Should faith be respected?

I'm interested in hearing various views on this. I'm especially interested (as always) in the theist perspective.

 

In what context of the word "faith" are you referencing?

 

What do you mean by 'be respected". Does that mean no criticism? Or does it mean to accept that people will choose differing faiths?

 

Yes, it should, just as ones right to not believe in anything should be.

 

Do you think another person's conscience should be respected?

 

As I understand the concept of believing something on faith I would say no I don't respect that kind of belief. Of course my understanding is that faith based belief is believing in something without sufficient supporting evidence to justify the belief or even in spite of evidence to the contrary and a strong resistance to entertain the idea of changing that belief even when new information is counter to it. I see no reason to respect that.

 

I'm tolerant of people with all sorts of beliefs that cannot be supported by anything beyond their own choice to have faith in said beliefs. So long as their beliefs don't lead them to interfere with my own life, then I couldn't care less whether they are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Wiccan, etc.

That said, I feel no particular obligation to respect another person's faith. I do respect their right to believe whatever they want, even if I personally find their beliefs to be downright silly.

 

Not unless they can justify what their conscience is telling them. People believe all kinds of crazy things. I respect only beliefs that can be justified through reason. Saying you believe something based on faith means diddly to me.

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I'm tolerant to the extent they leave me out of it. Respect it? No.

 

As good a summary as I've ever seen.

"We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart."
-- H. L. Mencken

 

Interesting short list of words you have chosen to use... "justify" = rationalize (make excuses); "believe" = to accept as true or real (with no mention of evidence); "reason" = normal thinking. Then of course there is the subject word "faith" = "faith (fāth)n.1. Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. See Synonyms at belief, trust.
3. Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance: keeping faith with one's supporters.
4. often Faith Christianity The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.
5. The body of dogma of a religion: the Muslim faith.
6. A set of principles or beliefs."

Wow!

 

Good point!

“If a believer demands that I, as a nonbeliever, observe his taboos in the public domain, he is not asking for my respect, but for my submission.” ― Flemming Rose

 

Well assuming you understand what I was trying to say, how would you have said it?

 

All I hear are crickets there Incorporeal!

 

just wanted to say, nice quote!

meantime, in answer to a couple of questions, I refer to 'beliefs', when I say 'faith'. ie, superstitions (religion, etc), the supernatural, contentious views, and so on. I refer to religion specifically, though - hence the inclusion of the word THEIST in the OP.

should religions be respected?

 

I think you did an excellent job of saying what you said. I just wanted to point out to other readers some of the other possible meanings that could be applied to what you did say.

 

I believe we should all respect everyones beliefs or views. As long as it goes both ways.

 

We are seemingly living in different time zones. I had to step out for my evening meal. I do hope that my absence for a few minutes did not inconvenience you. But if you are truly hearing crickets (hopefully not in your house), I would suggest capturing some of them... they make excellent fish bait.

 

Hahaha that they do!

 

Really? If I told you I believe the earth is flat or that men never walked on the moon would you really respect that belief? I certainly wouldn't! People often believe crazy things that are demonstrably false. I don't believe that kind of thinking deserves anyone's respect.

 

If what I said was succinct then there shouldn't be other possible meanings and other readers wouldn't need help understanding what I meant.

 

So what would you do about it? Respect doesn't mean concurrence. Having a civil discussion to see how they came to a conclusion. If you give your side, they give theirs and views remain the same. So be it. You will not be affected by what they believe. Use the we'll just have to agree to disagree line.

 

Can I or anyone else dictate to you what is to be considered as "sufficient supporting evidence"? I don't think so. In like manner, you nor anyone else can dictate to another what is "sufficient supporting evidence". We are talking about the lives of individual people who in their own lives are the sole judges of what they will or will not believe and on what basis such belief will be founded.

 

What I would do about it begs the point. I don't respect some beliefs, period. I've already explained why.

 

Amen....