General question...

[Feathers in Hair]

Hello, all!

I was just wondering- when a person posts something you disagree with because it seems to be attacking your religion- but it's on the individual religions discussion... How do you deal with it best? My first instinct was to rewrite the article, replacing 'pagan' with their religion.. Luckily, common sense prevailed over that! (And the simple fact that it's not nice to attack another's religion.)

Do you have a mental way of putting things into perspective that might help me? I know a lot of this is just kind of feeling run-down after working, but I honestly don't know how to deal with this in a kind and loving way.

 

[Crystallas]

Grey Area. I try to draw a link between everything and every belief(even when I disagree.) Where the connections aren't clear, they fall under my grey area. Its just something I accept as potential diffrences that I can build on to understand those who opperate completely diffrent to me. "Potential" because I decide to absorb it to possibly understand better as I age. I don't want to ruin the beauty of someone elses perspective by forcing myself to understand to quickly. Who knows, there may be a day that I completely understand something for the first time in the same sence as described to me, and I may use that to improve myself, maybe others too.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

Grey Area. I try to draw a link between everything and every belief(even when I disagree.) Where the connections aren't clear, they fall under my grey area. Its just something I accept as potential diffrences that I can build on to understand those who opperate completely diffrent to me. "Potential" because I decide to absorb it to possibly understand better as I get age. I don't want to ruin the beauty of someone elses perspective by forcing myself to understand to quickly. Who knows, there may be a day that I completely understand something for the first time in the same sence as described to me, and I may use that to improve myself, maybe others too.

Great points, Crystallas. Thank you for your wisdom!

 

[kreeden]

I was just wondering- when a person posts something you disagree with because it seems to be attacking your religion- but it's on the individual religions discussion... How do you deal with it best?

I swat them . Can't figure out why , but yea .

If it is a difference of opinion , that is cool . But if it is an attack ... swat .

BTW Feathers , if it is the thread I think it is , you handled it quite well .

 

[michel]

" Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And Wisdom to know the difference." Sprung into mind.

Being naive and innocent I always focus on the positives in others.
The other lesson in life that I have taken to heart is that when someone is abusive, more often than not, it is because they themselves are 'screwed up' - in which case, I want to give them even more love than before.

 

[Engyo]

I think one has to do one's best to determine intent, as well as basis. If the intent is an obvious attack, or is based on untruths, then it's wrong. If it is an argument based on truth, and made without intent to attack, then it is a bit different. The other question I have though, is that under the Discuss Individual Religions section, one shouldn't be bringing different religions into the discussion, unless the subject is relations (or history) between the "Individual Religion" and others. Even then, there should be no reason for attacks.

BTW, what seems an unemotional recitation of facts from one participant can feel like an attack to another; this goes to the concept of relative truths.

 

[Fluffy]

It depends on how such views are expressed. I remember coming here and explaining, matter of factly, that he thought I would go to Hell but held no ill will towards me. Many found this offensive and I probably would have too had he been abusive or seemed as if he was deliberately trying to offend me. As it was, I just reminded him the kind of forum he was on and that, whilst I did not find what he was saying offensive, many other people would and what would be the point of posting on a forum where all of them members discounted what you had to say because of a previous reputation.

Basically, I go through a number of checks when I encounter these posts. First and foremost I see whether they are posting anything factually incorrect. If they are then this could cause some serious damage, not least because this site helps to educate many people about different religions and misinformation could leave some passers-through with a very skewed view of a given religion; a perfect breeding ground for intolerance. Such a post would warrant a reply from me.

If a post is abusive or deliberately intended to cause offense, then just be totally polite, nice and kind to them. There intention is to cause you grief and they won't be able to deal with such a response. I find such a response far easier to give to these posts because these kinds of people are far easier to feel pity for. You can see the hole they are digging for themselves and, for me at least, this produces the overwhelming desire to throw them a line. Either they take the line and change their attitude or they are abusive for a few more days and leave permanently.

Lastly, I always (nearly anyway) analyse why I feel offended by a given post. Do I have any rational reason for feeling this way? I have been offended by comments similar to "I believe that all Wiccan's worship the Devil" but, on closer inspection, this person is merely stating his personal belief. Barring his disturbing obsession with a religion whom he assumedly views as evil, he is not really doing anything which I should feel any sort of emotion beyond curiosity about.

Fluffy

 

[kreeden]

BTW, what seems an unemotional recitation of facts from one participant can feel like an attack to another; this goes to the concept of relative truths.

Which is why I swat ...

The swat thing is an inside joke that I'm sure Feathers will get . But I do tend to agree with what others have said . However Fluffy , there is a difference in saying " I believe " and stating something as fact ... so there are times when one has to make a stand . IMHO .

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I assume other religions will disagree to one degree or another with my own.
An attack is a good way to learn their thoughts, both strengths and weaknesses.
It also shows what others see as my weaknesses. What they leave alone they probably see as strengths.
So all round it is Quite useful. Certainly nothing to worry about.

Terry
__________________________________
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

The advice is well-recieved, guys! Thanks!