Does faith deserve respect?

[frg001]

Great video, by someone not scared to say what he thinks...

Pat Condell, I salute you.

YouTube - Why does faith deserve respect?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Rational faith deserves far more respect than does irrational zealous antitheism.

 

[Dunemeister]

Clearly, the video is "arguing" that faith cannot be rational. So what's one supposed to do? Put faith in Condell's argument, I s'pose.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I can't get video, but it seems that faith is an important part of the human experience. It at least deserves respect in that way.

Is faith all that irrational? For someone to truly have faith, there must be a rational reason.

But then, who said that humans must always be rational?

 

[horizon_mj1]

Do not get me wrong in any way. I agree with certain aspects of atheism, but the gentelman in this video sounds like he is the one who is uncomfortable with faith. Apparently the only concept of the word he has even being a so called devout atheist is attached to religion, which I find quit ironic. He has faith that there is no God therefore the man making the statements that faith does not deserve respect is saying that not even he deserves respect. I agree that it is wrong and demented to teach a child about Hell and damnation. Personally, i let my own children come to me on their own, then I asked them what they really thought and elaborated on that. I also taught them not to discount any religion and to have enough respect for all religions; if however they ever felt uncomfortable with how someone was portraying a belief to them, they did not have to listen (no matter who it is speaking). I do not agree with imposing ones beliefs on ANYONE. Therefore that is the one thing I agree with the speaker of the video, other than that, I think he is someone who is fearful and uncomfortable with his own beliefs and really needs a dictionary. It is pretty sad he does not even have any faith in himself.

To answer the question in short: YES faith does deserve respect. It is the imposing of ones faith onto another when the barrier between right and wrong are infringed.

 

[ChristineES]

I have a slow dial-up so I am not going to view the video, but I have always believed that everyone deserves basic respect. Unless someone has done something harmful to someone else (on purpose, that is)or things of that nature, everyone deserves to be treated with courtesy.
Why do people think they have a right to tell someone else that what they do is wrong? Gays don't like religious people to tell them that and I don't blame them. Why do some people think that we of faith don't want the same.

 

[Beckett]

Faith is sadly overrated while doubt is sadly underrated. One of the earliest people to realise this was Socrates.

P.S. It's good know Pat Condell is being heard even here. He has a nack for saying things that need to be heard.

 

[horizon_mj1]

The Random House College Dictionary:

faith; (1) confidence or trust in a person or thing. (2)belief that is not based on proof. (3) belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion. (4) belief in anything as a code of ethics, or the occurrence of a future event.

It does not matter what you choose to label your belief system as, you still have faith when it comes to religious beliefs. No matter if you believe in God, Gods, or No God (Gods). So what if someone believes differently from you. If it bothers you so much that someone believes differently from you, you are the one who should re-evaluate their beliefs. On the other hand if it offends someone if you ask them to join in your faith and you know they choose not to and have chosen not to believe in God or Gods, they should be respected as well. It goes both ways.

By the way it is good to know how some people can really show their lack of knowledge and seem to be proud of it.

 

[Beckett]

By the way it is good to know how some people can really show their lack of knowledge and seem to be proud of it.

Really? Well I don't think that's good to know at all.

 

[horizon_mj1]

really? Well i don't think that's good to know at all.

lol...

 

[Storm]

I haven't watched the video yet (kinda pressed for time, sorry), but I'll answer the OP anyway.

It depends on the individual. I respect anyone I consider strong in their faith for having the courage of their convictions.

 

[gnomon]

Great video, by someone not scared to say what he thinks...

Pat Condell, I salute you.

YouTube - Why does faith deserve respect?

Of course not.

Rarely does _______ deserve respect.

Specifically granting a level of respect to any belief just for being a belief is usually a mark of intellectual cowardice. Every belief rest on its own merits. I see no reason to state that basic beliefs or religious faith deserve or do not deserve respect a priori of reason.

I didn't watch the video either as I've seen Condell's videos and website before. Nothing to holler about.

It does not matter what you choose to label your belief system as, you still have faith when it comes to religious beliefs.

Only if one is given to useless semantics to make a completely useless point.

 

[Storm]

OK, I'm watching the video now. Apparantly (gathered from his own opening remarks) he refers to those who have faith as "mentally ill." This is sheer bigotry, and all his rationalization can't change that.

Religion wants to impose a universal morality, which is why it has always attracted the kind of person that thinks other people's private lives are their business.
​

Well, no. Religion doesn't want anything. Concepts don't have motives. I'll assume he means "the religious," but he's painting us with far too broad a brush, and it just comes off as more bigotry.

We've given religion ideas above its station, and we've persuaded it that it's something that it's not.
​

He keeps talking about religion as though it were an entity. This is just stupid.

The truth is that faith is nothing more than the deliberate suspension of disbelief. It's an act of will. It's not a state of grace; it's a state of choice.
​

Wrong. We don't choose what we believe. Also, ask 5 people what faith is, and you'll get 50 answers.

Because without evidence, you've got no reason to believe apart from your willingness to believe.
​

Many believers are such because their personal experiences have provided them with evidence. I'm one of them. Not all faith is blind.

And why is faith considered some kind of virtue?
​

OK, point to him. Faith shouldn't be considered a virtue, in my book.

Faith, by definition, is unexamined.
​

BS!

... if it could, it would regulate every single action, word, and thought of every person on this planet.
​

More bigotry.

