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GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
23. I've generally stopped trying to reconcile others' opinions with my own.
Tue Feb 28, 2012, 07:05 PM
Feb 2012

It's a no-win game, and it leads straight to judgment and prejudice. I prefer not to diminish others if I can help it.

I've changed beliefs any number of times myself, including my previous belief in the value of judging others by their beliefs. Because of the changes I've seen in myself I don't regard beliefs as a permanent feature of anyone's inner landscape. Most beliefs come into a person from the outside - they are learned from other people or the general culture. Any particular belief might be more or less useful in particular circumstances, but all beliefs are useful under some conditions - if they weren't we wouldn't hold them in the first place.

I have yet to encounter a belief that was "right" or "wrong" in any absolute sense - not my own, and not anyone else's. This all makes judgement a rather pointless exercise, IMO.

To go back to the OP, not judging others' beliefs makes it much easier to get along with them.

Not just brilliant idea for a post but hysterical. snagglepuss Feb 2012 #1
I don't believe much of anything and I don't give a shit if you do. Warpy Feb 2012 #2
And if you see your country edhopper Feb 2012 #4
Different issue, entirely Warpy Feb 2012 #7
Except its not. cleanhippie Feb 2012 #10
The point of the thread was how people coexist, not how they disagree. GliderGuider Feb 2012 #12
Not a red herring edhopper Feb 2012 #8
The very act of characterizing beliefs as "what anyone uses to get through... Silent3 Feb 2012 #11
Sorry, but what's wrong with this, exactly?: mr blur Feb 2012 #16
Of course it doesn't make one guilty of "bullying" GliderGuider Feb 2012 #17
Anyone who considers that "random example" bullying doesn't get... Silent3 Feb 2012 #18
OK, so we're talking just about Internet behaviour then? GliderGuider Feb 2012 #19
That's dancing around the point of the OP, however. Silent3 Feb 2012 #22
I've generally stopped trying to reconcile others' opinions with my own. GliderGuider Feb 2012 #23
I don't even get how that can work. Silent3 Feb 2012 #26
Deep and shallow tama Feb 2012 #27
Most of the bullying tama Feb 2012 #24
(7) ... we disagree but don't be a dick. rug Feb 2012 #3
8) We have more in common than we do differences cbayer Feb 2012 #5
I never suggested that anything was wrong with getting along. Silent3 Feb 2012 #9
(6c) ...isn't a member of my ethnic group. FarCenter Feb 2012 #6
9. "Thank you for sharing. Have a nice day." nt GliderGuider Feb 2012 #13
HA HA, but I have never heard, seen or known a theologian who takes that stance. Thats my opinion Feb 2012 #14
You don't have to be a theologian to have a theology. Silent3 Feb 2012 #15
You don't have to be a scientist to make a cogent statement about science--but it might help. nt Thats my opinion Feb 2012 #20
Is that your way of diplomatically avoiding the issue that the muddled masses... Silent3 Feb 2012 #21
Very good tama Feb 2012 #25
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