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?

I am an atheist too, OP. On the whole I don't have much respect for religion. I have no tolerance whatsoever for any belief systems that seek to repress women, for example.
But I get through life peacefully by keeping my thoughts to myself and not discussing religion because I cba to be told I'm wrong or intolerant.

So you are not just an atheism, but believe you have a monopoly of the truth and you have nothing to learn from anyone who doesn't think like you. When you treat other people's beliefs with such distain, you are denying their intelligence and their right to have an opinion. Try experiencing being treated like that by someone else and tell me if it is not rude.

I find truth in my own experiences and learn something every day by reading, observing and thinking. I don't treat ANYONE with disdain, I treat all people like human beings and give them respect they deserve.

"So you are not just an atheism, but believe you have a monopoly of the truth and you have nothing to learn from anyone who doesn't think like you"

What makes you think that?

"don't treat ANYONE with disdain, I treat all people like human beings and give them respect they deserve."

When you say "the respect they deserve" does that include none if they deserve none?

IMHO, people who are convinced of their superior intelligence stop learning and end up among the ignorant.

Re. menstruating women being unclean, your whole argument is based on a literal interpretation of a translation from Arabic.

I am a translator, and I know that a word like "unclean" is just a rough approximation of the original word.

Give us a better translation then Mexican.

There's always a lot of "the true meaning has got lost in translation" around religion which is inconvenient if we are supposed to give much credence to them. They are mostly based on centuries old texts drawn from other languages - mostly from pre literate societies. I tend not to find such texts a very reliable guide to my own life, regardless of the calibre of the translation.

And surprise surprise they tend to be united by problematic approaches to women.

I have no respect for beliefs of that description.

Mexican, I was actually quoting people of faith I know. I do understand that translations differ- but if people of faith act on the mistranslations that's what I have to deal with. Even if I know that academically speaking, they are wrong.

I'm an atheist and I like to think I have respect for others beliefs. I may not believe them myself but anyone can believe what they like even if it is the fairies...however I find that people are less tolerant of my non believing beliefs and almost find it insulting that I don't believe in God. So I tend not to talk about it.

I agree with bigdorrit, in that I respect people's right to hold whatever belief they want, be that a belief in God, fairies, angels, ghosts or spaghetti monsters. I don't however respect those beliefs necessarily. I also don't think people have a right not to be offended. In the same way that their beliefs may offend me, my beliefs may offend them. I have a right to have offensive beliefs and that right should be respected. People don't however have to respect my offensive beliefs and they are fair game.

Another tip you may find useful Hak is to look at what you taught your DCs. When they were at faith school what did you teach them wrt to respecting their peers, teachers and ethos of the school? Do what you taught them.

My children weren't at a faith school.

I find it all goes a little easier if everyone tries to respect PEOPLE, not religions or lack thereof, and keeps their sense of humour. I have friends of lots of faiths, none and some who don't tell The ones who endure are those who don't take themselves too seriously. My very committed Christian friend makes jokes about converting me and I make jokes about his 'delusions'. Fact is, he knows I respect HIM and know that his faith is important and he respect me and understands my rationality and science focus is important.

I have also had people ask me where my morality comes from if not religion. VERY different to saying I don't have a moral compass.

I'm an atheist and not a fan of religion being anywhere in my life other than on my terms as a cultural tourist (e.g., visiting a cathedral for its architecture/history). It annoys me immeasurably, for example, that my ds is likely to end up in a school with compulsory acts of worship in assembly, thanks to what I consider an inappropriate national curriculum.

But in terms of respect, I tend to treat religion in believers' lives like I treat a relative of theirs I don't particularly get on with. I respect the fact that their faith / relative is very important to them, and I'd never say anything negative to them on the topic. But I also don't feign enthusiasm or interest in hearing details of their faith / relative, and, if pressed by other people, I will explain why I don't much care for said faith / relative.

I mainly try to stay out of the way of both religion and people who annoy me. Respect is for the feelings of the people who hold dear the subject of my dislike, not for the subject itself.

Sorry Hak, a school with people who had faith and which performed Collective Worship.

Actually, after I posted my last post I did think a better post would be to ask you what answer would you give your DCs if they asked you this question?

to me there is a big difference between religious observances that women choose to do because that is what they believe to be right, and things they do that are forced on them by their husband or religious group. There was a lady posting recently about sleeping separately from her husband during her period because she is unclean. She seemed happy with that but lots of people stated it was unacceptable and religion was ridiculous to have rules like that. It made me wonder if someone else posted a thread along the lines of 'AIBU not to sleep with my partner during my period because I'm in such a mess most of the time' but did not mention religion....would it have the same response. Providing the woman involved has a genuine choice in the matter then how can that be criticized if it is affecting no one else? I do realise there are many women within religions who do not have choice over stuff though. Another example I would give is the question of sex outside committed relationships. Non religious people see this as some stupid,out of date rule imposed upon Christians and other religions by a silly rulebook, but as a Christian I genuinely believe that for the best relationship outcome and the best mental health outcome, it is a really wonderful thing to be married to someone who has never been intimate with another woman. I would really love to see some proper research on this(not sure if there is any) but so many relationships fail these days. People have their hearts broken too many times and it can make them very emotionally insecure in the long term. Alot of the seemingly pointless rules do have a rationale behind them.
'Respect' is 'due regard for feelings,wishes or rights of others' so you can respect someone but not agree with them but are not being respectful if you mock them or make no attempt to understand their viewpoint.

Give us a better translation then Mexican Sorry Quangle, I said I am a translator and I was talking about translation in general. I am not a translator of Arabic.

Haylukt but if people of faith act on the mistranslations that's what I have to deal with
And as for the Quran, it was written in Arabic and meant to be studied in Arabic. Translations of the Quran are only used as a rough guideline. Muslims do not take their guidance from translations.

Interestingly, my personal experience has been the exact opposite to the OP's - I feel I am expected to speak respectfully of the position of the atheists I know at all costs, while they are free to criticise and belittle my Christian faith to my face. I think thi is because atheists are in a massive majority in my circles of acquaintance, so it is seen as the default position, from which deviance is somehow freakish.
I have no real problem with people questioning my beliefs. When it is done in a smug, self-righteous tone that is of course irritating (would be in any situation). Or when done to pick a fight for the sake of it.
Another thing which can be disrespectful, IMHO, is to assume that because one is a Christian, for example, one must hold certain beliefs, whether metaphysical or moral. There is a hugely broad spectrum of belief within Christianity, and it's frankly a bit boring to be mocked for beliefs I have never held

I keep schtum, but as an atheist, I certainly don't respect other people's beliefs. I think their beliefs are ridiculous. I couldn't have respect for them if I tried.
However, I do have respect for people, and as such I keep my mouth shut and opinions to myself.
But I will never ever 'respect' someone's religious beliefs as something I ought to take seriously...any more than I would if they told me the moon was made of cheese.

Another thing which can be disrespectful, IMHO, is to assume that because one is a Christian, for example, one must hold certain beliefs, whether metaphysical or moral

I sympathise, Lovelydiscusfish. Too many atheists hear the word "God" and immediately see an old man with a beard sitting on top of a cloud and assume that is what us theists believe it.

"Too many atheists hear the word "God" and immediately see an old man with a beard sitting on top of a cloud and assume that is what us theists believe it."

Do they? Surely not intelligent educated ones? Why is it OK to generalise about atheists, but not theists.......