or pretend to... :D

by Anonymous 13 years ago

touche' ;)

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I show respect, but I have very little.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Why...?

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Granted my level of respect for the person depends on their actions in life--but I find too often that theists tend to act out of fear or fail to think out the consequences of their actions. Instead of doing the right thing because they believe it to be so, they do it because their god told them to--and thus wind up doing a lot of WRONG things because their god told them to, as well. For instance, many Christians oppose gay rights because one passage in the Bible contradicts it and their religious leaders oppose it. They believe it to be immoral not because it hurts someone else, not because they have actively thought about the choices they're making, but because someone else has told them it is wrong and they fear punishment. I can respect your choices so long as you actively think about the reasons why you're acting the way you do. If you oppose gay rights for a reason you've tested, then I can respect your opinion even if I disagree with it.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

However, if your reason is "____ told me so", regardless of who it is--God, the pope, your parents, a friend, anyone--then I can't respect your choices anymore because you're not using your freedom of thought. The thing about religion and morality with me is that the existence of a god is basically irrelevant. I take the evidence I've seen in my life to construct my own set of morals. I think it's wrong to kill people because it hurts them, not because anyone told me it's wrong. And I would STILL think it was wrong even if I believed in a god. If I believed in a god who told me to kill, I would refuse and stop supporting that god because he has then proved himself to be malevolent. Just my 2 cents.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

True, but the point of the post is to respect them not because they're doing the right thing (because you can't prove religion wrong, or right for that matter) but that they're sticking to a belief instead of those that fold like a cheap suit to anyone willing to tell them otherwise.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

But why stick to a belief if it's poorly founded? Granted I'm sure that some theists do have a strong foundation for their belief, but most that I've spoken with don't and have never questioned it.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Well I'm a christian and here's how I see it. Politically, I believe gays should be able to marry. No reason not to. Religiously, I don't. Yes,I know it is irrational to take this advice from a book over a thousand years old, but too fuckin bad. You wanna think I'm insane? Go ahead. Think I'm irrational? Fine by me. Just leave me alone and I'll leave you alone. But that's not the point of the post.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

If you think something is irrational, why do it? I'm sorry if I offended you because I wasn't trying to attack you personally--I was simply arguing my point about the post. If I'm correct, the post is saying that you should have respect for people who care about their religion simply because they hold a strong belief. I say that if you holding a belief and never changing it is NOT something to be respected unless they have also questioned that belief and have a strong reason for holding it still.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Well, because I want to. No skin off your nose? And if it is, then there's a reason it's a majority rule in America, and not minority. And yes, but also look at it in terms of politics. I don't respect the extremist left or right wing, but I do if they have read every book on the opposite side, understand their argument, and still have those beliefs. Just like I understand the atheist viewpoint. "Yes I know it is irrational...". Therefore if I see both sides to a coin but choose another, then you should respect me for holding a strong belief and my faith.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Right--and that's exactly what I was saying. The problem is most theists don't see both sides. If you do, then I can respect your opinion. However, respecting people ONLY on the basis that they hold a strong belief is silly.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Yeah that's true. I guess I should have clarified, but at least you understood where I was coming from :)

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Depends entirely if they are using it as a base to become a better person, or if they are using it as an excuse to hate someone/something and blame it on religion.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

As long as they don't use it as a reason to act superior. Otherwise I'm totally cool :)

by Anonymous 12 years ago