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?

I don't understand that point, Merry. Gay people don't believe they're gay, they ARE gay. What are you driving at?

It is okay to disagree with homosexuality, I personally would in turn strongly disagree with them. And would, and do what I could to make sure their views didn't affect legislation or hold back equal rights for gays and lesbians.

Thumbbunny I don't believe I am Christian. I AM Christian. Is there a difference?

YABU

I think that in life we have to respect people...full stop. You don't have to agree with everything that people do and if something they are doing (for religious reasons or otherwise) is harmful to others etc...you of course have the right and as an intelligent person, the responsibility, to speak out.

I agree with some of the other posters that in my experience, non-religious people seem to spend more time talking about religion than those who are religious??

Err, what? If you're a Christian, you're a Christian. That's a description of you; but it signifies that you believe in Jesus and God, which are your beliefs. Your beliefs are open to debate by people who don't share them - but it won't affect who you are in your own eyes.

It's not exactly the same as being gay though, is it. Being gay doesn't involve a set of beliefs, as such - it's just who you are biologically. Being Christian is not about your biological make up, it's about your beliefs.

Am I the only person on here who asks questions to see how they get answered, and not as some passive aggressive way to make a point (present question excluded)?

I wanted to know how you would see the difference Thumbbunny; I did not ask that question because I was incapable of seeing it.

Merry: "No doubt, if you had an opinion on immigration which didn't concur with someone who had made it their life's work to help illegal immigrants, and perhaps had been one themselves, you may watch what you said more carefully too."

But. It's much more likely in my case that I have an opinion on immigration which didn't concur with someone who had spent their whole life campaigning against immigrants coming to the country, in which case, I dare say they would be offended by my views but does that mean I shouldn't express them?

Religious beliefs are NOT opinions.

What are they then, in your belief or opinion?

Anyway OP, YANBU. It's idiotic to think we should respect some of the looney beliefs (or indeed opinions) out there.

Thisisanickname - quite possibly you are the only person who does that, yes. Perhaps if you'd said "I would be interested to see how you perceive the difference" then it would have been clearer what your intentions were. You would still have got the same answer though, possibly without the "losing the will to live" rider.

And now I really am going to bed.

Thumbbunny Point noted. I will try to remember that for next time.

Samandi My religious beliefs are truth to me. In the same way that you believe in gravity (and that isn't an opinion), I believe in gravity as well as God's love.

YANBU
I do not see why I should respect another persons religious beliefs if they are an excuse for racism, sexism, homophobia or intolerance any more than I respect hard right or far left political views.

I respect the right of another person to believe what they wish providing it sits within the legislative framework. Interestingly the UK's legislative framework is loosely based on the 10 commandments I believe. I would also respect the right of another to hold political views of their chose. Respecting the right of another to have beliefs or views that are different to mine does not mean I agree with them.

What does irritate me though is having the beliefs or views of others rammed down my throat.

YANBU

Respect is not automatically acquired by someone simply because of their culture, race, disability, belief, social status, profession, position in an organisation, title or anything else.

Being civil and tolerating other people is a reasonable assumption but gaining repect requires much more.

YABU. I respect other people including their religious beliefs.

I tend to have little regard for beliefs or opinions that are harmful but in my experience very few of those I've come across are affiliated to religion. Sexism, racism etc are unfortunately views that cross every boundary of person regardless of religious belief or otherwise.

I think anti gay stuff is very affiliated to a number of religions.

Thisisanickname wonderful point!

I'd also like to say that a lot of religious people get very angry that people always think that say Christians/Muslims/Insert Religious follower here are homophobic, or racist or anything ist. Religion unfortunately develops around people, people take the lead in certain areas and change the traditions within the religions, and the element of practice, taking any small number of people from one Religion will not work. Being homophobic is ignorant, as is using religion as a defence for that.

I don't really let people know about my religion, I disagree with street-preaching and shoving personal opinion/belief/morals down people's throats, and I disagree with ignorant beliefs within AND outside of Religion. But I also have this conversation all the time about my vegetarianism because people have ignorant views and have not educated themselves about being a veggie before trying to shove this down people's throats. I am a very strict vegetarian tbh, but it's not for me to 'convert' other people to the way my mind works. I do think that many religious people are defensive because we've got so used to people becoming so damning of it, as I said earlier, I've actually found waay more non-religious people desperate to bring it up in conversations! It's a bit like the feeling of having to repeat yourself constantly to someone who isn't really listening.

Yes religion develops around people. But for example the Koran is quite clear that to be a practising homosexual is wrong. This is not an individual believers viewpoint, it is a belief that is part of the religion.

The idea that we should respect, even applaud, every thought that crosses anothers mind is ridiculous. Why on earth should we respect beliefs that we do not share? If you believe the sky is pink, I don't need to respect that, do I? And if you believe a big invisible all knowing all seeing deity controls your life and made the universe, I don't need to respect that either.
I do respect your right to hold these beliefs and to practise them, but thats not at all the same thing.

I certainly don't think we should have to respect every belief, so yanbu in that.

I am a Christian, and I think we should respect people and their right to a belief. But I find it hard to respect even the person, let alone the belief, if it leads to racism, misogyny, homophobia and so on and so forth. There's a fine line somewhere.

I think it's fine to engage in robust debate and as such don't feel offended if someone tells me they think what I believe is a load of old bunkum. I do however begin to feel a little Pissed Off if they say I am a feeble minded buckethead. There's a whole world of difference between attacking beliefs and the believer.

I think anyone with a faith should be happy to defend their faith and not take offence at someone calling it into question. But personal attack is wholly different.

It's kind of a no shit Sherlock thing, really.

I reserve the right to hold people's beliefs in complete contempt. I don't think the religious beliefs that are behind the actions of people like the Westboro Baptists or whatever are deserving of anybody's respect.

Married - the UK's laws aren't really based on the ten commandments. Everyone knows about thou shalt not steal/kill but we don't have any laws against graven idols, or banning worshipping anyone other than the Judeo-Christian God, or coveting your neighbour's ox. And working on the Sabbath is not only fine but obligatory for many people, especially as the Sabbath mentioned in the Bible would have been Friday.

(And it's arguable that there are ten, anyway - depending which orders from on high you include there could be anything between 13 and, um, lots - I'd have to go back and check the larger number).

It's tough because my inclination is to respect everyone and tolerate their beliefs but I struggle with any aspect of religion that discriminates against a gender or sexual orientation.

I think we should respect other people's right to hold their beliefs, and I think this is probably the phrase which was originally said/intended. Somehow it has been shortened (lazy human race that we are) to respecting people's beliefs.

Permit without persecution, is not the same as respect, but nor does it have to be.