Can we oppose a belief or behavior without hating the person who believes or does it?

Question

Can we have good, positive, meaningful relationships with people we disagree with?

Do we have to agree to get along?

Do we have to force our beliefs on one another?

Do we have to label those who believe differently as stupid, ignorant, closed minded, bigoted, etc.?

Can we respect the beliefs and values of others even if they don't respect our own?

If we are open minded only to our own views isn’t that the definition of being closed minded?


This question is for both sides of the issue.

Answer 1

I think it all depends on the belief and the behavior.

Must we have a good, positive, meaningful relationship with someone who believes it is okay to sexually abuse a child?

Do we have to accept those who would torture, maim, and kill defenseless animals?

Must we respect the beliefs and values of those who consider themselves above the law, whether it be a government-instituted law or a law of nature?

To which "issue" are you referring?

Answer 2

Yes, as long as that person isn't trying to destroy us, we can.

We should agree to get along

No

No -- unless, again, they choose to try to take away our freedoms.

No -- there lies destruction for any group. When you respect the others' views while they are actively opposing your beliefs, ultimately only their beliefs will survive. Respect begets respect, appeasement does not -- just go back and look at the start of WWII if you think differently.

One can be open minded to all views without agreeing with more than one subset -- it goes back to the respect thing. I know fundamentalists who respect my rights just as I respect theirs. They are friends -- not close friends, but friends. We respect and are open to one another. That does not mean that they think my homosexuality is ok, or even my brand of Christianity; and it does not mean I think their brand of Christianity or their homophobia is ok. It does mean that we don't talk about those issues, and so we get along fine and can work toward shared goals in areas where we do agree. This is an old, but worthwhile method of handling differences.

I know other fundamentalists (from the same parish) who do NOT respect my rights. I therefore do not respect theirs -- our relationship is much colder, however, they don't take advantage of me -- which even our shared friends say they would try to do if I conceded an inch to them.

That may not be PC -- but its reality.

Thank you for asking.

Kind regards,

Reynolds Jones
[e-mail]

Answer 3

I think all religions have a fairly equal good-bad ratio. You're going to find lunatics of every religion pulling crazy @ss stunts and claiming they're "gods way" or "cleansing", etc...the sh*t list goes on and on. But, there are just as many people of the same religion who think those lunatics are just that - lunatics. People perceive their own religions in their own ways. For example, we all know quite a few Muslims have some ideas that are usually viewed as immoral. But, there are also Muslims who support equality - between the sexes, between the nations, etc. Sure, Islam has caused some pretty nasty stuff, but what religion hasn't? I think I'm among many when I say It's perfectly okay, possibly even healthy, to dislike some of the principals commonly presented in Islam. But, keep in mind, there are numerous Muslims who also dislike the very same things; who say it is the wrong message. Feel free to hate someone for their actions, religiously influenced or not, but not simply because of their religion. As for Islam itself being a threat...Do you remember that story about the woman who cut her child's arms off because God told her it needed to be done? Does that make Christianity a threat? No. It makes crazy Christians a threat. It's the individuals, not the religion.

Answer 4

i think you're compltely right. too many people waste their lives being offended at what others do, stuff that really doesn't affect them. If the person is a good person, and you can see that of course you can separate the two. my g/f is lft wing and im right wiong, and even though we get really angry with each other it always leads to make up sex, sometimes its a veryyyyyyyyyyy good thing!!! lol

Answer 5

I wouldn't be in a relationship with someone who was uncomfortable with homosexuality, because it'd interfere with my friendships. But if someone is genuinely uncomfortable/scared, not hateful, about gay people, I can't really blame them... stuff like that is society's fault.

I'm OK with beliefs opposing my own as long as they're not hateful.

Answer 6

Yes.
Yes.
No. Just stay away if possible.
Definitely not!
No, but sometimes it fits.
Absolutely, and we should. No since stooping to their level.
Yes. Many funadmentalists think this way.

Answer 7

No
Yes
No
No - but they usually are
No
Yes - but I don't care

For the record, I don't usually care enough to "hate" the person - I just don't value them.

Answer 8

No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes

Answer 9

Oh sure. I do it all the time.

Answer 10

http://www.godmademegay.com/Letter.htm