Religion

longship

(40,416 posts)

15. Like Hitchens has said

Reply to Odin2005 (Original post)

Tue Apr 3, 2012, 11:12 PM

Apr 2012

They wouldn't have the power now if they hadn't had the power before, when a religion had the power of government behind them and if you didn't accept it, they would kill you. It might take them a while to do that, but they'll get the job done.

As Daniel Dennett puts it, we have to break this spell that religion has over people. Not to make this world one of chromium and steel with no echo of religiosity, but to merely put distance between people's beliefs and government, politics, and science.

Atheists were not the ones who blew up the Bamiyan Buddhas. That was done by religious fanatics who were so intolerant of other beliefs that they felt they had to rid the world of one of its more splendid cultural landmarks. I know of no atheist that professes anything so vile.

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Tell me why I should respect people's "deeply held" religious beliefs? [View all] Odin2005 Apr 2012 OP

Because there is safety in numbers. darkstar3 Apr 2012 #1

At least in America, this "respect" is a one way street applied only to Christians. Dawson Leery Apr 2012 #2

Good point! Odin2005 Apr 2012 #3

You have no understanding, nor do you read, hear nor sense Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #20

But you must admit that many Christians (though not all by any means) edhopper Apr 2012 #33

Far toooooooo many! nt Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #48

Because if you do it publicly it will cause riots in some countries and people might die? ProgressiveProfessor Apr 2012 #4

I just asked the same question in GD Ron Obvious Apr 2012 #5

I respect everyone's *right* to hold any religious belief they want. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2012 #6

Bingo! Religious beliefs are like any other belief, like a political belief. stopbush Apr 2012 #22

That said, I don't make a habit of mocking other people's beliefs. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2012 #35

Agreed on all points... Joseph8th Apr 2012 #74

Why is it harder if it is a theological belief? cbayer Apr 2012 #79

"... if they are civil..." then I am, too... Joseph8th Apr 2012 #84

Agree. It is harder to maintain a civil discourse in this venue and cbayer Apr 2012 #89

Rspect implies hearing someone else. It has nothing to do with acceptance of the witness. Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #49

ALL beliefs are fair game, if you ask me arcane1 Apr 2012 #7

Maybe criticism and disagreement, but here probably not distain and ridicule. nt Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #50

Respect, or voice disprespect? nt rrneck Apr 2012 #8

All Peoples beliefs are like assholes, you know the saying:) tibbiit Apr 2012 #9

People DO change their minds. I've seen it many times. darkstar3 Apr 2012 #10

As have I. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #16

You are confusing beliefs with the people holding them. Odin2005 Apr 2012 #28

You don't have to. But if don't can you look at yourself in the mirror and consider yourself demosincebirth Apr 2012 #11

So, if you think Flat Earthers are a bit loony toons then are you being open minded? nt Kalidurga Apr 2012 #13

Dumb analogy. nt demosincebirth Apr 2012 #17

In response to a dumb generalization. darkstar3 Apr 2012 #18

The same reason you should respect a vegetarian when planning a meal, or... TreasonousBastard Apr 2012 #12

Does that work both ways? trotsky Apr 2012 #25

Well, I'd certainly expect a vegetarian not to object if I do eat meat. GliderGuider Apr 2012 #26

That's fine and dandy, but it's not the issue. trotsky Apr 2012 #27

I don't really much care if things aren't absolutely fair and balanced. GliderGuider Apr 2012 #43

So some people deserve more respect than others. trotsky Apr 2012 #44

Why does that matter? GliderGuider Apr 2012 #56

Because you're saying one group of people should expect to be respected in a way... trotsky Apr 2012 #57

No I'm not. I'm saying I can't change peoples expectations. GliderGuider Apr 2012 #59

Ah, so you... trotsky Apr 2012 #60

Yes, I think that expectation is silly. GliderGuider Apr 2012 #63

OK then, you are on the same side I am - in opposition to the person I initially responded to. trotsky Apr 2012 #64

There go the assumptions again. GliderGuider Apr 2012 #65

And what you've assumed about me could fill a library. trotsky Apr 2012 #102

;-) Cheers GliderGuider Apr 2012 #103

It's a good analogy... Joseph8th Apr 2012 #81

Here's your answer: PassingFair Apr 2012 #135

That's getting just a bit persnickety... TreasonousBastard Apr 2012 #36

So you are indeed saying there is a double standard. trotsky Apr 2012 #37

Did I say that? Where? I have had vegans for dinner... TreasonousBastard Apr 2012 #38

The meat-eater at a vegan's house is not happy. trotsky Apr 2012 #46

It is NOT a double standard... Joseph8th Apr 2012 #82

What if you're on the Atkins diet? trotsky Apr 2012 #101

I'm somewhat of an ass SATIRical Apr 2012 #97

Well sure, and so would I. trotsky Apr 2012 #104

If there were a person who ate ONLY meat SATIRical Apr 2012 #105

So the issue is how strongly one holds the beliefs? trotsky Apr 2012 #106

As an omnivor, I respect a veggie who serves me a veggie meal. I can eat it. Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #51

That's fine - but why not? trotsky Apr 2012 #55

If you don't value the relationship, be as snarky as you please Lydia Leftcoast Apr 2012 #110

Thanks for the condescension, but you didn't answer my question. trotsky Apr 2012 #111

You don't have to respect the belief, just the person who holds them, Lydia Leftcoast Apr 2012 #118

I could choose to have a fit now, I suppose... trotsky Apr 2012 #120

If they're not directly affecting you or harming anyone else, live and let live Lydia Leftcoast Apr 2012 #122

