This is Sacred, Respect it

[Sententia]

I want to discuss this oddity that I hear occasionally. Usually its them pointing the finger at me as if I am being disrespectful in someway for discussing something others feel is sacred and can not be politely discussed.

Religion is popular. Holy books. All is well until I disclose I am an atheist usually.

Do you ever get this? "Balance, Listen. This book is sacred to me. Its my life and I do want to discuss it.". Which is fine, there is lots to talk about but then they bring it up again and again. "Thats why I live by the bible. If you follow the bible then you are guaranteed a moral life in the here and now and the ever after."

So you interject, "Well not guaranteed in my opinion. I mean there were many years where people followed the bible and even justified their immoral behavior using the bible."

The conversation will bounce back and forth, and you can quote examples like slavery. Eventually they say... Look. This is sacred I do not want to discuss it.

Meh.

I have been to lunch with people who think the Cow is Sacred and I still eat my hamburger! (And they said its not disrespectful... what they find sacred I may not find sacred and what I keep sacred in my house and my affairs is my business.)

Now if I invite them over to my house for lunch and serve burgers then that would be absurd and disrespectful. e.g. a Christian friend invites you over for dinner and just before dinner says everyone lets join hands and pray. And then they go on a 10 minute sermon wrapping it up with, and god, watch over the lost souls that are with us tonight and help them find their way and your light so that they may be better people. Amen. Ok lets eat.

Wait... Wait... not so fast... Kids. Honey. Before we dine we must pay our proper respect to hermes and see who can race to the car the fastest. Hee hee.

As a complete side what is up with Psalms 137:9.

 

[Duck]

As a complete side what is up with Psalms 137:9.

The whole Psalm is written from the perspective of a recently conquered and enslaved people. So, basically, the writer is praying for the destruction of his enslavers and captors. The people who destroyed his home town, slew his kin and mistreated him and his family. Truthfully, with as much as I find reprehensible in the bible, I can't really find fault with this phrase, look at the end of verse 8, where the writer proclaims, "that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us" I mean that is totally a prayer for an oppressor to get his just desserts.

I agree otherwise with much of what you have said.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I view it as, anything that anybody brings up in discussion, is up for discussion. If you don't want to talk about something, don't talk about it. Very simple.

 

[Engyo]

My first question in response to that would be to ask the person if they are prepared to extend the same courtesy to the things that I find sacred. If they are not, then I certainly don't feel any obligation to observe theirs either.

 

[Michigan Atheist]

As Dawkins and Hitchens both point out in their writings, religion has been given a "special" consideration throughout history, and it is therefore operating within a "priviledged" mentality. I am amazed at how quickly anyone who doesn't believe, or who happens to hold a differing opinion from the majority, is instantly attacked as wrong or evil.

I am also amazed at the way some people just hold so dogmatically to one idiology and train of thought and have very little in the way of diversity to add to a discussion. A little education and knowledge is a very dangerous thing, indeed.

 

[Beaudreaux]

Nothing is sacred and nothing SHOULD be sacred. Humans should question all propositions and test them against their experience and also determine if they pass logical scrutiny.

 

[ChristineES]

If people find something sacred, then I will respect that- even for things I don't find sacred. It's the "treat others the way you want to be treated" thing. I wouldn't eat beef in front of a Hindu, either, that would be disrespectful, although I don't believe that cows are sacred.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

If people find something sacred, then I will respect that- even for things I don't find sacred. It's the "treat others the way you want to be treated" thing. I wouldn't eat beef in front of a Hindu, either, that would be disrespectful, although I don't believe that cows are sacred.

But would you eat a Hindu in front of a cow?

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

If people find something sacred, then I will respect that- even for things I don't find sacred. It's the "treat others the way you want to be treated" thing. I wouldn't eat beef in front of a Hindu, either, that would be disrespectful, although I don't believe that cows are sacred.

If you are a Hindu in America you must get use to people eating beef. Just don't bring it into my home or put it on my plate. That's all I ask.

 

[ChristineES]

But would you eat a Hindu in front of a cow?

Nah, people are always sacred and cows give us a lot: milk, butter, cream, leather, etc.

 

[YmirGF]

I cannot personally support the notion that any given thing is sacred. By its very definition the sacred presupposes existence of the profane and that just doesn't cut it in my books... as it were. If I deem to be somewhat "respectful" to the delusions of others it may be little more than responding to such a person, who is telling me that something is sacred to them, "It doesn't mean that much to me, to mean that much to you. Nothing is sacred, get over it."

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Being irreverent is sacred to me. If it's important to respect what people find sacred, people should politely allow me to be irreverent in whatever way I want.

 

[Engyo]

My point was that I don't see a particular problem acceding to the request as long as the other person is willing to reciprocate. If they aren't then maybe my refusal will give them pause for thought. All I can do is lead the horse to water; after that it's up to the horse.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

Eventually they say... Look. This is sacred I do not want to discuss it.

I am open to these types of talks about my religion. This is what I find to be disrespectful.

Some folks will make an anti Hindu comments that they copied and pasted off the internet. I answer-5 more comments. I answer-3 more pasted comments. I answer then 5 more. All of them from hate web sites with translations from old european guys who believed the world was 6,000 years old. Then when I refuse they say HA-HA-HA you can't answer the question.

There are one or two verses in my scriptures that I find disturbing and I can't answer to my satisfaction. I will freely admit this. (At the same time I find many comments by Darwin or Thomas Jefferson upsetting this is just the nature of life and knowledge.)

Sometimes I am hard on the ideas of others. I try to keep my aggressive arguments to ideas that hurt people or our planet. I.E. I dont care if you believe in creation as long as you don't try to put it in my son's school text books. You can believe that Christianity is the best religion but ideas of the only true faith historically has lead to much fighting and suffering.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

Nothing is sacred, get over it."

I would say everything is sacred, even a pile of crap from my dogs butt.( And that includes the tape worms)

 

[YmirGF]

I would say everything is sacred, even a pile of crap from my dogs butt.

Then your idea of "sacred" is relatively meaningless.

 

[.lava]

If people find something sacred, then I will respect that- even for things I don't find sacred. It's the "treat others the way you want to be treated" thing. I wouldn't eat beef in front of a Hindu, either, that would be disrespectful, although I don't believe that cows are sacred.

except for the kind who believes shedding blood, killing, torturing, oppressing are sacred, i am pretty much the same. i would not eat cow meat infront of a Hindu friend even if we were surrended by dozens of people who's eating it. after all, it is a personal gesture

.

 

[ChristineES]

except for the kind who believes shedding blood, killing, torturing, oppressing are sacred, i am pretty much the same. i would not eat cow meat in front of a Hindu friend even if we were surrounded by dozens of people who's eating it. after all, it is a personal gesture

.

There are always things we just can't tolerate, particularly when someone is being harmed in some way.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

Then your idea of "sacred" is relatively meaningless.

Or... you are unable to see the ah (delight) of every day life. then again... maybe... you are right it's beyond meaning.... could it be I am just full of crap.
your choice.

 

[Michigan Atheist]

If you are a Hindu in America you must get use to people eating beef. Just don't bring it into my home or put it on my plate. That's all I ask.

I would NEVER expect beef in the home of a hindu, but I would not hide beef from anyone within my own home. I believe in respecting a person in his/her own home, and expect the same in mine. Of course, I would never openly insult someone in my home, either.

I am said to be too nice sometimes, but I do not think we can be too nice to those around us, it is what makes humanity special.:yes: