Why is there so much disrespect when it comes to...?

Question

Why is there so much disrespect on the topic of religion and beliefs? Can we not be passionate about what we believe, and still be respectful of others? What does arrogance prove?

Yeah, I am new here. You guys are heavy:) Well, I am a christian, but I don't know how I feel about absolutely everything. But I do try to respect those who respect me. And those who don't, I ignore. There is no changing people who want to attack you. Its really amazing how many different points of views are out there! And it's comical to see the one's who are just trying to stir things up actually succeed. I have a 4 year old- I'm used to aggravation:)

Answer 1

Can we be passionate about what we believe and still respect others? Yes!

Arrogance, disrespect, rudeness...these only turn people away from the religion you are supposedly following. A true sign that a person is connected with the Spirit is he/she is kind, compassionate, wise, and does not feel the need to control the world/people around him/her.

Yet all too often (as you are mentioning) people feel their faith calls them to see the world in black and white terms. Either you believe, or you don't. And...either you believe the right way, or you don't. I simply cannot believe that Jesus (or The Buddha, etc.) really cares about the "right way."

I think Jesus only cares about our commitment. A commitment to a way of love that emphasizes surrendering to the Spirit while being compassionate to all beings.

Psalms 112:4) Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

Answer 2

Some people, religious or otherwise, feel that if you're not for them, then you're against them and are stupid for feeling the way you do. They're willing to belittle other's beliefs just to make themselves feel better. Arrogance proves nothing and makes everyone that ever associates with that belief look like fools.

Rather than try to make others feel like idiots when I'm on this site, I've resolved to ignore and shun the falsehoods people blast here about my faith and endeavor to answer the questions of genuine, honest-hearted people who just want to know some information.

I am deeply passionate about my beliefs but I'm not going to go around calling people sinners or the Antichrist. That's disrespectful and un-Christian like. I don't have the right to judge others as I am as imperfect as anyone. The God I worship is a god of love; in fact love is an identifying mark of true Christians. (John 13:34, 35; Rom 3:23; 1 John 4:8)

The decision to believe what you want is up to you, no matter how good/bad you think the points I bring up are.

Answer 3

Our confrontational nature prevails more often than not. Even when you're respectful 99% of the time, you may read that one line of text that sets you off. Or something you say gets completely misunderstood and you feel the need to set some people straight. I can be very patient and tolerant, but while I do have a long fuse, at the end of the day it's attached to a big *** bomb. It's a struggle to stay on your good side at all times, every once in a while that dark side lets loose.

You can't expect it to be any different with religion. I find it more annoying when people are at eachother's throats over which is better, the Xbox 360 or PS3. Or some other meaningless quarrel that really has no importance in the whole scheme of things. People argue more about reality shows than the political races. Religion and beliefs are extremely important to people and they should be very passionate about them. Sometimes it sets off their bad side, but that's understandable.

Answer 4

Those who don't know speak and those who do know avoid foolish arguments. People arguing have the wrong spirit. We're told to preach with "deep respect." I assume respect for the wisdom and worth of the other individual and not a grandiose view of ourselves. Christians are caught up in the world and even some atheists can be narrow. Cyrus was a pagan and prefigured Christ. Go figure. Christ asked, " How is it that the gentiles do the things of God while you, knowing the word of God, do it not?"

Answer 5

I think arrogance proves that a lot of these people claiming to be Atheists or agnostics just want someone to blame for their problems, since if they do not believe in anything, they have to be rude to someone and blame somebody for all their problems. You are right, we all should be trying to understand the other persons' views and respect them, even if we do not agree with them. Arrogance, to me , proves how cowardly and uneducated or pathetic these people really are.
They probably have no respect for themselves or their parents, families or love in their lives. I am sorry they are so unhappy and some may not even recognize this. That is the worst thing of all, that they waste their energy being negative about everyone and everything. I am praying for them. Will you not pray with me for a better world?

Answer 6

I agree with you.

We should be respectful to one another.
I also know that truth will offend no matter how you present it sometimes. If you want everyone to love you and be popular, just keep TRUTH away from them.

I must also say that some of us are just emotional. We get even more emotional if we do not know how to defend our beliefs.with conviction. The sad thing is, sometimes telling truth can be mistaken for pride. We must be careful to at least look for any truth to what is being said to us, because we all can't be right all the time. We also need the humility to admit that we're wrong when our conscience tells us so.

Answer 7

There are as many different answers to that as there are personalities...

But I think you're asking a rhetorical question, not a true "why" question...and perhaps you got an answer anyway in the vehemence of some of the responses.

Even people who are normally kindhearted sometimes hold their beliefs (there is a God and his name is Allah, Jesus is Lord, there is no god) so passionately that they become blind to respecting people who hold differing views.

Answer 8

WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD. IT IS GOING TO HELL IN A HAND BASKET....AND FAST. THAT IS WHY THERE IS NO RESPECT, IN GENERAL, FROM A 'GROUP' OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT ACCEPT OTHERS' VIEWS.

I have friends from all different religions, Muslims, Christians, Spiritual but not religious, Agnostics, YOU NAME IT. THE ONE COMMON THING WITH THEM ALL IS THAT WE DO NOT DISRESPECT EACH OTHER'S BELIEFS. WE ARE STILL ABLE TO CARE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER, SHARE OUR LIVES AND NOT GET BENT BECAUSE ONE SAYS JESUS AND AND ANOTHER SAYS BUDDAH. WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE OTHER MEANS AND THOSE WHO ARE AGNOSTIC, ~THEY JUST ADD THEIR INPUT, WITHOUT ARGUMENTS. OF COURSE, WE DO NOT REALLY DISCUSS RELIGION OR BELIEFS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT FRIENDS TRYING TO CONVINCE EACH OTHER THAT OUR WAY IS THE ONLY WAY TO BELIEVE. IT CAN BE DONE; HOWEVER, IN THE BIGGER SCHEME OF THE WORLD....NADA!

Answer 9

Amber as Christians we don't want to be rude to anyone.God loved me so much that He excepted me just as I was,But He also loved me enough not to leave me that away.

Isaiah 1:17 tells us that we are to "learn to do well" doing well is not the nature of man,this is something that we must learn to do.We learn from one another and as Christians James 3:17 tells us that we are to be "easily entreated". I must admit this is not a virtue of mine but something I need to do if I want to learn to do well and please the Lord.Isaiah 1:17 also tells us to "seek judgment",this would cause us to want to always maintain an open door for reproof from our Brothers and Sisters.I agree with your question but thought maybe it would be a good idea to look at both sides.

Answer 10

Arrogance and disrespect indicates that one has doubts about their espoused religion or views ( albeit that these doubts are subconscious). These doubts and the need to reinforce or prove these to be true are the reason behind pogroms and wars.