Reply #94

In the discussion thread: Tell me why I should respect people's "deeply held" religious beliefs? [View all]

Wed Apr 4, 2012, 07:49 PM

eqfan592 (5,109 posts)

94. Some of the most vocal believers do seem to feel a need to prove something.

Last edited Wed Apr 4, 2012, 07:58 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Or at the very least a need to try and get NON believers to somehow prove something (that god doesn't exist for example). Some of them also enjoy finding "proofs" of gods existence to show us in order to "show us the way."

But honestly, I think the fact that you find the FSM to be offensive to be very interesting. I show the FSM because I'm making a statement that claims made that any specific god exists have as much veracity to them as the FSM, and it is for the reason that I do not put any faith in any religion or deity. Someone comfortable with their faith, and believing that their faith alone is enough to warrant their belief in their god shouldn't really have a problem with such a statement, and I would have no issues with such a person so long as they did not try to convert me.

You said yourself that most believers feel no need to prove anything. If this is true, then why be offended by somebody highlighting this lack of proof as to why they themselves are not a believer?

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136 replies	Author	Time	Post
Tell me why I should respect people's "deeply held" religious beliefs? [View all]	Odin2005	Apr 2012	OP
Because there is safety in numbers.	darkstar3	Apr 2012	#1
At least in America, this "respect" is a one way street applied only to Christians.	Dawson Leery	Apr 2012	#2
Good point!	Odin2005	Apr 2012	#3
You have no understanding, nor do you read, hear nor sense	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#20
But you must admit that many Christians (though not all by any means)	edhopper	Apr 2012	#33
Far toooooooo many! nt	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#48
Because if you do it publicly it will cause riots in some countries and people might die?	ProgressiveProfessor	Apr 2012	#4
I just asked the same question in GD	Ron Obvious	Apr 2012	#5
I respect everyone's right to hold any religious belief they want.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Apr 2012	#6
Bingo! Religious beliefs are like any other belief, like a political belief.	stopbush	Apr 2012	#22
That said, I don't make a habit of mocking other people's beliefs.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Apr 2012	#35
Agreed on all points...	Joseph8th	Apr 2012	#74
Why is it harder if it is a theological belief?	cbayer	Apr 2012	#79
"... if they are civil..." then I am, too...	Joseph8th	Apr 2012	#84
Agree. It is harder to maintain a civil discourse in this venue and	cbayer	Apr 2012	#89
Rspect implies hearing someone else. It has nothing to do with acceptance of the witness.	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#49
ALL beliefs are fair game, if you ask me	arcane1	Apr 2012	#7
Maybe criticism and disagreement, but here probably not distain and ridicule. nt	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#50
Respect, or voice disprespect? nt	rrneck	Apr 2012	#8
All Peoples beliefs are like assholes, you know the saying:)	tibbiit	Apr 2012	#9
People DO change their minds. I've seen it many times.	darkstar3	Apr 2012	#10
As have I.	eqfan592	Apr 2012	#16
You are confusing beliefs with the people holding them.	Odin2005	Apr 2012	#28
You don't have to. But if don't can you look at yourself in the mirror and consider yourself	demosincebirth	Apr 2012	#11
So, if you think Flat Earthers are a bit loony toons then are you being open minded? nt	Kalidurga	Apr 2012	#13
Dumb analogy. nt	demosincebirth	Apr 2012	#17
In response to a dumb generalization.	darkstar3	Apr 2012	#18
The same reason you should respect a vegetarian when planning a meal, or...	TreasonousBastard	Apr 2012	#12
Does that work both ways?	trotsky	Apr 2012	#25
Well, I'd certainly expect a vegetarian not to object if I do eat meat.	GliderGuider	Apr 2012	#26
That's fine and dandy, but it's not the issue.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#27
