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"You Don't Have To Agree But....
#1
"You Don't Have To Agree But....
.... you do have to 'respect' other people's
religious beliefs."

This is a quote from a newly former 'friend'.

'John" and I were sitting this morning, having coffee,
when John looked up from his device (having apparently
just read some earth-shattering news online), and
exclaimed, "They just need to learn some respect."
Wrongly considering that he'd just gotten a dis-
respectful text from his children, I inquired, "what
now John?" John went on to say that he was tired
of all of the intolerance of irreligious people, and
that they should get on with their own lives and
leave people to their religious beliefs. He added
that (atheists in particular) need not necessarily
agree with theistic claims, but that the 'beliefs'
of those with faith should not be disrespected, least
of all by those who are "Without god" according
to John (I hadn't yet told John of my atheism).

I asked what he meant specifically, and he said
that there was an atheist organization in Texas
that was making statements that religious people
are naive and gullible, and that they were stuck
in the stone age (more like bronze if you ask me).
He went on to become very agitated that "These
people" were spewing their crap all over the web
and in the faces of believers. He then made his
first mistake; he asked my opinion.

I told him that I agreed with the atheists; that
religion is a dreaded plague that has harmed
mankind ever since it first conceived of the
notion of a god. I told John that I did not respect
the 'beliefs' of religious people and that I, in fact
hated what those beliefs could produce. John said
I was free to disagree, but that disrespect was un-
called for. He then made his second mistake; he
asked me why I felt I didn't need to respect the
religious beliefs of others.

Rather than simply answering his question, I
posited one of my own. I asked John if he had
respect for the 911 hijackers. John reeled back in
his chair and asked me in a noticeably upset tone,
"Well why on earth would you ask me such a
ridiculous question? Of course I do not have respect
for any of those men." I then said, "Well, if you have
no respect for the men, then what about their religious
'beliefs' that caused them to carry out the attack?
Surely you have respect for their religious beliefs;
right John?"

(insert long awkward pause on John's part)

John's phone suddenly gets an "Urgent" message
and John has to excuse himself. I won't miss
John. Hypocrite!

NOTE:
To all forum members. I know I post a lot of
episodes where my interactions with theists
are the theme of the post. I do not necessarily
post these dramas to gain responses - though
I enjoy the exchanges. I post them to catalog
and highlight the stupidity of religious people.
Cheers!
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#2
RE: "You Don't Have To Agree But....
"You don't have to agree with it but you have to like it."

Hwat.
Reply
#3
RE: "You Don't Have To Agree But....
Oh I hate this move.

It's not just religion, somehow, in my circle of acquaintances, everyone's has learned to use the word "respect" wrongly. It's extremely irritating in a conversation where I'm disagreeing with them about something and when they can no longer defend their point, they say:" it's ok I respect your opinion." What?!
Reply
#4
RE: "You Don't Have To Agree But....
(October 7, 2013 at 4:25 pm)pineapplebunnybounce Wrote: Oh I hate this move.

It's not just religion, somehow, in my circle of acquaintances, everyone's has learned to use the word "respect" wrongly. It's extremely irritating in a conversation where I'm disagreeing with them about something and when they can no longer defend their point, they say:" it's ok I respect your opinion." What?!
What should be said is something like....
"I respect THAT YOU HAVE an opinion,
but I need not respect said opinion."
Reply
#5
RE: "You Don't Have To Agree But....
Wasn't it Ricky Gervais who said something like respecting a person's right to an opinion isn't the same as respecting the opinion itself?

People hate seeing their sacred cows go unidolized.
Reply
#6
RE: "You Don't Have To Agree But....
(October 7, 2013 at 4:30 pm)freedomfromfallacy Wrote:
(October 7, 2013 at 4:25 pm)pineapplebunnybounce Wrote: Oh I hate this move.

It's not just religion, somehow, in my circle of acquaintances, everyone's has learned to use the word "respect" wrongly. It's extremely irritating in a conversation where I'm disagreeing with them about something and when they can no longer defend their point, they say:" it's ok I respect your opinion." What?!
What should be said is something like....
"I respect THAT YOU HAVE an opinion,
but I need not respect said opinion."

Isn't that common sense? I'm slightly disturbed that a lot of people no longer think so, and seem to think that disagreeing with someone aggressively (but not rudely) is disrespectful and wrong.

I usually tell them they don't have to respect my opinion, have at it. But of course they only invoke respect when they run out of steam, so nothing much is gained.
Reply
#7
RE: "You Don't Have To Agree But....
(October 7, 2013 at 4:33 pm)Captain Colostomy Wrote: Wasn't it Ricky Gervais who said something like respecting a person's right to an opinion isn't the same as respecting the opinion itself?

People hate seeing their sacred cows go unidolized.

Sacred cows make the best burgers !
The meek shall inherit the Earth, the rest of us will fly to the stars.

Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups

Arguing with an engineer is like wrestling with a pig in mud ..... after a while you realise that the pig likes it!

Reply
#8
RE: "You Don't Have To Agree But....
Ricky (as usual) nailed it. The pious rubbish about 'you need to respect the religious beliefs of others' is just that - rubbish. What sane person 'respects' genital mutilation, or child sacrifice, or murder for unbelief?

Do people have a right to hold these beliefs? Of course they do. Do they have a right to act on them? No. Do I have to respect the loony idiocies that come under some sacrosanct heading of 'religion'. Big wet fart.

The next time this comes up, ask the slack wit if s/he respects the UNbelief of atheists. Cognitive dissonance is fun to watch.

Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
Reply
#9
RE: "You Don't Have To Agree But....
(October 7, 2013 at 4:57 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: The next time this comes up, ask the slack wit if s/he respects the UNbelief of atheists. Cognitive dissonance is fun to watch.

I need not ask - his actions and words tell all.
And yes, I enjoyed the awkward silence a lot.
Reply
#10
RE: "You Don't Have To Agree But....
I heard Richard Dawkins quoting someone else the other day:

"I respect you too much to respect your ludicrous beliefs."

I kinda liked that one.
Reply



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