Should I ''respect'' Bible and Koran believers?

ThomasCovenant

Believers in the Koran/Islam, that's all of them, not just so called extremists, believe that I, as an unbeliever, will be the fuel for the fires of hell. That's nice.

They, along with ALL Bible believers, worship a god who is, according to his written publications, a right bastard.

I despise their god/s.

I find that I do not respect their beliefs.

I cannot help but think that when all the philosophical talking of this, that and the other is done, they're just idiots.

I, on my down days, find that I do not respect them as human beings. But I think this is wrong.

But I find it hard to respect someone who as an adult still believes in Father Christmas and the tooth fairy.

How do I overcome this?

new hope and happiness

I am sure we all have our redeming qualities...

Phizzy

I struggle with this to a degree, but find that I manage to be polite, considerate and respectful when talking face to face with believers of any kind.

But at a distance, for example watching them, as strangers, come out with their drivel on TV or on-line, I find it difficult to not sneer at them almost.

I don't think if this is your problem too, that you or I need to get over it, as long as when we actually interact with people we treat them well.

Certainly their beliefs themselves deserve no respect whatsoever, and especially deserve no special protection or treatment. Nowhere in the world should have Laws aginst Blasphemy for example, but of course, many benighted nations do.

We only got rid of ours here in the U.K a few years ago.

So, we do not need to feel guilty if we lampoon or tear apart the beliefs of a person or group, those beliefs deserve such treatment.

Carry on as you are Tom, I think you are doing O.K !

yadda yadda 2

Why do you have to respect them? Why not just feel pity or empathy for them as you would feel pity for a brainwashed North Korean, for example. Were you not a brainwashed JW once, and so can you not empathize with their position? They are merely parroting the cultural and religious mileu they were born into, they're not subhumans for pity's sake.

KateWild

Well I believe in God. I find that many athiests reapect me for the rest of who I am not just as someone who belives in an unprovable sky daddy. But I am on here working through my beliefs, and if an athiest is impatient towards me I don't take it personally.

One athiest poster sent me a PM encouraging me, he was concerned another poster was being too harsh. Yadda and Phizzy have been okay with my gap filling ideas of God. I would suggest you have come here for help, but bear in mind so have believers. Be a kind and patient person, but tell them what you believe, and don't let them bully you into changing your beliefs.

Kate xx

cofty

Most believers compartmentalise their minds. Respect them for the good and intelligent people they are but respecting them also includes not indulging their delusions.

tornapart

Beliefs a person holds shapes them into that person they are. If the beliefs they hold have shaped them into a good, kind, loving person (regardless of what God they believe in, or no God at all), then I will respect their beliefs too.

If their beliefs have turned them into a self-righteous bigot, then no, I don't respect those beliefs.

Fernando

I believe you will find totally opposite perspectives when comparing religious and spiritual persons, whether Christian, Jew or Muslim.

My views have changed 180 degrees since encountering and growing in faith and spirituality, whilst my Watchtower imposed apostate religiosity, legalism and moralism grows weaker by the day.

Watkins

Respect? Isn't respect something that grows out of knowing a person, the way they live their lives, the characteristics that make them respectable and admirable? I don't think that 'respect' hinges on what a person reads in the privacy of their home, their places of worship, or simply what a person believes in their own heart.

It's the same thing, isn't it - the same attitude we had as witnesses? Oh how much 'better' we were than anyone else - because of what we read at home and in the kh and the exclusive thoughts we entertained in our minds and hearts?

It's time to break those chains of hate and exclusive love, people! Love them all, apply sympathy and empathy as needed - give them a chance to earn your respect/disrespect by who they are as individuals. Keep an open mind for cryin' out loud!

W

DATA-DOG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_3GQu7dm-I

Should I ''respect'' Bible and Koran believers?

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