Why do religions deserve more respect than other preferences, such as dietary choice?

Question

Why can I make fun of people eating escargot (snails, French) or haggas (sheep organs, Scottish) and no one bats an eye; but ridicule elements of a religious faith and you're accused of being intollerant? Why can we tell someone not to wear stripes with plaid, but encouraging someone to re-evaluate their faith is considered poor taste?

In a free society, we need to be able to criticize Islam's Shariah Law for its harshness and inequity, fundamentalist Christianity for its intellectual bankruptcy, Buddhism for its focus on enlightenment over a social conscience, Hinduism for the caste system, agnosticism for its lack of specificity, orthodox Judaism for mind-numbing kosher rules, atheism for overemphasizing intellect over relationships, etc., etc., etc.....

Why is religion set aside as immune from normal human corrective conversation, which is what can unite us rather than divide us?

Answer 1

Intellectual conversation is always acceptable. I think, personally, the problem stems from the idea that we can't all be correct, therefore, people tend to become a little sensitive about certain issues. In most religions, questioning one's faith is often considered counterproductive. Members are encouraged to feed on spiritual knowledge, not question it. And, consider your question. You say specifically, "corrective conversation." Many people do not recognize a difference in corrective conversation and criticism. By the way you pose your question, I think some may find your "corrective conversation" critical at the least if not accusatory. There's a big difference in discussion in the pursuit of knowledge, growth and understanding and "normal human corrective conversation." An exchange if ideas is often more productive when it doesn't sound so...ummm...critical. And frankly, if you're making fun of people for eating escargot, or haggas, as innocent as it sounds, you have most likely offended someone, tender creatures that we are. None of us like to be made fun of, regardless of our spiritual pursuits or even, dare I say, our eating habits.