What is "respect my religion"?

Question

There is not one person on this earth that 100% agrees with every opinion, feeling or belief of any other person.

what is respect? to me it is:
showing respect starts with truly listening to what a person has to say, and is followed with truly thinking about what a person has to say, before responding.

when a person challenges my beliefs on whatever subject, it means that he listened to my ideas and has thought about it.

as i said:there is not one person in this world which we 100% agree with on every subject. Therefor: truly challenging a persons beliefs and disagreeing with a person can be one of the biggest forms of respect anybody can offer that person.

however, when i challenge religious persons, they ask me to show respect for their beliefs.

seems like a contradiction to me.

why is it that religions actually don't wanna be treated with respect, but they wanna be handled with the silk glove that silently whispers 'yes i agree' ????

Answer 1

You're right that no two people believe EXACTLY the same. At least I share your view here.

I also agree with your definition of respect. Listening to HEAR what someone has to say before talking.

Maybe it does seem like a contradiction. However, I'd hazard a guess that some people are responding because they've either been attacked on this issue before -or- they feel that an attack is underway. Perhaps they are still "young" in their faith. The reason varies from person to person.

I'd say that the stronger the faith, the less the person will view your interaction as an attack. And, if it is, in reality, an attack (veiled or not), then that person will have forgiven you before you began.

Good question. Keep your mind and heart open...and keep asking.

Answer 2

respectfulness is a heart condition not a logical argument or position. If you truly do show respect then when someone reads your question they will see it as a quest for information and not an attack.. Some are overly sensitive and someone who is a lot more sensitive than you is not something you can understand or and do not try to avoid these. That is their problem. If a person starts off criticzing your grammer and ends saying you have disrespected me then it is just someone who feels you have pointed out a weakness they have. I see that often when non believers answer my questions so I just hope they think things over.

Answer 3

You are right. There are many who want to be cosseted instead of being made to question how strong their faith truly is. If you never have reason to reaffirm your beliefs then how do you know they are still strong? I openly welcome discussion or debate and that would go across the board from religion to politics to a womans place in the home or workplace, etc. As you say we may have very different views but I would consider yours before I dismissed it out of hand.

Answer 4

I guess it's in the candor with which one engages them. Some people are a bit too blunt when criticizing. Some people are a bit too sensitive when their beliefs are criticized.

Personally, I've always held that there is no need to respect another persons beliefs, but you should respect their right to believe them.

Answer 5

It's the way religions have to remain untouched. I cannot respect institutions that are close to being organised criminals (70 million people died in the American conquest, to cite an example).

Religious people deserve respect. Religions don't.

Answer 6

I was with ya 'til you got to the end regarding religion. To me, the "respect my religion" deal goes like this: you may disagree with anything I say, feel, or do. When it comes to my religon, "get off of my cloud." It's just how some people are.

Answer 7

you're entirely right about what respect is. religious people usually want a little more though. they want complete immunity. of course,,,, it's ok for THEM to make fun of other beliefs or call atheists empty, or even to force their silly ideas as laws on other people. really, we do SO much more than they do for us.

y'know,,, i once told a girl that something she said was stupid, and she said, "hey!! i'm allowed to have my opinion!" -- and so i said, "yeah, i know., and i'm allowed to have my opinion that your opinion is stupid." -- and so she said back, "no. you're not allowed to have that opinion because it takes my opinion away." -------------- ??????? wtf? i could only be so lucky that my opinions could take away someone else's stupid ideas.

anyhow,, just goes to show you how one-sided some people can be.

Answer 8

I don't feel that you necessarily have an obligation to respect my beliefs as a Christian.....however, as Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have no doubts about me."

Answer 9

respect can't come by foce it is got to be earned.

Answer 10

As usual, your words are wise.