Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Why should we respect someone's religious views, even when they are clearly wrong?
With me, it is not so much that I respect their "religion" as it is about respecting that person.. I hope to respect that person enough to not feel any obligation to tell him his beliefs are wrong when ......how can I prove mine are right?
Because that is what they believe, whether you believe it or not, they do, and if you want your religious views to be respected, you at least should respect others.
"The most curious social convention of the great age in which we live is the one to the effect that religious opinions should be respected."
-- H L Mencken
"We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart."
-- H L Mencken
"The way to deal with superstition is not to be polite to it, but to tackle it with all arms, and so rout it, cripple it, and make it forever infamous and ridiculous. Is it, perchance, cherished by persons who should know better? Then their folly should be brought out into the light of day, and exhibited there in all its hideousness until they flee from it, hiding their heads in shame. True enough, even a superstitious man has certain inalienable rights. He has a right to harbor and indulge his imbecilities as long as he pleases, provided only he does not try to inflict them upon other men by force. He has a right to argue for them as eloquently as he can, in season and out of season. He has a right to teach them to his children. But certainly he has no right to be protected against the free criticism of those who do not hold them. He has no right to demand that they be treated as sacred. He has no right to preach them without challenge."
--H.L.Mencken
Why should we respect someone's religious views, even when they are clearly wrong?
I think you can respect the person, but not respect their organization or belief. This is especially true when their belief has a history of causing harm to humanity. The following of such an organization would reflect on how I accepted the individual, but unless they were pushing the policies of their religion I would be able to separate them from the atrocities.
A non religion example would be a person hooked on drugs or alcohol. They have lost the ability to control their own lives, and in most cases are harming those around them. I recognize the issue is a sickness they have no control over and thus don’t reject them as a human, just a person with a addiction problem. The person who is selling those drugs and involved in the operations related to running the drug business would not get that respect. I would work to end that source of pain, and have them jailed. Such is the same way I look at religious organizations.
Because that is what they believe, whether you believe it or not, they do, and if you want your religious views to be respected, you at least should respect others.
When have the religious ever respected the views of the Atheist Movement, or Atheist as individuals? Better yet when have they ever respected any other view than their own? Reading your statement I have to think you see the world rejection the religious myths and are looking for acceptance of your faith from those your religions have abused. Hopefully they are better people than the christian organizations.
Why should we respect someone's religious views, even when they are clearly wrong?
Because I treat others how I want to be treated. If someone who believes differently from me is willing to respect my views, then I should show them the same courtesy.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Hey