Yeah, I'll reject it, because you still didn't provide an answer. trotsky Apr 2012 #127

It is just a matter of common courtesy. Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #131

So when you say that creationism is silly skepticscott Apr 2012 #132

Your attack against my ethics is duly noted. trotsky Apr 2012 #134

To me it depends on the people, depends on the beliefs, thucythucy Apr 2012 #14

Like Hitchens has said longship Apr 2012 #15

You are free to ridicule anyone you want. Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #19

Perhaps we don't care about the "depth of faith" mr blur Apr 2012 #24

"to some of us" is one of the most honest things you have ever said here. nt Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #112

Well, thank you for the patronising insult - you finally said something that wasn't just either mr blur Apr 2012 #116

I think hat's #19 Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #119

Which was in response to an attack of your own. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #121

99% of believers view "God" as a sky daddy. The navel-gazing of theologians... Odin2005 Apr 2012 #30

You just totally made up this statistic, didn't you. cbayer Apr 2012 #39

80% of most statistics are made up. cleanhippie Apr 2012 #45

Thanks for missing the point. Odin2005 Apr 2012 #53

I may be *obvious to you*, but not to everyone. cbayer Apr 2012 #58

It's obvious to everyone who doesn't choose to ignore the facts about belief. trotsky Apr 2012 #108

I have never heard that term used by any serious theist--just by snarky others. Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #113

Have you considered that many may find your "depth of faith" to be ignorance personified? cleanhippie Apr 2012 #41

I think you just made an excellent point right here. (nt) eqfan592 Apr 2012 #66

Perhaps, but to TMO and others here, that is a "gotcha" question. cleanhippie Apr 2012 #70

Hundreds of Millions of Christians have great "depth of faith" skepticscott Apr 2012 #133

You shouldn't Gurgen4 Apr 2012 #21

Of course your right is respected. Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #52

100% pure, unadulterated bullshit. cleanhippie Apr 2012 #71

If you're wondering what post it was that made so many of us here... eqfan592 Apr 2012 #75

Fair enough---I'll make you a deal Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #114

Ooo, persecution! nt mr blur Apr 2012 #117

Did he claim persecution? Lydia Leftcoast Apr 2012 #123

Most of what he says claims persecution, mr blur Apr 2012 #125

LOL! You just did the worst possible thing you could do to your credibility. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #126

Take another look. Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #128

No, you take another look. trotsky Apr 2012 #129

Every time an atheist makes an unverifiable claim, like :"He is risen" PassingFair Apr 2012 #136

In the words of your daughter-"You just totally made up this statistic, didn't you?" Goblinmonger Apr 2012 #77

What horseshit. Rob H. Apr 2012 #83

I should have not used the word "all." Thats my opinion Apr 2012 #115

But when you took all the time you needed skepticscott Apr 2012 #130

I dunno why undergroundpanther Apr 2012 #23

As my mother told me, with mixed results, "Don't be an asshole." rug Apr 2012 #29

and if you are an asshole, don't whine & cry "bigotry" when people respond in kind WolverineDG Apr 2012 #31

Seems there's a lot of whining and cries of bigotry in this thread. rug Apr 2012 #32

That applies to you Theists, too. Odin2005 Apr 2012 #54

It applies to every human who breathes. rug Apr 2012 #62

So we can expect a change from you then? cleanhippie Apr 2012 #73

Deal. See you at Panmunjom. rug Apr 2012 #92

There's a fine distinction... backscatter712 Apr 2012 #34

Are you talking in general or on this site? cbayer Apr 2012 #40

Oh wow. Gonna bash the OP with the TOS, huh? Joseph8th Apr 2012 #85

Bashing with the TOS? cbayer Apr 2012 #86

So do you not think it is possible to disrespect a specific belief that a person may hold... eqfan592 Apr 2012 #87

I do feel the same about FSM. cbayer Apr 2012 #88

Actually, I think FSM is used... eqfan592 Apr 2012 #90

Most believers feel no need to prove anything. cbayer Apr 2012 #91

Some of the most vocal believers do seem to feel a need to prove something. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #94

As I said previously, but you might have missed it, I find it offensive because it is used as cbayer Apr 2012 #95

You may think it is insulting, but saying it doesn't highlight anything is simply incorrect. eqfan592 Apr 2012 #98

"Most believers feel no need to prove anything." That's exactly the problem. Odin2005 Apr 2012 #96

Exactly. (nt) eqfan592 Apr 2012 #99

Excellent point tama Apr 2012 #124

The "crime" of insulting a god has a name. trotsky Apr 2012 #107

Because community is very important. Jim__ Apr 2012 #42

You're missing a key point. trotsky Apr 2012 #109

I would ask why anyone should even pay attention to organized atheism or humblebum Apr 2012 #47

Yeah, why do you? n/t Goblinmonger Apr 2012 #78

Depends whether they're bothering you with it Prophet 451 Apr 2012 #61

Now that's more like it. GliderGuider Apr 2012 #69

In an ideal world, you wouldn't even know about them. MineralMan Apr 2012 #67

I respect them if they have a bad-ass god... provis99 Apr 2012 #68

Haha! Now we're talkin! eqfan592 Apr 2012 #72

Or my favorite Goblinmonger Apr 2012 #80

That's killer funny! Thanks! nt GliderGuider Apr 2012 #93

Sorry, my God is better... Humanist_Activist Apr 2012 #100

If they just "hold" them, and don't try to make me share them I'm usually fine with that. GliderGuider Apr 2012 #76