Well, I think belief in God is an impure thought. It pollutes our understanding of reality. It gets in the way. It brings out the worst in the best of us, so that we're even prepeared to stoop so low as to poison the unformed minds of the people we love the most: our children.
​

Ah, and here we get to the heart of the matter, and it is, as I have already pointed out, bigotry. This guy has as much blind faith as any evangelist, and he is guilty of exactly that with which he accuses religion: wanting toimpose his beliefs on everyone else. I hate hypocrites.

Now he's just ranting....

I can understand why people are drawn to Scripture and religion, because it's so easy.
​

Not if you're doing it right.

But what you've got to understand is that believing in a thing, no matter how strongly, desn't necessarily make it real.
​

... Like the belief that there is no God. I'll say it again, this guy has as much blind faith as any believer I know of.

And that's the bottom line, here: evidence.
​

Show me evidence that there is no God. I dare you.

Peace to everyone, and may you get all the respect that you deserve.
​

Which is none, in his case. He's a bigot and a hypocrite.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Good post.

 

[Storm]

Thank you.

 

[Apex]

Good post.

I second that.

 

[Storm]

Well, thank you, too.

 

[ChristineES]

I fruballed you, Storm, for that post. I agree it is a great post and needs no response- it says everything needed.

 

[frg001]

OK, I'm watching the video now. Apparantly (gathered from his own opening remarks) he refers to those who have faith as "mentally ill." This is sheer bigotry, and all his rationalization can't change that.

Religion wants to impose a universal morality, which is why it has always attracted the kind of person that thinks other people's private lives are their business.
​

Well, no. Religion doesn't want anything. Concepts don't have motives. I'll assume he means "the religious," but he's painting us with far too broad a brush, and it just comes off as more bigotry.

We've given religion ideas above its station, and we've persuaded it that it's something that it's not.
​

He keeps talking about religion as though it were an entity. This is just stupid.

The truth is that faith is nothing more than the deliberate suspension of disbelief. It's an act of will. It's not a state of grace; it's a state of choice.
​

Wrong. We don't choose what we believe. Also, ask 5 people what faith is, and you'll get 50 answers.

Because without evidence, you've got no reason to believe apart from your willingness to believe.
​

Many believers are such because their personal experiences have provided them with evidence. I'm one of them. Not all faith is blind.

And why is faith considered some kind of virtue?
​

OK, point to him. Faith shouldn't be considered a virtue, in my book.

Faith, by definition, is unexamined.
​

BS!

... if it could, it would regulate every single action, word, and thought of every person on this planet.
​

More bigotry.

Well, I think belief in God is an impure thought. It pollutes our understanding of reality. It gets in the way. It brings out the worst in the best of us, so that we're even prepeared to stoop so low as to poison the unformed minds of the people we love the most: our children.
​

Ah, and here we get to the heart of the matter, and it is, as I have already pointed out, bigotry. This guy has as much blind faith as any evangelist, and he is guilty of exactly that with which he accuses religion: wanting toimpose his beliefs on everyone else. I hate hypocrites.

Now he's just ranting....

I can understand why people are drawn to Scripture and religion, because it's so easy.
​

Not if you're doing it right.

But what you've got to understand is that believing in a thing, no matter how strongly, desn't necessarily make it real.
​

... Like the belief that there is no God. I'll say it again, this guy has as much blind faith as any believer I know of.

And that's the bottom line, here: evidence.
​

Show me evidence that there is no God. I dare you.

Peace to everyone, and may you get all the respect that you deserve.
​

Which is none, in his case. He's a bigot and a hypocrite.

Interesting post. But I disagree. If you watch his videos he is simply retaliating against those forces of religion which demand respect, and give nothing in return. He is far from a bigot. He is acting like someone trapped in a corner...which all people who do not WANT organised religion telling them how they should live their lives, and what they can and cannot say, think or do, ARE.

I only wish more people had his courage.

 

[Beckett]

This is sheer bigotry, and all his rationalization can't change that.

Ok so you think he acting like a bigot. But can you argue against his points?

I'll assume he means "the religious," but he's painting us with far too broad a brush, and it just comes off as more bigotry.

Ok yes, he's being a bigot, you've said that part already.

He keeps talking about religion as though it were an entity. This is just stupid.

Ok so he's being stupid and a bigot. This is getting monotonous.

Wrong. We don't choose what we believe.

WRONG! WRONGWRONGWRONG!!! NO!

Many believers are such because their personal experiences have provided them with evidence. I'm one of them.

"Personal evidence?" So rather than becoming a believer out of blind acceptance as Pat Condell accuses, you became a believer when you were presented with evidence that's unavailable to anyone but you. Well not that I don't trust you buuutt....

BS!

Best argument I've ever heard. Two letters and an exclamation mark.

More bigotry.

Again with the bigotry. I think we all know how you feel about the argument already.

Ah, and here we get to the heart of the matter, and it is, as I have already pointed out, bigotry.

...

This guy has as much blind faith as any evangelist

In what?

Now he's just ranting....

You or Pat?

Not if you're doing it right.

I assume by "doing it" you mean following scripture? Well then great. Scripture tells us the right way to live, now all we need is a book that tells us how the right way to live is lived right.

... Like the belief that there is no God.

And like the hobby of not collecting postage stamps!

Show me evidence that there is no God. I dare you.

And show ME evidence that the butler DIDN'T commited the murder or its the death penalty!

He's a bigot and a hypocrite.

Had to say it one more time...