You don't show respect for my religion!

[lunakilo]

"You don't show respect for my religion!"
What are you supposed to do when someone says that to you?

I have a friend who is Catholic.
We are not as close friends as we used to be because I apparently don't show respect for her religion.

I have respect for her right to live her life according to her beliefs.
I don't have any respect for arguments like <something> is true because <religious book/person> says so.
I don't have any respect for blind faith.

So what I am trying to understand is:

1) What does it mean to respect something?
2) What does it mean to show respect for something?
3) If I think a religion is silly/wrong should I respect it?
4) If I think a religion is silly/wrong should I, for the sake of good relations, pretend I respect it/show respect for it even if don't in my heart?
5) Am I wrong to not respect other peoples religions?

 

[AfterGlow]

1) What does it mean to respect something?
2) What does it mean to show respect for something?
3) If I think a religion is silly/wrong should I respect it?
4) If I think a religion is silly/wrong should I, for the sake of good relations, pretend I respect it/show respect for it even if don't in my heart?
5) Am I wrong to not respect other peoples religions?

I don't think you can respect a religion, it's a system of belief and so is unaffected by respect or mockery. We can respect people though, which in this case would mean not mocking their beliefs while they are in earshot. IMO, even if you think something is silly that isn't justification for hurting the feelings of people who don't.

 

[HiddenDjinn]

"You don't show respect for my religion!"
What are you supposed to do when someone says that to you?

I have a friend who is Catholic.
We are not as close friends as we used to be because I apparently don't show respect for her religion.

I have respect for her right to live her life according to her beliefs.
I don't have any respect for arguments like <something> is true because <religious book/person> says so.
I don't have any respect for blind faith.

So what I am trying to understand is:

1) What does it mean to respect something?
2) What does it mean to show respect for something?
3) If I think a religion is silly/wrong should I respect it?
4) If I think a religion is silly/wrong should I, for the sake of good relations, pretend I respect it/show respect for it even if don't in my heart?
5) Am I wrong to not respect other peoples religions?

I usually take the diplomatic(extreme sarcasm should be noted here) approach with: "**** you and your ************** religion"

All sarcasm aside, It is impossible to meet some expectations of "respecting" their religion without accepting it as your own. That plea is usually a sign that they are not respecting your choice not to follow their religion.

 

[lunakilo]

I don't think you can respect a religion, it's a system of belief and so is unaffected by respect or mockery. We can respect people though, which in this case would mean not mocking their beliefs while they are in earshot.

So, talk about them behind their back. Hmmm

IMO, even if you think something is silly that isn't justification for hurting the feelings of people who don't.

Well, "he who keeps silent consents" (or what ever you say in english)
I don't like to keep silent when people talk about their religion with me or in front of me. I don't want to give the impression that I agree with what they say if I don't infact agree.

You can try to be polite, but when you speak against someones belifs, they tend to take it personally and often feel hurt.

All sarcasm aside, It is impossible to meet some expectations of "respecting" their religion without accepting it as your own.

I think that is how I see it to.
If have respect for somone, I admire what that person does. That is, I agree with what he does.

So doesn't that mean that to have respect for a religion you have to agree with it?

That plea is usually a sign that they are not respecting your choice not to follow their religion.

I can certainly see situations where this is true, but is it always the case?

 

[AfterGlow]

So, talk about them behind their back. Hmmm

Well, I meant if you must mock someone's beliefs it would be better to do it when they aren't around. That's not saying that mockery is ok though.

Well, "he who keeps silent consents" (or what ever you say in english)
I don't like to keep silent when people talk about their religion with me or in front of me. I don't want to give the impression that I agree with what they say if I don't infact agree.

You can try to be polite, but when you speak against someones belifs, they tend to take it personally and often feel hurt.

You can only be polite if you're also being respectful, they go hand in hand. If someone is offended by any criticism of their beliefs then that isn't something you have control over.

 

[HiddenDjinn]

So doesn't that mean that to have respect for a religion you have to agree with it?

In my experience, that's the expectation.

I can certainly see situations where this is true, but is it always the case?

I don't know. Ask that sage up there on the top of the mountain.

 

[FlyingTeaPot]

"You don't show respect for my religion!"
What are you supposed to do when someone says that to you?

I have a friend who is Catholic.
We are not as close friends as we used to be because I apparently don't show respect for her religion.

I have respect for her right to live her life according to her beliefs.
I don't have any respect for arguments like <something> is true because <religious book/person> says so.
I don't have any respect for blind faith.

So what I am trying to understand is:

1) What does it mean to respect something?
2) What does it mean to show respect for something?
3) If I think a religion is silly/wrong should I respect it?
4) If I think a religion is silly/wrong should I, for the sake of good relations, pretend I respect it/show respect for it even if don't in my heart?
5) Am I wrong to not respect other peoples religions?

Respect has to be earned, it is not a freebie to be given out to authority.
statements such as "Respect me because I am wiser than you" or " My book/priest/pope demands you respect me" are silly. These statements have to be backed up by evidence that they are worth respecting.
You can, however, be courteous to people and their customs.

