[Inverse]

Belief systems do not automatically deserve respect. It's as simple as that.

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[EonBlueApocalypse]

I respect the right for people to be religious but I do not respect religion itself.

[miser]

I don't have respect for religions (as a construct), but I do have respect for people. What's important I think is that we respect people, not belief systems, and that we can take the measure of a person from their actions, not what they claim to believe. I can respect an atheist who gives to the poor better than I can respect a Christian who purports to believe every word of Jesus' teachings, but supports capital punishment.

[Sir Fox]

I don't respect religions - I abhore the fact that grown up humans decide to believe in fairy tales and accept sexist, intolerant, tyrannic, homophobic, unjustified, malevolent, unreasonable myths as the principles of their life.

I do not lose my complete respect for religious people but my respect towards them decreases due to the fact that they voluntarily cripple their own mind.

[Leon Trotsky]

(Original post by Norton1)
Kind of difficult to have respect for religion as an atheist where there's some bloke in Rome sitting on a golden throne saying we need to help the poor.

Lest anyone think I'm being facetious;

Attachment 159630

It's actually made out of wood and painted gold. And his hat? Old cereal boxes with sequins glued on. They're thriftier than you think, Catholics.

[Callum17]

I'm an atheist but I think I do respect religion. I may not believe myself but I think that religion can bring happiness and meaning to a lot of people so in that way it's a good thing for a lot of people to have.

I'd like to believe but I can't but I'm happy to let other people believe and won't question them on things like that, until they start trying to make me believe of course


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[py0alb]

(Original post by levellingmcs)
I go to a Catholic school and I am one of few atheists in the school.

Many of the atheists that I have met say that they have no respect for religion. I have a huge level of respect for religion and would like to believe in God, I just can't and I suppose I don't know why. I can understand why religious people may have no respect for atheists but I do not understand why atheists have no respect for religious people.

What do you think? Do most atheists have no respect for religion and if you are an atheist, why not?

Thanks

Do most gay right campaigners have respect for homophobia? Do scientists have respect for homeopathy?

Bigotry and superstition needs to be challenged and confronted, not "respected".

[FrigidSymphony]

I respect people too much to respect their religious beliefs.

[prog2djent]

I think its fair to say that followers of the two major religions are bigotted beacuse of the religion.

[levellingmcs]

(Original post by Aoide)
So if someone strongly believes an action is right because their religion says so they should be free to act on it at the cost of equality and fairness?

Well, i'm sure the extremists agree.

I never once said that those actions are okay!


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[Empire08]

(Original post by levellingmcs)
I go to a Catholic school and I am one of few atheists in the school.

Many of the atheists that I have met say that they have no respect for religion. I have a huge level of respect for religion and would like to believe in God, I just can't and I suppose I don't know why. I can understand why religious people may have no respect for atheists but I do not understand why atheists have no respect for religious people.

What do you think? Do most atheists have no respect for religion and if you are an atheist, why not?

Thanks

How do you work that one out?

I respect the right of people to practise their religion. I certainly don't respect religion however. Why would I?

[levellingmcs]

(Original post by Empire08)
How do you work that one out?

I respect the right of people to practise their religion. I certainly don't respect religion however. Why would I?

"I understand" does not mean, I agree. For example, I may understand why someone runs a red light but I do not condone the issue!




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[Bonnier]

It's possible to respect a belief without agreeing with it.

I disagree with Islam but I respect a lot of the things it promotes. Not everything, of course, but I wouldn't say it is an ideology undeserving of any respect.

[Empire08]

(Original post by levellingmcs)
"I understand" does not mean, I agree. For example, I may understand why someone runs a red light but I do not condone the issue!




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Yes, but why would you understand a religious person not giving respect to an atheist, but not vice versa? Just curious.

[porcelainwhite]

I mostly pity them.

[Risserd]

I judge individuals, and i have no respect for religion whatsoever

[levellingmcs]

(Original post by Empire08)
Yes, but why would you understand a religious person not giving respect to an atheist, but not vice versa? Just curious.

Fair enough. As I have said before, religious people believe that their God will punish them and may be scared to show respect for an atheist where as an atheist has nothing to be scared of. I suppose you could create the argument that they show respect for the lack of respect from them.


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[Bright.Inspiration.]

(Original post by levellingmcs)
I can understand why religious people may have no respect for atheists but I do not understand why atheists have no respect for religious people.

Why is it okay for religious people to not respect atheists but not the other way around?

I am an atheist. I respect those who respect me. I respect people if they're good individuals and worthy of that respect in my view. Whether someone is religious or not is irrelevant. I disagree with their points of view but I still respect them if they are good people. And I also expect this respect in return.

If someone says to me that I'll go to hell etc etc for not following their religion, then no, I don't want to respect them because in my view they are too narrow-minded. People who force their religion onto others by going on and on about it and giving threats like "You will burn in hell if you don't agree with us" are generally annoying people. But the religious people who keep it to themselves and are respectful to my lack of belief are absolutely fine - a lot of my friends are like this, and so of course I respect them.

[freakymonkey]

As an atheist with many religious friends, I live by one of their favourite phrases - "Love the sinner hate the sin". They are great people, but their beliefs are not great, the bible promotes ignorance and hatred. That said, I have no reason not to get along with nice people just because of their own religion, especially since none of them try to push it on me that much.

[Bright.Inspiration.]

(Original post by Norton1)
Kind of difficult to have respect for religion as an atheist where there's some bloke in Rome sitting on a golden throne saying we need to help the poor.

Lest anyone think I'm being facetious;

Attachment 159630

(Original post by Alofleicester)
This seems appropriate:
Attachment 159631

I respect religious people - my respect isn't won or lost simply on something you believe in, but I do not respect religion, it's harmful and divisive.

Very good points.