We're always being told we should respect other people's beliefs, but....

[Hakluyt]

.....what exactly does "respect" mean in this context? I am an atheist, and I am always happy to be challenged on my lack of belief, and am frequently told that I must have no moral compass and that I have to put up and shut up when Christianity imposes itself on me. I have also been told that I must have no sense of wonder- and, on on particularly memorable occasion, that I couldn't possibly have any charitable impulses!

But if I say anything even remotely "challenging" about faith or people of faith,bi am accused of disrespect. So, what exactly does respecting other people's beliefs mean?

Actually the bible says we are born with knowledge of God within us.

Yes, if you pop into the Muslim Tea room thread and ask politely they will explain that you are in fact born Muslim. So if you convert to Islam in later life you are actually 'reverting'.

"Are you saying you've never sinner Combust?"

I don't comprehend the question. You have your christian specs on with that question.

Islam is Mohammad rewriting his own version of the original bible.

Combust if you don't know what a sin is why are you saying you're not a sinner?

I asked if you are saying you've never sinned. Ok, if you don't get the question, have you ever done anything wrong?

Let's make it really easy. Have you ever told a lie?

Again this patronising attitide- you can't help yourself can you?

Sin is something christians like to beat themselves up with.
I am aware that some people like to think they commit sin and are sinners.
The concept of christian sin doesn't apply to me as I am an atheist.
You may apply it, but you are then being very rude.

Why don't you answer, what are you afraid of?

I get particularly pissed off with the christian concept of original sin.

Why pissed off?

I wonder if you even know why yourself. I mean that nicely by the way.

I dislike being viewed as a sinner, but to suggest that new born babies are also sinners is pretty disgusting.

And as to the mental health issue, as someone with bipolar, I see no reason why my faith would mean I was immune from any kind of illness, mental, or otherwise.

Me neither, I'm not the one making claims about the benefits of believing in a particular god.

Santa is......not real at all

How do you know?

Cernunnos- man of the forest- Santa.

It cracks me up seeing christians worship their devil.

bigdorrit- quite disgusting isn't it.

I live in a city which saw 6000 women were executed for witchcraft at the hands of the christian church. Women were burned, tortured, drowned and persecuted in the name of god.

Hideous.

Why would anyone want to be associated with such an organisation?

""It's hypocritical because you want to see Christians silenced and your world view favoured. You want atheist based laws in and bible based laws out."
Could you give me examples of bible based laws and atheist based laws?

Arainyday, as one believer to another, I don't understand the difference between a bible based law and an atheist based one. I can generally argue my position on an issue without recourse to religion or faith. I would be lying if I said my views weren't influenced by my faith, but the pure "rationality" of an atheist view of the world is also something I would question really. We are all influenced by our experiences, and our opinions and principles are shaped by them. I would never answer "because that is my religion" when asked to defend a principle or opinion, because if I hold it, then I will have questioned it and would be able to explain it in terms of equality, fairness, compassion, or some other thing that is certainly not exclusive to those with a religious faith. Mind you, I am a bad Christian really, and perhaps it's those bits I can't "rationalise" that I can't be doing with...

but you want to live life your way

How do you suppose I'm living my life differently to a Christian?

Biblical contradictions

god is the one with perfect morals

How do you know? How were you, a sinner, able to acknowledge his perfect morals as a mere human without having your own internal morality to compare it to. If you didn't then that's not morality, that's obedience and doesn't rely on any analysis.