Should we respect religion even if we think it is dangerous rubbish?

Question

Shouldn;t we have every right to say what we think of outlandish claims, such as "there is a god" and "God is watching you like a cctv camera" and "we wll be judged after we are dead" ?

Answer 1

I am religious. However, I fully respect the rights of others to believe (or disbelieve) whatever they like. If someone chooses not to believe in God, that's their right, and I fully respect their decision. I trust that non-believers will give me the same courtesy, and respect my right to believe as I wish. I certainly don't require anyone to agree with my religious beliefs, but I do hope that they'll at least acknowledge that I have the right to practice my faith, regardless of what they may personally think of it.

Answer 2

Bob, its a fine line, I always respect somebodies own ideas, as long as they don't try to force them onto me, at inappropriate times, then they cross the line with regard to my ideas, and so the gloves come off.

Here, we are on a site that is set up for discursive discussions about Religion and Spirituality, if there were a site - a sub site dedicated to just Evangelical Christianity discussion, I would not comment within it, for the boundaries of the subject would not include my own view-point. However, I would probably go to visit with mt big thumb if I got bored - lol

Religious belief is only dangerous if it is on the extremes of a religious group, and inflicted on minds too young to comprehend the damage such polarised views will do to such a young developing mind. The groups themselves are far more scary....

However, YA is not an inappropriate place, or time to talk about any religious or other ideas. We come here to ask and answer, and if you find the heat to hot, then get out of the proverbial kitchen. I think the absurdity of some religious beliefs, is one of the best arguments for opening minds - this is a place that people are discovering atheism, and its the loonies that help them to do that, not the atheists!

Answer 3

No.

I accept that people have the right to believe what they will. I will respect their sincerity, the virtues and sometimes the values of their religion, but I will not respect what is fundamentally daft or dangerous. If I did, I would equally have to respect any other stupid belief.

I will respect believers as people and if they knock on my door I am, time permitting, happy to discuss the reason for their visit. However, not all beliefs deserve respect and not all ideas should be tolerated.

Those of you who preach tolerance here, just how tolerant are you of suicide bombers or clerics that desire a holy war? How tolerant would you be if your country was divided by a concrete barrier at the order of a government influenced by believers convinced they were given a right to that land by their god?

Answer 4

You have the right to believe in what you want and say outlandish things as mentioned. However, do we have to respect religion, no. If religion was going to keep it's nose out of society and trying to influence government, then not a problem to respect it for what it is, but with it trying to influence how I live based on their childish beliefs, that is when it is dangerous. If religion stays where it should, in church or a temple or whatever, then that is OK. When it holds power on day to day living, then it must be stopped and destroyed.

Answer 5

If we think religion is outlandish rubbish then we should be entitled to say so. I see nothing special about religions that entitle them to special protection from criticism or even ridicule. As an atheist, I put up with all sorts of abuse and hatred from certain kinds of religious people on this site, but I don't try to have them banned or censored - that's the price I pay for my own freedom of speech. People like me defend their right to say what they want, but I know that if they had their way people like me would be shut up. Too bad. I will stand up for the universal right to freedom of speech, and any religious group that wants to deny that right should be b****slapped into line.

In short, I will tolerate anything except intolerance.

Answer 6

Free speech comes with responsibility. Just because the internet provides a safe forum for people to express their views doesn't mean they have no responsibilites to the persons being communicated to. The claims you refer to are time tested and believed by people for millenia. By calling them outlandish shows you have no respect for or have not taken the time to research these ideas, and you just want to spout off. What if there was a disrespect button on here and you were shut out for a week. Would you still be prone to speaking anything you want without being responsible? People would learn quickly that they have to back up what they say with a properly researched viewpoint.

Answer 7

Bob, as intelagent realists I think we are duty bound to respect the misguided. That of course doesn`t mean we have to respect the fantacies that they indulge in.

Answer 8

Everyone has a belief; whether it is a religion or not, you should still respect others' faiths.
In the end of the day, we are all the same but just different thoughts!

Answer 9

We should always respect the opinions, thoughts & beliefs of others even if we don't agree with them; no matter what the basis is, religious or otherwise.

Answer 10

NO...not unless your religious and believe in it...if you dont but still shout your gob off your just fuelling their fire...surely?

If your truly a non believer..why does it concern you so much that you have to question it in this way? isn't it better for you in the long run to just shut up and let those who do just get on with believing?

Its when the religious people come to my door and demand i believe in what they do i have problem.