To dislike the idea that I should respect people's religious beliefs?

[lesley33]

I don't understand or argree with the growing belief in our society that religious beliefs should automatically be respected. Why shouldn't I be able to say that what a religion beliefs is wrong or plain rubbish?

I do believe that religious belief and practices should be tolerated unless they are clearly harmful e.g. children of god that preached sex with children. But tolerating religious beliefs and expressions is very different from respecting them.
So AIBU?

Maybe I am surrounded by too many pious people? It annoys me though that because a belief is religious some religious people seem to automatically assume that it should command a higher level of respect and consideration than non religious beliefs or demands. I consider both on their own merits.

Its like the - well it is fine for me to openly say that it is wrong for you to be gay because it is my religion.

Yanbu.

This idea that we have to respect other people's beliefs, is nonsense. No I don't. I don't have to respect anyone who believes in fairy tales, no matter what their particular brand of delusion religion is....be it Christian, Muslim, Jewish or Buddhist or any of them.

That does not mean I would be rude to them about it, but I certainly won't respect it. I may well respect them as people, but their religious beliefs will be politely ignored. As is my choice.

Totally agree armadillo

Thumbbunny: "You are entitled to think what you like, you are entitled to believe what you like; but you are not entitled to be rude to other people because they don't agree with your views."

But why should religious views have a special status? I despise the Tory party, for example, and I would happily be rude about their views online, and possibly IRL if I'd had a few. I don't see why we should have to pussyfoot around religious people. Apart from which, even religious people are sometimes rude about other religions - see what mainstream Christians say about the JWs for example (currently the subject of debate on another thread).

Who said anything about religious views in my post? I didn't. I was talking generally and I believe it holds true for any topic/belief.

You can disagree with other people's beliefs without being rude to them. There is a difference.

Thing for me as a Christian is belief in Jesus Christ. Lots of writings to say he existed and lived a kind and loving life. His greatest instruction was to Iove one another.

In loving others I respect their beliefs or non-belief.I can talk to the local JWs and be friendly to them.

It's more about respecting their right to the belief without belittling them by dismissing it as a fairy story or anything else.

As a Christian I don't ask that you believe the same as me, just that you respect my right to believe and I extend the same courtesy to you for the right not to believe.

I genuinely struggle to 'respect' the beliefs of people who think, for the sake of argument, that the world was created in seven days, despite the evidence for evolution.

This does not mean that I don't respect the actual people, I just can't respect their beliefs and don't see why (for example) - if the subject of creation vs evolution arose in conversation - I should pussyfoot around and refrain from saying why I think they're spouting nonsense. I would, of course, endeavour to do this politely. However, I admit that if they held this particular belief, I would think it made them sound unintelligent.

I also have no interest in 'respecting' the beliefs of people who use their religion as an excuse to wage war, or be racist or misogynistic.

I respect their rights to their beliefs. I don't have to respect what they actually believe in.

The two are vewry different

Armadillo
b) you should only dish out what you are prepared to get back e.g. you should only be allowed to suggest that those who are religious are feeble minded idiots if you will accept without offence them calling you a godless heathen who will burn in hell. Or you should only be allowed to suggest that not having sex before marriage is a completely idiotic idea if you will accept without offence them telling you that having children out of wedlock (which you did is disgusting and immoral).

I would be very happy with this. Someone telling me I'm going to burn in hell would have no effect on me as I don't believe in the concept of hell. And if anyone told me having children out of wedlock was disgusting and immoral I'd laugh in their face, I'm afraid.

I agree with most of the others - we should be respectful towards the person even if we can only tolerate their beliefs. Whatever beliefs religious or political or otherwise. Debating and discussion can be done respectfully between adults even when two sides completely disagree (or, in cases where this cannot be done or one side simply doesn't want to talk about it, politely refrain from discussing it as much as possible).

If I found a person could not discuss it politely or wanted to go on and on about it or tried involving my young children (as was done with me as a child), I'd probably just stop talking to them at all.

What irritates me is something that comes up time and time again on forums.

"I don't agree with XYZ / XYZ is very wrong but of course if it's for cultural/religious reasons then that's ok."

Why is it ok just because someone has labelled themselves as religious or it is cultural?

The bottom line is if someone doesn't respect your religious opinion, so what? If someone told me I'm nuts not to believe in Apollo, Zeus etc then why would I care. They haven't diminished my right to not believe it. Same way that if I told someone that I think what they believe is unpalatable and illogical then I haven't damaged their faith at all or their right to hold that belief. People use the phrase 'respect the right' when what they mean is 'do not challenge'.

Respect for me really means not ridiculing me for my beliefs. Most of my friends are non believers who look at me as some kind of freak . They haver never said to me "you are stupid for believing" though. What they actually say is "I don't believe in all that" as is their right.

We all manage to remain friends and respect one another's beliefs or non-beliefs though.

That for me IS respect - respect for one another.

Rudeness is rudeness whichever side you're on.

Forcing your beliefs on other people is rude, disrespecting someone's beliefs is rude.

Op genuine question here. Are you doing research or do you just like a good bun fight? It's just that I see you start quite a lot of contentious threads. As I said, not having a go, genuine question nothing wrong with a good bun fight, just curious.

Just like a goofd bun fight
And I guess are things I think in rl, but don't feel I could discuss them with friends without upsetting people.

I find it amazing that no one seems to bat an eyelid at the insults we are "allowed" to sling at eachother on MN about what other people believe, but their spelling or grammar is off limits.

You believe in God: You are a feeble minded idiot

There is a clear distinction between 'you are stupid' and 'I think what you believe is real to be stupid'

I don't respect the beliefs as such BUT I respect the right of people to have them, as long as they don't adversely affect other people.

What if you upset people on here though?

They're real too. Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they don't have feelings.

As I said, genuinely not having a go, I really enjoy a good "debate" I just think you should only say things you would say to someone's face.

If you think your opinion may upset someone chances are it will

headinhands no offense, but I think that that is bollocks. That would be like saying "I don't think you're bad, but I do think you being gay is bad."

Either statement is wrong.

I agree with those who have said that religious beliefs do not deserve an extra layer of 'protection'. I respect people's right to hold whatever beliefs they choose, but do not support the 'religious/cultural = more important train of thought'.

Eg last summer my group of friends had some difficulty as one was holding a bbq and people were bringing along their own meat. Some of our Muslim friends stated that all meat must be Halal as they couldn't eat any meat which had been cooked on the same place as non-Halal meat. Another (atheist) animal rights enthusiast friend will not eat Halal meat as she disagrees with the slaughtering process. Some of the Muslims felt that as their belief was religious, it should take precedence over her non-religious belief. I cannot abide that kind of argument where religion is seen as more important.

Aside from that though, I do feel that people should respect the beliefs of others, but that doesn't necessarily extend to accommodating them.

dog - I genuinely try to not be rude or horrible on here. But if I said what I have posted on this thread to some religious friends they would take it personally and assume I am having a go at them as individuals.

I also think sometimes people take offence at stupid things. If I know someone is super sensitive in rl I won't say a lot of things to them, whereas I guess if someone is super sensitive they really won't last long in aibu before flouncing.

:o Nickname

Why would I get upset if someone told me they think what I believe to be nonsense? Think of it like this; if you were happily married and someone told you that your husband doesn't exist and is a figment of your imagination then does it actually change the reality or truth of the situation as far as you are concerned? Is your husband going to disappear if someone thinks he is imaginary?