How Do We Respect Other People's Beliefs?

[Catholic_Lady]

Right, so if you don't like it when people do it to you, then don't do it to others lol.

I don't do it to others until and unless they disrespect me. Unfortunately, that's nearly all the time, in which case I will respond (still in the most polite manner I can manage, despite my anger at being blatantly disrespected), and I am the one whom they pretend has caused offense.

First try to be cooperative, then respond to attacks with counterattacks. That's roughly Sagan's description of the natural "Tit for Tat" Rule, which seems to be the inherent morality of most social species, including humans. You really should read the link I posted.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I don't have a problem with defending yourself when someone attacks you (though to do without returning insult with insult). That's another topic though, I think. My comments on this thread were strictly related to the OP's question about how to respect someone with different beliefs.

[Angrboda]

People are stupid creatures. I usually give stupid ideas a pass, unless the person is being pushy.

[Athene]

^This is pretty much what I mean. Two great examples of what it means to show respect to those with different views.

I agree but reserve the right to bitch-slap anyone who praises Kirk Cameron films to me. I like cinema too much to abide that much stupidity and bad taste.

Don't get me started on Kirk Cameron....I'll be bashing on that dude all night and I've got to go to work in the morning!

[thehedglin]

Let us hope that all the masochists or suicidal people out there don't take your advice.

Well obviously when someone is about to do something illegal or hurt themselves, or hurt another person, that's completely different than badgering someone because they do or don't believe in God. 

True, but we certainly don't want them treating others how they want to be treated, either.

I think respect is a bit more and less complicated than that, people have the right to have their autonomy respected, but that doesn't mean I HAVE to respect what they choose to do with it. People have the RIGHT to believe in a flat earth, out of respect for their mental autonomy, but that doesn't mean I should have to treat it as a legitimate belief. I may not openly mock them without reason, out of a sense of courtesy, but that does not mean that I respect their opinion. I also don't mock a person who has a belief until they feel it necessary to tell me about it, and at that point, it was they who instigated the discussion.

[Losty]

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?

I respect people, not beliefs.

[surreptitious57]

Sometimes beliefs are so deeply valued that those holding them feel it is an attack upon their character
to have them criticised or denigrated. Now while this is understandable it is also completely wrong. The
reason is very simple : you are not your beliefs. What you hold to be true is of course important to who
you are but they are not the same thing. For one thing beliefs can change over time so they are not set
in stone. Of course you change over time too but you should still be accorded respect as a human being
Respect for beliefs however is dependent upon their validity so is more conditional. I can simultaneously
respect someone while not respecting their beliefs so the two are therefore not the same. Absolutely not

A MIND IS LIKE A PARACHUTE : IT DOES NOT WORK UNLESS IT IS OPEN

[Catholic_Lady]

Well obviously when someone is about to do something illegal or hurt themselves, or hurt another person, that's completely different than badgering someone because they do or don't believe in God. 

True, but we certainly don't want them treating others how they want to be treated, either.

I think respect is a bit more and less complicated than that, people have the right to have their autonomy respected, but that doesn't mean I HAVE to respect what they choose to do with it. People have the RIGHT to believe in a flat earth, out of respect for their mental autonomy, but that doesn't mean I should have to treat it as a legitimate belief. I may not openly mock them without reason, out of a sense of courtesy, but that does not mean that I respect their opinion. I also don't mock a person who has a belief until they feel it necessary to tell me about it, and at that point, it was they who instigated the discussion.

Lol, once again, I never said you have to treat things as "legitimate" beliefs. Obviously, if you don't believe them, you don't have to pretend like you do. But you don't have to be rude to the people who hold the beliefs you don't agree with. You don't have to mock them about it, or keep badgering them about it, or not leave them alone about it. Just like you don't like it when theists do it to you, so then don't do it to others. Not sure why that is so controversial all of a sudden. Another poster here gave a couple good examples of times they respected other's beliefs, and that's pretty much what I meant.

[Losty]

CL, that's exactly why I say I respect people not beliefs. If I know a person well enough they can tell me about their beliefs (without trying to convert me), and I will be respectful to them. If I don't know you then I don't care about your beliefs and I will politely tell people when they try to share that I am not interested.

This doesn't go for people who are trying to convert me. I find it very disrespectful to walk up to a stranger and presume to tell them what they should believe. So for those people I usually just ignore them, but I will tell then to fuck off if they persist.

Outside of these situations I don't see a persons beliefs ever coming up...maybe an example of a situation if I am missing what you're trying to ask.

[Catholic_Lady]

CL, that's exactly why I say I respect people not beliefs. If I know a person well enough they can tell me about their beliefs (without trying to convert me), and I will be respectful to them. If I don't know you then I don't care about your beliefs and I will politely tell people when they try to share that I am not interested.

This doesn't go for people who are trying to convert me. I find it very disrespectful to walk up to a stranger and presume to tell them what they should believe. So for those people I usually just ignore them, but I will tell then to fuck off if they persist.

Outside of these situations I don't see a persons beliefs ever coming up...maybe an example of a situation if I am missing what you're trying to ask.

^Yes, that all sounds perfectly respectful. Perhaps you're all thinking I'm suggesting something that I'm not?

[Losty]

No idea, I just felt like I was missing something haha