ATHEISTS: Which believer do you most respect? BELIEVERS: Which nonbeliever do you most respect?

Question

Name someone who doesn't share your most basic theism frame of reference whom, nonetheless, has won your respect.

This is exceedingly difficult to choose. I am glad I included both sides of the issue in one question, but it makes the decision for a best answer even harder. The answers from "Paul S" and "Revenge is Sweet" both have elements that detail the ideals that garner respect from those around them. I may think about this a bit longer.

Answer 1

A friend of mine who was an avid fan of Nietzsche.

He gained my respect because he was a very honest person.

His honesty was unparalled. He knew where his limitations and weaknesses were and he didnt try to hide them.

Very few believers I have met are as true to themselves as this man was.

Paul S just got my respect with his answer too :)

Answer 2

I respect anyone who has any faith whether it is for belief or not as long as they don't try to push there beliefs onto someone else. You should let your actions speak louder then you belief in a Deity. Everyone should maybe take a minute out of the day to try and make someone Else's life a little better. I'm agnostic so that probably explains my answer.

Answer 3

I respect the believer who acknowledges that the basis for his or her belief is pure faith, that there is no evidence, much less proof for the existence of a god, and therefore that there is nothing foolish about not believing.

I don't expect that everyone should give up belief in god, but basic decency - just plain honesty - requires that you acknowledge that you don't have any evidence for that belief. And yes, that means that belief cannot serve as the basis for public policy the way that science-based beliefs can.

There have been a few such believers here, and I've tried to acknowledge my respect for them when they appear. They're few and far between, but they definitely exist. The majority of believers though seem to have no place for faith in their religion.

Answer 4

i'm a Jehovah Witness and that i heavily take into heart whilst it say love your buddies. At artwork I actually have a Muslim chum that I carry out with he's trustworthy and that i comprehend that. I even have dissimilar Roman Catholics in my family contributors we get alongside completely. My spouse is Wiccan. My brother is an Atheist and that i used to be one to. i'm approximately to start up a bible learn with a Protestant. My spouse's Uncle is Jewish by ability of religion no longer race very dazzling guy. I lived with a seventh Day Adventist family contributors in my toddlers that are delighted that i'm a Christian. We nevertheless save up a correspondence. I stay in Idaho and that i'm surrounded my Mormons they have a solid family contributors values. i think of the only individual i do no longer particularly get alongside with is my better half's father. positioned all of us comprehend how that is going >:| I truthfully do no longer think of I actually have a biased opinion of any group it particularly is their opinion and desire/faith. Who am i to choose them? playstation : i comprehend the way it feels to be excluded and %. on. look yahoo solutions has a manner of choosing on the witnesses and atheists the main. no longer as lots because of the fact the Atheist yet adequate to annoy.

Answer 5

Albert Einstein

Answer 6

I have great respect for Donald Knuth of Stanford University, author of the brilliant series The Art of Computer Programming. I have heard that he is a good Lutheran.

Answer 7

Mother Teresa

Answer 8

Ronald Reagan

Answer 9

I'm a believer and, inspite of that, __________ have gained my respect. I'm sorry, I have been thinking honestly about this for a couple of minutes now and I really can't of any I respect that isn't a believer. No offense; i don't mean that unbelievers are not respectable, but I truthfully can't say that there is someone I truely respect that is also an unbeliever. I think it has something to do with that scripture I attached.

Answer 10

I'm an atheist. I respect all Catholic priests and nuns. It is a brave thing to give up sex for your god. Sex is one of our primal needs. They must all have urges, and yet they have to ignore them for the good of their credibility. Can you imagine having to deliver a sermon when a particularly "gifted" woman is sitting in the front row and you haven't had sex for 30 years?

Edit: that corinthians quote sum1 put is bull. God's not THAT evil! We should be able to marry anyone we want, Goddamnit!