I don't really much care if things aren't absolutely fair and balanced.	GliderGuider	Apr 2012	#43
So some people deserve more respect than others.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#44
Why does that matter?	GliderGuider	Apr 2012	#56
Because you're saying one group of people should expect to be respected in a way...	trotsky	Apr 2012	#57
No I'm not. I'm saying I can't change peoples expectations.	GliderGuider	Apr 2012	#59
Ah, so you...	trotsky	Apr 2012	#60
Yes, I think that expectation is silly.	GliderGuider	Apr 2012	#63
OK then, you are on the same side I am - in opposition to the person I initially responded to.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#64
There go the assumptions again.	GliderGuider	Apr 2012	#65
And what you've assumed about me could fill a library.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#102
;-) Cheers	GliderGuider	Apr 2012	#103
It's a good analogy...	Joseph8th	Apr 2012	#81
Here's your answer:	PassingFair	Apr 2012	#135
That's getting just a bit persnickety...	TreasonousBastard	Apr 2012	#36
So you are indeed saying there is a double standard.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#37
Did I say that? Where? I have had vegans for dinner...	TreasonousBastard	Apr 2012	#38
The meat-eater at a vegan's house is not happy.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#46
It is NOT a double standard...	Joseph8th	Apr 2012	#82
What if you're on the Atkins diet?	trotsky	Apr 2012	#101
I'm somewhat of an ass	SATIRical	Apr 2012	#97
Well sure, and so would I.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#104
If there were a person who ate ONLY meat	SATIRical	Apr 2012	#105
So the issue is how strongly one holds the beliefs?	trotsky	Apr 2012	#106
As an omnivor, I respect a veggie who serves me a veggie meal. I can eat it.	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#51
That's fine - but why not?	trotsky	Apr 2012	#55
If you don't value the relationship, be as snarky as you please	Lydia Leftcoast	Apr 2012	#110
Thanks for the condescension, but you didn't answer my question.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#111
You don't have to respect the belief, just the person who holds them,	Lydia Leftcoast	Apr 2012	#118
I could choose to have a fit now, I suppose...	trotsky	Apr 2012	#120
If they're not directly affecting you or harming anyone else, live and let live	Lydia Leftcoast	Apr 2012	#122
Yeah, I'll reject it, because you still didn't provide an answer.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#127
It is just a matter of common courtesy.	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#131
So when you say that creationism is silly	skepticscott	Apr 2012	#132
Your attack against my ethics is duly noted.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#134
To me it depends on the people, depends on the beliefs,	thucythucy	Apr 2012	#14
Like Hitchens has said	longship	Apr 2012	#15
You are free to ridicule anyone you want.	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#19
Perhaps we don't care about the "depth of faith"	mr blur	Apr 2012	#24
"to some of us" is one of the most honest things you have ever said here. nt	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#112
Well, thank you for the patronising insult - you finally said something that wasn't just either	mr blur	Apr 2012	#116
I think hat's #19	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#119
Which was in response to an attack of your own.	eqfan592	Apr 2012	#121
99% of believers view "God" as a sky daddy. The navel-gazing of theologians...	Odin2005	Apr 2012	#30
You just totally made up this statistic, didn't you.	cbayer	Apr 2012	#39
80% of most statistics are made up.	cleanhippie	Apr 2012	#45
Thanks for missing the point.	Odin2005	Apr 2012	#53
I may be obvious to you, but not to everyone.	cbayer	Apr 2012	#58
It's obvious to everyone who doesn't choose to ignore the facts about belief.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#108
I have never heard that term used by any serious theist--just by snarky others.	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#113
