(October 6, 2018 at 2:36 pm)DodosAreDead Wrote: A lot of my friends, even atheists, view my views on religion as 'disrespectful'. So much that I just don't state them anymore.
So I'm curious. In real life (because most people behave differently online), what are your boundaries? Where do you draw the line and decide a certain battle isn't worth fighting. When do you think you're unnecessarily going too far?
For example, at a recent overnight retreat with my extended family, people were telling each other spooky stories. (I have no idea why.) So my grandfather had this incredible idea of making everyone sing some long ass prayer later to 'ward off the evil spirits'. Keep in mind, most of my extended fam consists of right wing Hindu fundamentalists, so almost everyone readily agreed. I happen to not know that prayer (we never prayed in my home). So after everyone was done, my grandmother told me to memorize it (keep in mind that it's long, takes about 9 minutes to sing it). I bluntly told her no, and that I considered it a waste of my time. I'd rather spend all that time and effort doing something that I consider more worthwhile. I later decided that I wouldn't say such things. It doesn't hurt to say yes. It's not like she was gonna call me a month later and ask if I'd memorized the stupid prayer. So yeah, that's how I want to behave. I don't think religion (or the lack of it) is worth creating a divide over.
What about you guys?
It's all about how you go about it. You can speak gently and be opposed to a person's beliefs and the center of their life purpose, but they won't hate you for it if you speak nicely. Manners - act beautifully - and I'm sure others won't mind the dialogue.
Some people even for the most minor things - speak so rudely over a disagreement. Some people even over the biggest and most important things speak gently and nicely.
Of course, there is a time for harshness, but rarely is there is a time for it.
