value themselves.

This is unfortunate for all of the obvious reasons. But over the entire human history this has been the driving force behind almost every single act of cruelty enacted upon one person by another.

Nothing we can do on this forum is going to have a major impact on the underlying fabric of how people think. The only thing we can do is lead by example and speak with our actions. The people around you will see the things that you do and they will be moved.

yogestee wrote in post #5710130
Contempt isn't my issue here..It's the cultural intolerance of these people..

Heck what do these people do,,close their eyes every time they pass a monk or temple??

I am still curious, if the owners were fundamentalist Muslims, or fundamentalist anything else beside Christian, would you have been equally compelled to start this thread, which at any moment, I'm sure a moderator will understandably shift to a different website…

OdiN1701 wrote in post #5710711
...It's one thing to respect the beliefs of others. It's another to not want religious imagery contrary to your own personal beliefs displayed on your own privately held property.

It's not like if they see a temple or monk out in public that they are going to burn the temple and kill the monk...

I agree; I don't think these folks are necessarily being intolerant…have you actually discussed the matter with them? Interesting, never thought I would ever be in the position where I would defend a fundamentalist Christian…

You would think that people would concentrate a bit more on the fundamental controversies like Mac vs PC; Nikon vs Canon; Film vs Digital; Cloth or Paper (diapers); Prime vs not prime (I just can't bring myself to say that other word) but no no one ever gets worked up about these important issues facing mankind today.

yogestee wrote in post #5705770
What exhibition is complete without images of the above..

What exhibition needs more images of the above?

Maybe they don't want those particular things because they're trying to promote originality!

nothing wrong with that since its their property. mutual respect and everyone will be fine.

Perhaps that had already their fill of those images in past shows? No matter what everyone thinks their Kung-fu is king, and does not want to see the other guys lesser kung-fu.... get it?

If you do not like what the business uses or does not use on their walls - respect that and drink your coffee somewhere else...