Why are we supposed to respect other peoples religions?

[Dr.Phool]

We've been taught that ever since we were kids. But what if someone believes something totally ridiculous? I'm not going to single any one out, but I could come up with a long, long list.

[ClassWarrior]

1. Because we're Progressives, and we respect other people.

NGU.

[Ron Green]

2. That's the exercise in forgiveness, isn't it? How to forgive those who

know not what they do.

[RUDUing2]

3. because you want them to show tolerance towards you.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

4. because we all have a right to believe in the ridiculous

i for instance like to think both my parents are virgins. as are my step parents.

[OnlyInAmerica]

5. For the same reason

That we respect other people's lifestyles. Many Christians find homosexuals totally ridiculous. Should we not insist that Christians respect their rights?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. I don't think it's a matter of respecting their religion as much as

their right to their religion.

[Zenlitened]

13. Agreed. Nicely stated.

:)

[trotsky]

15. Perfect, nsma.

Well stated.

[Walt Starr]

7. I don't respect any religion that refuses to respect mine

plain and simple.

Respect is a two way street, those that don't respect me deserve no respect from me.

[RUDUing2]

8. but if you don't respect theirs why should they respect yours? If you

instead show them respect it may help to change their behavior and teach them to respect yours.

yk the old two wrongs don't make a right..and "just because *billy* does it, doesn't mean you should do it"..argument...

[Walt Starr]

11. That argument doesn't fly with me.

Sorry, I've experienced the bullshit first hand. It's a defense mechanism.

[Ron Green]

19. Yes, but disassembling that defense mechanism may actually be....

the job you are assigned to do in this life.

[AP]

10. I don't care what anyone else thinks of me so long as they don't

DO things to me that infringe on my liberties.

[Az]

17. Problem

By definition the religion respects nothing other than it's own teachings(in most cases, there are exceptions). Specifically the Abrahamic religions are predicated on the notion that they got it right and everyone else is not only wrong but damned and probably evil.

Something odd happened a little over 500 years ago though. It seems some of the Abrahamic sects got it driven into their heads that if they didn't learn to tolerate others they would be destroyed in endless war. Thus tolerance was fused to the society if not the beliefs.

Unfortunately these religions do not take to tolerance. While they have to placate the demands of the society they seek to manifest themself in their drive is always to rid the society of any competition.

[AP]

9. Because we believe that people are free to think whatever they

want in America.

We only care when people express their thoughts in ways that infringe on other people's liberties, but we never tell people what they should think, or what race or gender they should be or where they should have been born.

[Az]

12. Necessity

We are a complex diverse society. The chaos that would arise if we allowed our belief systems to go to their natural prediliction for destroying opposing beliefs would be astounding.

This exactly what gave rise the Age of Enlightenment. Nations used to be far more homogenous. One people. One society. One belief. But as we expanded in reach and understanding societies began to intermingle. As societies became more diverse the stresses of competing beliefs brought the efficiency of the structures to a crawl. Constant struggle and warfare between comepeting beliefs became the norm.

It was this environment that gave rise to the concepts of tolerance and acceptance of those that do not agree with us. We had to learn to deal with each other as humans first instead of based on our beliefs. The Age of Reason is also the birth of the Humanist Revolution. The idea that all humans have the right to believe as they may and that we must learn to deal with each other fairly first.

Tolerance is an unnatural condition for belief systems. They compete for social territory. Thus a constant drone to drive out nonbelievers still inundates society. Without champions for tolerance and reason these ideals will fade. There are no institutions demanding people believe in reason and tolerance. There are institutions demanding people believe in their absolute moral authority.

Learn from history or repeat it.

[SmokingJacket]

14. I don't think you have to respect the religions, per se

Just the people. And many people identify very strongly with their religions. To mock someone's choice of car is rude. But to mock their religion is downright nasty.

You can make fun of whatever you want in the privacy of your own head. But once you open your mouth, you need to be kind and respectful to others.

Ye Olde Goldene Rule.

