respect my views ? (churches, bible, divorce, marriage)

[ainulinale]

Originally Posted by easternerDC

Marriage Definition

marriage - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

The cultural anthropology definition of marriage is social contract between two individuals that unites their lives legally, economically and emotionally. --- hmmm, I don't see god mentioned there or anything saying it CAN'T be same sex.

When did I say there was anything mentioned about God? I said the definition of marriage is between one man and one woman. It's a technical definition, one in which the law defines as such. Like I said you need to change the definition of marriage before you can have two men marry.

Legal Definition of Marriage

[stycotl]

Originally Posted by ahteist2

We are told often that we are to respect the views and opinions of others, even when they are crazy and especially when it comes to faith. Which is amazing to me, that faith is even held a value at all.

1. Christians want us to respect their views, or do they want us to ADOPT their views? For example christians are doing all they can to STOP any form of gay marriage, but why?

Or perhaps no beer on sunday, or what ever other law you can mustard up that restricts, limits or prohibits any behavior based on religious values.

Now, if they say "respect" out beliefs, let us believe what we want, do not try to change us, and all that stuff. Then why cant the afford the curtiousy and keep their morals and values out of our faces and off our law books ?

Let the gays get married if they want to, after all I am sure no gays are trying to make christians be in gay marriages.

2. If I am to respect their beliefs, then should I also be able to walk down the street, answer my door or turn on my TV with out some nut job trying to convert me to the newest fade church down the block. Or being screamed at that I am going to hell ?

this actually happen to you often?

3. Or, being told what I believe. Christians are always saying not to generalize them. Not to tell them what they believe, yet that is what they do with atheist all the time. And are NEVER correct in their assumptions.

that is a pretty broad generalization right there. would you care to enlighten me on how my 'assumptions' of atheism are never correct? i would think that i have been pretty fair and candid regarding atheism and religion. if you feel the need, go ahead and search through my history of posts here (not too long--only 4 months), and let me know where my opinions are flawed.

So, if we are to respect them and their beliefs, why dont they do likewise.

This is one of the reasons I see religious people as hypocrites and no I do not respect their beliefs, only their right to have them.

another generalization, and a testimony of our world's ever-increasing lack of mutual respect.

i think one of the first things that you could do to become a happier, more content person would be to stop making such broad generalizations, especially while complaining about broad generalizations. it comes across as pretty pathetically blind.

i would like to say for the record that there are idiots everywhere, among every race, creed, nationality, political party, religious doctrine, lack of religious doctrine, and every other nook or cranny in the world. if we go about our lives with only an eye for the things that could offend us, and never paying attention to the good that goes along with it, our short time here on earth will be gone before we know it, and we will be left with nothing but regret (or if you do not believe in an afterlife, with nothing.).

i am a christian. i believe in God. that does not mean that i have to cultivate a demeanor of superiority or 'scream' to people about their awaiting fate in hell. the majority of the christians i am aware of and associate with are very well-mannered, intelligent individuals. the same is true of the majority of the atheists that i know. like it or not, despite religious beliefs, there is still more that we have in common than there is that divides us. to focus on the tiny division is to get a divorce because the wife said that her favorite color is green, when the husband's is blue.

i have nothing against atheists. if anything, they help me think of things in a light that i would never have been able to see from my perspective. other than that, they are the same as my christian neighbors, or my wiccan, muslim, sikh, or agnostic neighbors. i respect them all. to believe other than another person does not mean you cannot or should not repsect their beliefs. to say that you do not, and only respect their right to believe that way, shows a very ignorant, self-inflated ego that is not going to provide much in the way of a stable platform for future reasoning of and interaction with the rest of humanity.

peace. aaron out.

pretty faulty reasoning if you ask me.

[bigthirsty]

I like beer (it tastes best on Sunday) and I don't care if there is gay marriage.

[stycotl]

i got a laugh out of the last one. my mom still likes beer, though she doesn't drink it anymore. gay marriage is still going through the rock tumbler in my head. i'll let you know what comes out.

[ahteist2]

Originally Posted by findinghope

no morals and values are not religious, although religions do try to uphold morals and values--not too many of them are doing such a great job, but i digress...
yes you can have morals and values, respect and manners without ever thinking of religion or God.
i think its gret people believe what they want, but i get frustrated that they cant let just a crack of light in and just admit that their way may not be the only way.

I guess what I am saying is do we have to respect the person and their beleifs ? Or can we think they are full of crap and still respect their right to be full of crap ?

[ahteist2]

Originally Posted by stycotl

i got a laugh out of the last one. my mom still likes beer, though she doesn't drink it anymore. gay marriage is still going through the rock tumbler in my head. i'll let you know what comes out.

Are you thinking to getting married to a same sex partner ?

[Huckleberry3911948]

do you dislike christians only or muslims too? read your profile total blank. just tryin to get a feel of where you are comin from other than you don't like the jehovah's witness visit thing. im no good at blanket responses thanks.

[ahteist2]

Originally Posted by ainulinale

When did I say there was anything mentioned about God? I said the definition of marriage is between one man and one woman. It's a technical definition, one in which the law defines as such. Like I said you need to change the definition of marriage before you can have two men marry.

Legal Definition of Marriage

The idea of marriage being between one man and one woman is a religious idealism, passed to our culture.

However this is not about gay marriage, that was merely one example I gave.

This is about weather or not we can respect the RIGHT of one to believe what they do, and yet NOT respect WHAT they believe.

And let me add this too, how far is too far. When do we have the right to speak up against a belief that is causing harm on others ?

[ahteist2]

to say that you do not, and only respect their right to believe that way, shows a very ignorant, self-inflated ego that is not going to provide much in the way of a stable platform for future reasoning of and interaction with the rest of humanity

So if they believe that marians are coming to take them away, and are going to kill themselves to meet them in space, should I give that belief respect too?

I think it is just the other way around, to have respect for what ever someone believes is a show of ignorance.

For example the mormons say we can be gods of our planets, I think that is a moronic belief and laugh at it. They can believe it if they want, and I wont make a fuss over it, however being a god over a planet sounds stupid to me.

[nay624]

Originally Posted by ahteist2

I guess what I am saying is do we have to respect the person and their beleifs ? Or can we think they are full of crap and still respect their right to be full of crap ?

I think you are full of crap...and respect you .....
its possible.