A lot of people replied to the "respect for others' beliefs" question with the response "automatic". Why?

Question

So, if I believe that, for example, it's ok to snatch babies from their mothers arms and trample them with a herd of elephants, this belief must automatically be respected?

Yikes!

Answer 1

That was such an open-ended question by that guy. It is scary people said "automatic!"

For myself, it would depend on if the other persons belief was one that would harm another person. Just like I believe it is a persons right to smoke, however I also believe it is not their right to smoke wherever they choose. Because then it is affecting someone elses life.

If this "respect" is referring to another's religious belief then I do have that respect, however it is not automatic. It depends on a portion and not a whole. I don't agree with certain beliefs within certain religions because I feel it is wrong. But if what I feel is wrong does not harm another then I respect it.

I believe it is okay to spank your children (lack of this old practice is what is wrong with our children today). These days it is called abuse. I got spanked when I was a child by my mother and my grandmother even had me in a headlock once. Even to this day I don't talk back to or swear my parents and I am an adult. Now kids get put in "timeout!" Now I don't agree with that but I respect it, although a lot of people would not respect that I think spankings are necessary.

Answer 2

I LOVE IT‼ :D I love the cave scenes, the Inferi are freaking creepy, Dumbledore is awesome, Quidditch is amazing, H/G moment was so cute, Hermione hitting Ron with that book was rather cool, the Dark Mark is very well done, the quick memory scenes were epic, the bridge attack was awesome , the Burrow scene(s) were super epic (I liked Ginny's jump ), the longshot of Snape hitting Harry with a spell was cool (1), all Draco and Death Eater scenes were stunning, all Snape scenes were magnificent, the Katie Bell scene was freaky, and so much more... And I love the little touches like Dumbledore holding the knitting magazine (2), and (3) whoever (Ron, I think) is flying over the fantastic Quidditch field , (4) that look on Hermione's face before she hits Ron, (5) Ollivander getting taken away by Greyback, (6) the muggles with the WTF look on their faces when looking out the window, (7 in the lower right corner) when Greyback is taking Draco away , (8) the Unbreakable Vow, (9) Filch guarding Hogwarts, (10) the fact that the Inferi have different faces and so much more... (lol. I just had to share what I saw m'kay... I know I typed a lot)

Answer 3

Respecting someone's beliefs does not mean you have to agree with them or abide by them. It simply means you don't trash them or ridicule them for their beliefs. We all still live in places that are bound by laws. As I said before we all know right from wrong, whether we want to distort it or not. Even a dog can abide by rules. Snatching babies is against the law where I live, it doesn't matter what you "believe" about that.

Answer 4

I only respect someone's beliefs after a simple measure of whether or not those beliefs:

1. Pose a danger to me or my family
2. Infringe on my rights and freedoms as a citizen
3. Harms the person who has the beliefs

And my measure of this isn't based on MY religious values per say but on objective legal, ethical and human rights principles.

Answer 5

I daresay that most people were taking your question to mean "religious beliefs" - not beliefs born of mental instability. Don't turn the question around and manipulate people's answers into something they're not.

Religious beliefs should be respected - until they're proven to cause serious damage such as what you just outlined here. At that point, say whatever the hell you want about them.

Answer 6

Whenever I hear someone say that we must respect the beliefs of others I make this distinction. Obviously there should be no blanket answer to such a question.

Which beliefs is always a valid question?

Answer 7

I respect anyone's beliefs, no matter how weird or horrific. Your right to free expression of your religion stops at my nose however. Believe what you want, but you touch my kid and I'll resist (harm, kill, maim, tickle fight) you with my entire being. It's the same with Christianity in the public sphere, I believe Christians can think whatever they want, but that doesn't mean they can do things that effect my life. Your rights end at my nose.

Answer 8

Exactly, that's why I didn't answer that question with "automatically".

For this same reason I also refuse to simply respect a persons belief in a god that calls homosexuals an abomination.

Answer 9

Not all beliefs are valid. Two beliefs in diametric opposition to one another cannot both be true -- it is illogical. (That does not mean either is correct, by the way -- it just means that both cannot be true. If I say all strawberries are black, and you say all strawberries are white, our beliefs are in opposition -- both cannot be true -- but neither of us is right.)

One may respect another person's RIGHT to believe as they will, but to respect all beliefs requires that you ignore the fact that most of what you are showing respect to is wrong.

A speaker I enjoy answered the "all beliefs are worthy of respect" topic thus: In some cultures, people are taught to love their neighbors. In others, people are taught to eat them. Both positions cannot be equally accepted.

Traditionally Christian countries seem to be at odds with traditionally Muslim countries in much the same way. Christians regard Jesus Christ as the Son of God, equal to God the Father -- Muslims believe Jesus to be a prophet like Mohammed, and only his equal. Christians are taught (though some seem to forget this) that hatred is, in God's eyes, murder itself. Muslims -- radical ones, anyway -- are taught that God requires them to kill those who do not accept Islam. Both positions cannot be correct. Logically, neither position is necessarily correct. But a Christian could respect a Muslim as a person, and vice versa.

Read the first few chapters of C.S. Lewis' book, Mere Christianity -- not to decide on Christianity as your religion, but to see how a brilliant Oxford scholar -- and former atheist -- wrestled with the logical questions surrounding spiritual beliefs.

Answer 10

Your rights end where my nose begins. I respect your beliefs so long as your beliefs do not include infringing or threatening my rights including my right to life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness. I respect you right to an opinion but once you voice your opinion I have a right to an opinion of it. I respect the beliefs of others when they confine those beliefs to themselves. If they involve me in their beliefs then they have transgressed upon my rights. In that case they have failed to respect me and my beliefs and I am no longer obligated to respect theirs.