[GOPBasher]

16. Nicely said.

[trotsky]

18. Kind and respectful to the Fred Phelpses of the world, too?

After all, his religion says that "God hates Fags" and so how do we display respect towards him and his followers?

[Ron Green]

20. Yeah, if you want to be the grownup in the transaction, you respect him

even as he disrespects you. To engage with him in disrespect is to act as a child.

[trotsky]

21. You're avoiding the question.

I asked HOW we display respect towards Phelps and his ilk.

Allow them to picket the funerals of AIDS victims?

Don't mock them with posts on DU?

How is that respect shown?

[Ron Green]

23. Oh, sorry. I see the question now. Right, this is the hard part, isn't

it? This is what Jesus did when he allowed himself to be completely punked out. I suppose allow the assholes to picket the funerals, yes, and not to mock them, yes. It's not easy, and I certainly am not advanced enough to show that kind of respect, but I think that's the way you do it. ... "The meek shall inherit the earth."

[trotsky]

24. Ah, but not everyone thinks "the meek shall inherit the earth."

Atheists like myself think this earth is all we get, and we'd better deal with the rabble-rousers here and now 'cause there ain't no cosmic court where they will get their punishment.

[Ron Green]

26. Even more difficult..I don't think it's about seeing the other guy get

punished, despite the fact that's what we want in our childish vindictiveness. It's about letting go of fear and anger and ego, and that's the hardest and highest thing to do, IMHO.

[trotsky]

27. That's all fine and dandy.

But right here and right now, Fred Phelps is engaging in activities that are hateful and disruptive, and that help feed the climate of hate against homosexuals. I really don't give a rat's ass about letting go of my fear and anger and ego, I want to know how we stop people like him from running the country.

And let me tell you, turning the other cheek is not going to cut it.

[Ron Green]

28. Right you are. And when you fight the good fight in the public arena, you

have the additional task of doing so without wallowing in the same mud that they're slinging. And I believe this is one area in which a Higher Power, however you understand it, is a source of strength.

[trotsky]

29. Phelps finds it a source of strength, too.

Quite frankly it's the only thing he has to justify his beliefs.

[Ron Green]

30. I don't buy that. I think Phelps is flogging it in a bullshit way.

He's a Pharisee, invoking God's name for his nefarious doings, going against the very teachings of Christ. What he's done is fool enough people into thinking he's a righteous man, rather than a liar and a hypocrite.

[trotsky]

31. Then you are not respecting his religious beliefs.

How can you presume to know what people really think?

A simplistic reading of the bible does indeed apparently show much on which to base hatred of homosexuals. Calling it an "abomination" and such. I have no reason to think Phelps and his ideological associates really don't believe it.

He merely has a different religious opinion than you. And if we aren't allowed to criticize religious opinions... well, Phelps will continue merrily along. And thanks to the very words of Jesus as recorded in the bible, Phelps is justified in saying they will all go to hell.

"The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." Jesus - Matthew 13:49

[Ron Green]

33. I'm not spiritually strong enough to refrain from calling him a jerk, and

saying that he's doing harm. However, I believe I'm called upon to learn to tolerate him and his beliefs. It's much easier to do this in one's private life than in the public realm, where the fight is always on.

[Cyclical]

22. Fred Phelps is a fag! :)

I, personally, simply intend to call them all fags.

And then say that God hates them.

But in seriousness, those people are simply wrong/mistaken about their religion. So really, their belief doesn't earn any protection from the current convention of thought.

Kinda like the prisoners in Guantanamo "don't" have any protection under the Geneva convention. But that's another story - Eeegh. :mad:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

25. what about the real gay men/fags ....what do you call them?

[indigobusiness]

32. The merits of a religion are fair game for challenging.

A person's inalienable right to their beliefs is different than the issue of the validity of those beliefs.

Any discussion that further hones and sharpens a belief would be welcome to a healthy mind. Even if that discussion destroys it entirely.

Delusion is the result of a rejection of this stance.

The merits of belief should be able to withstand the most intense scrutiny. And often do.

[nemo137]

34. Do to others what you would have them do to you.

How can you ask that someone respect your beliefs if you don't respect theirs?