Have you considered that many may find your "depth of faith" to be ignorance personified?	cleanhippie	Apr 2012	#41
I think you just made an excellent point right here. (nt)	eqfan592	Apr 2012	#66
Perhaps, but to TMO and others here, that is a "gotcha" question.	cleanhippie	Apr 2012	#70
Hundreds of Millions of Christians have great "depth of faith"	skepticscott	Apr 2012	#133
You shouldn't	Gurgen4	Apr 2012	#21
Of course your right is respected.	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#52
100% pure, unadulterated bullshit.	cleanhippie	Apr 2012	#71
If you're wondering what post it was that made so many of us here...	eqfan592	Apr 2012	#75
Fair enough---I'll make you a deal	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#114
Ooo, persecution! nt	mr blur	Apr 2012	#117
Did he claim persecution?	Lydia Leftcoast	Apr 2012	#123
Most of what he says claims persecution,	mr blur	Apr 2012	#125
LOL! You just did the worst possible thing you could do to your credibility.	eqfan592	Apr 2012	#126
Take another look.	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#128
No, you take another look.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#129
Every time an atheist makes an unverifiable claim, like :"He is risen"	PassingFair	Apr 2012	#136
In the words of your daughter-"You just totally made up this statistic, didn't you?"	Goblinmonger	Apr 2012	#77
What horseshit.	Rob H.	Apr 2012	#83
I should have not used the word "all."	Thats my opinion	Apr 2012	#115
But when you took all the time you needed	skepticscott	Apr 2012	#130
I dunno why	undergroundpanther	Apr 2012	#23
As my mother told me, with mixed results, "Don't be an asshole."	rug	Apr 2012	#29
and if you are an asshole, don't whine & cry "bigotry" when people respond in kind	WolverineDG	Apr 2012	#31
Seems there's a lot of whining and cries of bigotry in this thread.	rug	Apr 2012	#32
That applies to you Theists, too.	Odin2005	Apr 2012	#54
It applies to every human who breathes.	rug	Apr 2012	#62
So we can expect a change from you then?	cleanhippie	Apr 2012	#73
Deal. See you at Panmunjom.	rug	Apr 2012	#92
There's a fine distinction...	backscatter712	Apr 2012	#34
Are you talking in general or on this site?	cbayer	Apr 2012	#40
Oh wow. Gonna bash the OP with the TOS, huh?	Joseph8th	Apr 2012	#85
Bashing with the TOS?	cbayer	Apr 2012	#86
So do you not think it is possible to disrespect a specific belief that a person may hold...	eqfan592	Apr 2012	#87
I do feel the same about FSM.	cbayer	Apr 2012	#88
Actually, I think FSM is used...	eqfan592	Apr 2012	#90
Most believers feel no need to prove anything.	cbayer	Apr 2012	#91
Some of the most vocal believers do seem to feel a need to prove something.	eqfan592	Apr 2012	#94
As I said previously, but you might have missed it, I find it offensive because it is used as	cbayer	Apr 2012	#95
You may think it is insulting, but saying it doesn't highlight anything is simply incorrect.	eqfan592	Apr 2012	#98
"Most believers feel no need to prove anything." That's exactly the problem.	Odin2005	Apr 2012	#96
Exactly. (nt)	eqfan592	Apr 2012	#99
Excellent point	tama	Apr 2012	#124
The "crime" of insulting a god has a name.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#107
Because community is very important.	Jim__	Apr 2012	#42
You're missing a key point.	trotsky	Apr 2012	#109
I would ask why anyone should even pay attention to organized atheism or	humblebum	Apr 2012	#47
Yeah, why do you? n/t	Goblinmonger	Apr 2012	#78
Depends whether they're bothering you with it	Prophet 451	Apr 2012	#61
Now that's more like it.	GliderGuider	Apr 2012	#69
In an ideal world, you wouldn't even know about them.	MineralMan	Apr 2012	#67
I respect them if they have a bad-ass god...	provis99	Apr 2012	#68
Haha! Now we're talkin!	eqfan592	Apr 2012	#72
Or my favorite	Goblinmonger	Apr 2012	#80
That's killer funny! Thanks! nt	GliderGuider	Apr 2012	#93
Sorry, my God is better...	Humanist_Activist	Apr 2012	#100
If they just "hold" them, and don't try to make me share them I'm usually fine with that.	GliderGuider	Apr 2012	#76

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