Sensitivity to beliefs...

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by thomas_jefferson, Jan 5, 2011.

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  1. Should we be sensitive to the beliefs of others -- why? Should we be sensitive to the beliefs of Scientologists, for example? Why or why not? In modern terms, their beliefs and those other alien-based faiths are arguably less crazy than any of the Abrahamic religions. Yet I see Christians often deride this and other faiths while holding to cherished beliefs that are many times more far fetched.

    If an adult was running around saying that Santa Claus was real, how should we react? To atheists, we live in a world with hundreds of millions of people who believe in a Santa Claus of some sort. It is painfully hard not to say "there's no such thing as Santa Claus", you goofball. Why shouldn't we say it? Why should we be sensitive to things that are clearly wrong?

    When I was a Christian I hated those who attacked my beliefs but now I couldn't be more grateful. It is those people who challenged me and woke me up and made me realize I was wrong. I am a better person for it.
     
  2. BlueMason

    BlueMason Audaces fortuna juvat

    I go to the philosophy forum to discuss these types of issues :)
     
  3. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    "We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart." -- H.L. Mencken
     
  4. I really like that quote! There is a weird similar deference. The difference is that beauty and intelligence are at least somewhat ambiguous and relative terms. To say that, "I believe in a magical sky wizard and take as truth ancient myths" is less ambiguous.
     
  5. Thanks for your categorization. Are you going to run down the posts of the Off-Topic section referring every brought up issue to its appropriate forum? Links would be helpful if you take up this job as air traffic controller.
     
  6. emmzee

    emmzee New Member

    In western, post-modern society, often the worst thing a person can be seen as being is not being wrong, but being intolerant. Especially when it comes to religion, if I disagree with someone else, or say that I think they are wrong, I will be labeled "intolerant," ie the worst possible insult. In this view saying someone else is wrong is intolerant. But this hyper politically correct mentality misunderstands the concept of tolerance. It's a good thing to be tolerant, but tolerance implies disagreement. "Notice that one can't tolerate someone unless he disagrees with him. We don't "tolerate" people who share our views. They're on our side. There's nothing to put up with. Tolerance is reserved for those we think are wrong." (Greg Koukl)

    That said, there's a difference between disagreeing amicably, and disagreeing while being a dick. Religion is not an emotionally neutral subject like discussing the weather. There are sometimes double-standards from both sides. Some theists will take personal offense at having their beliefs challenged, while some atheists will be offended if a person starts talking about religion to them. That said, could you imagine if a group of Christians made a movie like Bill Maher's "Religulous" which was mocking, say, Buddhists or Hindus? There would be outrage and condemnation from the media, whereas Maher's film was given a free pass. Anyways, I don't see anything wrong with amicable disagreement. I don't like being wrong, but if I am, I want to know about it.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 5, 2011
  7. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

  8. emmzee

    emmzee New Member

  9. BlueMason

    BlueMason Audaces fortuna juvat

    Philosophy Forums

    It was not my intention to "run down the posts of the Off-Topic section", I merely made a simple post directing you elsewhere. I have provided a link (something a quick google search, such as this one: Let me google that for you ) in this reply. I find the philosophy forum rather intriguing and a plethora of questions much like yours get asked and many a philosophical thinkers reply. I thought that perhaps you might be interested in posing a question there, though from your reply to my post that may not be the case - no need of derogatory comments which you felt the need to close your post with.
     
  10. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    To smooth social relations and avoid making enemies unnecessarily. To keep those who disagree with us listening to us and not automatically opposing everything we say. To improve our chances of convincing them that they might actually want to start agreeing with us. Behaving in a friendly and sympathetic manner is just good rhetoric. It's usually counterproductive if we piss people off.

    You don't have to agree with them. But if you want to have any chance of cooperating with them or convincing them to agree to something, it's best not to be unnecessarily confrontational.

    Isn't that the same argument that fundamentalist evangelists use when they get in our faces? When they obey their "great commission" to try to remove us from what they see as our our lives of sin and corruption, and direct us onto what they are convinced is the path to righteousness?

    Yes, I know that atheist militants are convinced that the difference is that atheists are right and the Christians aren't. Of course, the Christian militants don't exactly see things the same way.

    Isn't it hypocritical for us to do things to them that we would condemn if they were done to us?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 7, 2011
  11. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Precisely emmzee.

    Per Christ:

    Mathew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (NKJV).

    Mark 13:32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (NKJV).
     
  12. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    You can say what you want, and believe what you want. Why do you care so much about others beliefs?

    I met some pretty smart liberals who could debate theology all day, usually with a snark and smarm straight out of the trash talking basketball paygrounds I grew up in. They loved to point out how stupid Christians are. Puting down a large portion of the population (here in the US) because you think you are the smartest person you know is your right, but don't get your panties in a wad when I call you an asshole. How come these same liberal people never turn there vitriol towards Islam?

    **Note I'm not calling TJ an asshole, although I most certainly would have no reservation about doing it, nor am I particularly religous**
     
  13. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member

    Do you have any more input on this TJ?

    [​IMG]
     
  14. emmzee

    emmzee New Member

    Due to certain comments made in the other thread re Liberty U, TJ was banned by the admin, so unfortunately he probably won't have much more to say here o_O
     
  15. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    LOL, it took me a while to figure out what the cricket meant. At first I thought you were referring to Leviticus 11:20-23.

    t_j has been banned. He was asking for it, literally. Let no one think that the reason he is banned is due to his expression of opinion, or creation of this thread (his point of view is shared by many respected and well-liked members of this board). However, as it stands, he will no longer be able to contribute to the topic he created.
     
  16. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Sorry, I didn't see it that way. TJ wasn't doing anything especially outrageous, yet he was threatened with being banned. His only crime was pointing out to that moderator how petty that was. The whole thing was a sort of Stanford prison experiment in miniature.

    As for the religious discussion, what all you who've only been here a year or two perhaps don't realize is that there used to be a lot more of that around here, before the Great Schism five years ago that led to most of the longtime DegreeInfo participants to go off and start another forum instead.

    -=Steve=-
     
  17. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    ...and DegreeInfo is much better off because of it.
     
  18. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member

    After seeing the other boards I'm inclined to agree with MC on this one.......this is the “best” forum on the net for DL and more. While the others are full of hatred and pettiness. This forum is not like that due to the moderators and of course, Chip.

    And we have no spam!!!!!
     
  19. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    While I respect your opinion, it is based on the premise that you know everything that was said. Since much of it occurred in private messages, there is a larger context and only the Moderators know the whole story.
     
  20. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Fair enough, it's true that my remark was based only on what we could all see.

    -=Steve=-
     

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