SHOULD WE RESPECT RELIGION?
I have no respect for religion. If I did so I would have to have equal respect for those who believe in Thor, Zeus, or Scientology. I can have respect for people whether they believe of not. This even depends. If you believe because of faith and you know that you know that you know, I determine that you don't know very much.
One religious friend of mine dates back to about 13 years old when we met. We have good discussions but he wants to always take world events and compare them to Revelation. I think it is like comparing Casper the Friendly Ghost with the Easter Bunny.
To “respect” is to “look again”, thereby gaining greater knowledge and awareness for the value of something. You can spout off your hatred and bigotry toward groups of people all you want, and if you live where there is freedom of speech you will not be arrested. If you say those things in my house though, you will be asked to leave.
We should respect each other at all times and not attack or judge each other, not because we are trying to be nice, but because of logical necessity. It should be impossible for us to do otherwise.
A simple, calm statement that you are not in accord with particular religion dogmas has a lot more impact than an angry judgmental rant IMO.
I can respect all peoples beliefs. I really do not have a problem with it. Where the whole thing goes south of course is inflicting those beliefs on others. Brainwashing kids to a narrow ideology, instilling fear and guilt for natural body functions, killing someone for making a picture of allah or being critical of the muslim faith. Using the power of your religion to abuse children, women and men.
There is an tremendous amount of negative with religion that I find offensive and can not respect.
I do respect the faithful that are out there helping and care for those less fortunate.
I always tell religious people when discussing beliefs "That I will totally respect your beliefs as long as you have worked out why you believe what you believe and can explain it to me. If you just have blind faith and are letting someone else do all your thinking for you then you're just a talking sheep." This puts them in a defensive posture and seems to motivate them to explain / justify their belief system. It gets my foot in the door to really encourage them to do some critical thinking while still respecting their viewpoint. I've changed a few minds over the years. Always keeping it non-emotional and theoretical so it doesn't turn into an argument.
I can respect someone’s right to believe whatever they want. But i don’t have to respect the belief it self.
I do not respect it any time that anyone lives their lives according to mythology.
@JoeChick O.K. I do not know of any religion that is not myth, I am ready to learn.
Blah blah blah blah , " muslims are really sensitive and hurt when their religion is joked about "..
I guess we can put you down as a no?
american muslims don't do that any more than french christians picket military funerals. i'm not saying religion isn't ridiculous; i'm saying that any of them can be abused, and that goes for islam too, but to slam all muslims not for believing in a god but for doing things that only some muslims do is ridiculous too.
g
@genessa I understand what u said . And u r right . But for me , there are 2 ways to support something horrible .
According to Islam pedophilia is not a sin . Is promoted . Is part of the holy package . The reason most American Muslims are not , like I know ?, not promoting or engage to it , is bcz law and regulations ? I have work side by side w plenty the last 20 yrs . My opinions are formed . They can joint hands w their Christian cousins and any other religious asshole as far as I care and can all jump over the cliff . No tears here .
This is just me . I am not right . But it's how I feel.
Total side note: Walked into a storeroom at work yesterday and saw a Muslim man kneeling on their little carpet praying away. Had a really big struggle not mentioning he was facing 90 degrees away from Mecca ?
@Pralina1 you have a right to your feelings, and you are right that you are not right -- not about your feelings of course (you can feel as you do, of course) but about your facts. islam itself doesn't encourage pedophilia. some muslims do. maybe even a whole subculture full of muslims. but it's not part of islam. it has a big problem: it's a religion. but you can't pin on it what it doesn't actually encompass. in missouri, a whole bunch of christians are pedophiles? does the christian bible say that's okay? i wouldn't know; i've never been christian (or muslim). i suspect not. so i can hate THOSE christians for being pedophiles, and i can hate those certain muslims for being pedophiles, but i cannot correctly say that either christianity or islam promotes pedophilia. i can say it... and i can say the moon is made of green cheese... but i'd be wrong both times.
g
@genessa I haven't been a Christian or a Muslim . However , I give two rats behinds supporting neither and whatever they represent . I am sure not all Catholics raping children . But I haven't seen them yet marching to Vatican and burning the place down to the ground . And to me , that's supporting a crime . If u can't burn it down , then u can at the very least exit the tribe . Oh no ! They are still there and pope is the man . Well . Not for me .
@Pralina1 i don't SUPPORT them. i just want to be fair and not say stuff about them unless it's true. there's plenty of bad stuff that IS true without expanding it to make some practices part of the religion. and i don't think burning the vatican is a good solution. yes, catholics should demand justice (and an end to the rapes).
g
@genessa u r right . And I enjoyed talking w u btw . I studied world religions twice . First time as an idiot who needed the credit for my degree , the second time at my leisure and pleasure . I should had study " hot head and how to zip lip !!?Thank u for your time and insight , and u r right , there are good humans everywhere , some more than others .
@Pralina1 ha sorry that doesn't say what the description says it says. it says WOMEN. anyone can interpret a verse this way or that. i cannot see in the verse what the introduction says is about pedophila. that's a really weird interpretation. the verse itself does not say that at ALL, and that's even assuming it's a decent translation (i have noticed that the christian old testaments tend not to be decent translations of torah either).
g
Dear , I can post here 100 pictures about it . U ll have to search for your self I think .
I once had some Muslim neighbors who were ethnic Albanians and they were absolutely great people and good neighbors in every way.
Some of those things that so grate on our sensibilities come from the harsh desert code of the Middle East and were social mores before the time of Mohamed. Those same social mores are seen in the Bible.
Not all Muslims are the same, but as for me, I will respect all of them.