Do you feel Judged because of your personal beliefs? (prophets, Biblical, service)
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Also, I don't think we have to be best friends with people whose behavior we don't approve of, but I do think, we Christians at least, are called to love them and give them room to change.
But isn't this judging? You are making a determination as to whom to associate with, how often, how intimately.
That is simply my point. We all judge, all the time. If I post a link to talkorigins, people will judge that information, and by proxy, the people who wrote and posted that info.
If mams posts a link to AIG, we all similarly make a judgment on this for a variety of reasons.
Do you have an opinion on the job that Bush is doing as president? Another judgment.
My point is that judgment is not, in and of itself, a bad thing. We use it every day, all the time. I do think that treating people poorly is bad, being rude is bad, and many other things. But this is different from the judgment process.
I read something to this effect quite often, and it makes little sense to me.
People make mistakes, and I understand that we shouldn't judge someone based on a mistake, but what is a person if not the sum of his actions and beliefs? When I form an opinion of a person, I base that opinion first on his actions, and possibly on other criteria as well. For example, a certain co-worker is extremely lazy - no two ways about it. I do not like being paired with him on any job. Another co-worker is a chronic liar. I feel negatively toward both these men.
What of thieves? Abusive parents? Drunks? Are we to feel good about them as people - except for the thieving, abuse and drunkenness?
Some people are not to my liking. They may be fine toward someone else, but I'm not someone else. Others are just no good.
In many cases, I cannot separate the person from his actions and beliefs, and I don't feel I should.
There's a BIG difference between judging unfairly (often based on appearances, stereotypes, or first impressions) and assessing one's character. Once you've actually gotten to know somebody, of course you don't have to like them! Plenty of people in this world I dislike, but I try to reserve these opinions until they've proven themselves to be jerks.
But isn't this judging? You are making a determination as to whom to associate with, how often, how intimately.
Well how else are you to choose your friends and associations? You have to evaluate people based on something. That is not the same as judging them to be bad or good people.
But isn't this judging? You are making a determination as to whom to associate with, how often, how intimately.
That is simply my point. We all judge, all the time. If I post a link to talkorigins, people will judge that information, and by proxy, the people who wrote and posted that info.
If mams posts a link to AIG, we all similarly make a judgment on this for a variety of reasons.
Do you have an opinion on the job that Bush is doing as president? Another judgment.
My point is that judgment is not, in and of itself, a bad thing. We use it every day, all the time. I do think that treating people poorly is bad, being rude is bad, and many other things. But this is different from the judgment process.
That, Stretch, was the point of my original post. I don't think all judging is bad.
My pastor puts it like this: put "mental" on the end of judge and you will have what the Bible forbids. (Again, I know that you as an atheist, don't derive morality from the Bible but as Christians we are held to that standard.)
Well how else are you to choose your friends and associations? You have to evaluate people based on something. That is not the same as judging them to be bad or good people.
Isn't it? I can see no difference.
I judge people as to whether they are funny or not. Charming or not. Interesting or not. Physically attractive or not. Honest. etc.
Based on the sum total of all of these judgments, I decide if I want to associate with them.
Now, I am not saying that I throw rocks at unfunny, dumb people. But I do judge people all the time.
Am I working with the same definition of judgment as everybody else, or not?
Kaykay, I agree with your original post. And I more or less agree with what your pastor says. We judge all the time, and we must.
Being judgmental is different. That implies a punishment of some sort based upon the judgment. Such as yelling at people with tattoos (to poach from another current thread). Or being uncivil because you do not approve of another persons lifestyle or decisions. Those behaviors are wrong.
I judge people as to whether they are funny or not. Charming or not. Interesting or not. Physically attractive or not. Honest. etc.
Based on the sum total of all of these judgments, I decide if I want to associate with them.
Now, I am not saying that I throw rocks at unfunny, dumb people. But I do judge people all the time.
Am I working with the same definition of judgment as everybody else, or not?
Glad you don't throw rocks, that would be rude..
But I don't see evaluating a person based on their personality as interesting or not interesting to you to be the same as judging them as good or bad people. Nor do I see evaluating a person based on his performance at a job or skill to be judging them as being a good or bad person. I personally think Bush has totally messed up as president and is incompetent...but I don't know him personally so I can say that he is a bad person or has bad intentions...he's probably just stupid. See the difference?
I think I see what you are getting at. Would I be correct in saying that you feel comfortable in judging people's actions, or abilities, but shy away from actually putting a value (good/bad) on them as a human?
I am not trying to put words in your mouth, but trying to understand your viewpoint.
If I have correctly understood what you are saying (and I might not have), I still disagree. Serial killers are bad people. Jimmy Carter is a good person. I know neither personally, but I am still comfortable with that judgment based upon their actions.
I think I see what you are getting at. Would I be correct in saying that you feel comfortable in judging people's actions, or abilities, but shy away from actually putting a value (good/bad) on them as a human?
I am not trying to put words in your mouth, but trying to understand your viewpoint.
If I have correctly understood what you are saying (and I might not have), I still disagree. Serial killers are bad people. Jimmy Carter is a good person. I know neither personally, but I am still comfortable with that judgment based upon their actions.
This is making my brain hurt!!
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