 

[mohammed_beiruti]

"You don't show respect for my religion!"
What are you supposed to do when someone says that to you?

I have a friend who is Catholic.
We are not as close friends as we used to be because I apparently don't show respect for her religion.

I have respect for her right to live her life according to her beliefs.
I don't have any respect for arguments like <something> is true because <religious book/person> says so.
I don't have any respect for blind faith.

So what I am trying to understand is:

1) What does it mean to respect something?
2) What does it mean to show respect for something?
3) If I think a religion is silly/wrong should I respect it?
4) If I think a religion is silly/wrong should I, for the sake of good relations, pretend I respect it/show respect for it even if don't in my heart?
5) Am I wrong to not respect other peoples religions?

someone must respect one religion.

but that doesn't mean that you don't respect the person who has different religion.

 

[lunakilo]

someone must respect one religion.

but that doesn't mean that you don't respect the person who has different religion.

But someone elses religion is not your religion. It is different from your religion, and so must be wrong in some sense. If it was not wrong it would be your religion, right?

So how do you show respect for something you believe to be wrong?

 

[lunakilo]

I don't know. Ask that sage up there on the top of the mountain.

There are no mountains in my country (I wonder if that is why people are so godless ) so I can't ask the sage up there.

Maybe next time I I go abroad...

 

[Tarheeler]

But someone elses religion is not your religion. It is different from your religion, and so must be wrong in some sense. If it was not wrong it would be your religion, right?

So how do you show respect for something you believe to be wrong?

Not at all. While some people believe that there is only "right" religion, there are many who do not.

Kinda of a "all paths to God" outlook.

But, either way, I think AfterGlow is on the right track. If you respect the person, it's not uncalled for to make some concessions, such as not actively mocking their beliefs. You don't have to agree with them, but you also don't have to berate them.

 

[lunakilo]

Respect has to be earned, it is not a freebie to be given out to authority.
statements such as "Respect me because I am wiser than you" or " My book/priest/pope demands you respect me" are silly. These statements have to be backed up by evidence that they are worth respecting.

:yes:

You can, however, be courteous to people and their customs.

Unless you desagree with those too I guess
But respecting people and their customs is not about respect for religion, is it?

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Respect can not be demanded, It can only be given freely.
It is not an inbuilt property, but is easily recognised when it is deserved.

 

[lunakilo]

Respect can not be demanded, It can only be given freely.
It is not an inbuilt property, but is easily recognised when it is deserved.

How so?

 

[FlyingTeaPot]

Unless you desagree with those too I guess
But respecting people and their customs is not about respect for religion, is it?

I think being courteous and being respectful have a subtle difference. I think you can be courteous without being respectful. If I respect someone, it changes the way I THINK about them, not the way I ACT toward them. I can be courteous toward religious people and be mindful of their customs. It doesn't earn them any respect in my mind.

 

[mohammed_beiruti]

But someone elses religion is not your religion. It is different from your religion, and so must be wrong in some sense. If it was not wrong it would be your religion, right?

So how do you show respect for something you believe to be wrong?

I agree i don't respect something wrong.

 

[HiddenDjinn]

Now, by contrast, when I tell someone to respect my faith, I mean the statutory protections afforded it.

 

[mohammed_beiruti]

Now, by contrast, when I tell someone to respect my faith, I mean the statutory protections afforded it.

do you mean tolerance?

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

How so?

That is an interesting question...
You tend to recognise "due respect" when it is about something you agree with or like. Or when you can see the "worth" in something or someone.

Respect is a Rather Vague and ill defined concept that is not easily transferable. in that one can respect something or someone, that others find difficult to tolerate.

 

[Badran]

"You don't show respect for my religion!"
What are you supposed to do when someone says that to you?

I have a friend who is Catholic.
We are not as close friends as we used to be because I apparently don't show respect for her religion.

I have respect for her right to live her life according to her beliefs.
I don't have any respect for arguments like <something> is true because <religious book/person> says so.
I don't have any respect for blind faith.

So what I am trying to understand is:

1) What does it mean to respect something?
2) What does it mean to show respect for something?
3) If I think a religion is silly/wrong should I respect it?
4) If I think a religion is silly/wrong should I, for the sake of good relations, pretend I respect it/show respect for it even if don't in my heart?
5) Am I wrong to not respect other peoples religions?

If she expects you or wants you to hold her religion in high regards, show appreciation for it for example, or agreement, or anything along those lines, you don't have to do that of course. You actually shouldn't do that if you don't sincerely feel that way. Somehow i don't think this is the case here however.

It seems more likely to me that you're confusing holding something in high regards, and merely not mocking it. If you don't like her choice of religion thats your problem, not hers, she doesn't have to hear about it often, or at all (unless she talks about it). If you're her friend then sure there is room to talk about that, and express your disagreement with her ideas, and the ideas that religion proposes. But you don't have to do that often, and you have to do that in the nicest manner, if you're friends that is.

Like i said though, if i misunderstood, and she wants you to act as if you hold her religion in high regards, then surely you don't need to do that. But you can show respect to her through not mocking her religion, and maintaining a level of courtesy.

You're not respecting her religion by doing that, you're respecting her.