(September 8, 2015 at 6:13 pm)Tartarus Sauce Wrote:(September 7, 2015 at 11:00 am)Rhondazvous Wrote: Theists often complain that we don't respect their beliefs. I've found that they often want a lot more respect than they're willing to give. So let's explore this question. What does it mean to respect someone's beliefs and why should we?
How can you respect it when another person’s paradigm for thinking is so different from your own that you can’t even get into a discussion about it that doesn’t turn into an argument?
How does a theist say he respects other’s beliefs when at the same time he believes those others are the enemies of his god and on their way to hell?
How does an atheist respect the beliefs of theists when those beliefs are not based on any algorithm of thought which the atheist respects?
Who cares? People are what deserve respect, not beliefs. A friend of mine who was a devout Christian got offended when I used the lord's name in vain once. Did I belittle his beliefs in front of his face and argue with him about how he would be better off ditching his ways of thinking? No, I apologized and didn't do it around him again because I respected him as a person and knew his religion was important to him. I would only attack the beliefs of a friend if they were particularly grotesque and offensive and/or encouraged harmful behavior.
^This. Exactly this.
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
-walsh
