Should I respect Christian beliefs?

Question

Everytime I criticize the ohh so sacred christian religion people tell me that I SHOULD be repectful of other persons faith. Why is it taboo to critize somebody elses religious faith? What other areas of our lives are exempt from rational discourse? What makes religion so special? I dont respect your beliefs! I think your beliefs in the Judeo-Christian God is stupid.

Answer 1

I completely agree with you! The concept of respecting these superstitious and incredibly bizarre notions of "religious" people is now threatening the existence of mankind! Please read "End of Faith" by Sam Harris. It does a great job of "enlightening" the reader of the ridiculous beliefs that the religious institutions have used to control the masses for all of modern man's history.

There is a mental disconnect between religious faith and the real world. The "faithful" are brainwashed into accepting these strange stories and ideas out of fear of the unknown consequences of death. Would anyone believe a story today that a woman was impregnated by God or that a man was dead 3 days and came back to life like a zombie and then rose bodily into heaven? Why do these seemingly "normal" people accept these notions out of anything but sheer terror of death and groupthink? Can't they see how their religion is manipulating them for support? Do these people seriously think the customs of 2000 year old Hebrew writings are of any pertinence today?

Historically, religion and politics were the same thing. Whoever ruled an area claimed power invested by "God" and typically killed anyone who disagreed or doubted the imposed religion. Actually, if the Bible and Koran sheeple followed the book they claim is written by God, they would kill everyone who doesn't follow their flavor of mind-warp. It says so right there in the crazy manual! This is why you are right to NOT to respect these people's unreasonable ways.

Religion leads to separating people into different groups, which leads to conflict, war and killing. You don't need religion to learn how to live an ethical life of love, respect, and prosperity. We're all human. You can love everyone like Jesus taught, without believing that he was God or anything else unreasonable in the Bible.

Answer 2

Rational discourse doesnt equal being mean or talking down to people because they dont agree with you. I have no clue how you answer because I dont really keep track of most peoples names on here, so I dont know if you are doing this, but it seems like you are admitting to doing it.

You can respect a person and a persons beliefs without agreeing with them. Some people in here make references to burning crosses and burning Bibles and I think that is just so rude. What does rational discourse have to do with making a mockery of what another person considers sacred?

What annoys me about some atheists is that they complain about christians not respecting their nonbelief but then turn around and have zero respect for christians beliefs. If you want to be treated with respect and decency based on what you believe, or dont believe, then you should show the same courtesy to others.

Answer 3

Point is to respect people in general. I don't put faith into any one religion, but I am respectful of all people and all beliefs that are morally good.
Respecting doesn't mean you think they are swell, or that you agree with them-It means you don't bash and insult people, and that's just something you should have learned not to do by the time kindergarden ended.
You can still think a religion is lame, but once you start mocking it and throwing that point into peoples faces it is disrespectful. Just as it is disrespectful for religious people to throw their faith in non-believers faces if they didn't ask for it.
Tolerance is key, and there's never a reason to call people stupid-That only comes from ignorance and intolerance-It is what starts hate crimes.
being respectful in no way means you have to like something, it means you don't verbally hurt people.

Answer 4

You should be respectufl, even if they aren't.

There is a difference in an intellectual examination of faith and a blanket indictment ("I think your beliefs in the Judeo-Christian God is stupid.").

You can ask "Why does God preach love, then goes about hurting and killing his 'children'?", as this is an important question to ask. I want clarification on this point as well

Answer 5

It depends on how you criticize. If you just start name calling (third grader style) then you probably are going to get lambasted but, if you criticize it in a respectful way you'll be okay. Religion is special becase it is deep within the soul, its something you can't see but it something that is so strong that you believe in it, this is what makes the Christian faith so special.

Answer 6

Your assertion isn't perfect. Nowhere interior the Bible does it state unbelievers will go through eternal torment. that's a pretend doctrine. What the Bible does coach, and what Jesus upheld, grew to become into that unbelievers might get carry of an possibility quicker or later interior the 2nd resurrection of the ineffective to evaluate the actual actuality. that they did no longer understand until now, or had no possibility to hearken to. If, after being given this actuality and information, they pick to reject God's techniques, they'll nonetheless no longer go through in eternal endless torment. Does that definitely sound like love and mercy? those shall be sure to go through the 2nd dying, from which there is not any resurrection. This theory gadget possesses cohesion, outward undertaking and actual hearts. this way is one in all overcoming satisfaction, egocentric ambition and self righteousness in favour of the culmination of the Spirit, love, exhilaration, peace, lengthy-suffering, gentleness, and faith in action. you do no longer could desire to admire it, .I on the different hand, won't be able to think of going returned to a fashion it relatively is futile and produces no longer something spiritually.

Answer 7

Look, I'm not gonna sit here and argue with you. I'm Gnostic Christian, so I'm one of the rare ones who knows that no matter what I say, you are going to believe what you want. Its cool with me that you find my beliefs dumb. I personally couldn't give two sh*ts what you think of me. I'm gonna live my life, and regardless of what you say to me, I'm gonna respect your thoughts. You are allowed to say what you want, just as much as any Christian, or anyone of any other faith.

And it sounds to me like you've had a few run ins with some of those so-called "Christians" who think that their beliefs allow them to insult you as much as they want. We aren't all like that. My best friend is an atheist, and when she and I discuss religion, I listen to whatever she has to say, and the other way around. I hope you don't carry that same attitude in your everyday life.

Peace & Blessed Be.

-The Gnostic Christian (former Wiccan practitioner)

edit:

And by the way, in your rant, you sound no better than those "Christians".

Answer 8

You should respect the beliefs even though you do not believe in them yourself. Reason being is that I respect you for being an atheist. Everyone has their opinions and Beliefs, religious or personal, you sj=hould respect whatever they are. God bless.

Answer 9

I'm a parcticing Non-Xian. Having said that I respect Xian beliefs.

BUT I do not respect the acts of the few narrow-minded Zealots that spoil things for everyone, both Xian and Nnon.

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Answer 10

If you do not believe you should not respect also.. But, you should know that people are emotional about their beleifs, so you should respect a human even if he is a christian and should not try to make them feel hurt.

healthy criticism is good but insult should be avoided.