MovieChat Forums > Letters to God (2010) Discussion > Respect by default?

Respect by default?

posted 15 years ago by monsters_lair
10 replies | jump to latest

In our everyday lives we constantly challenge and question ideas and opinions.

Someone, person A, could think it would be a great idea to found a new racist nazi organisation and, hopefully, people would react and protest.

Someone else could try to get a children's book banned from a school library, because it contains very inappropriate language. The author is person B.

Next we have person C who simply is a very leftish democrat.

Person D is a christian who builds a new church, where the congregation systematically scares their children with images and stories of the devil, demons and hellfire.

When people start to protest against the actions, ideas and opinions of persons A, B and C it's really no big deal. A, B and C would probably expect to be critizised and questioned.

Person D however, if challenged, would say something none of the others would. That we have to respect his beliefs. He is very sensetive about this. If his actions within his church are critisized then he says that his beliefs are being attacked and that those who do that hate god.

My question is mostly to christians (because this forum is dedicated to a christian film). Why can we challenge political and other ideas and opinions without anyone raising an eyebrow, but have to put on kid's gloves when talking about religion? Why do we, by default, have to respect religious beliefs? Why do you feel attacked and victimized?

I apologise for any spelling errors. English is not my native language.

[–] Barloq 15 years ago

I don't know about you, but I was never scared by stories of the devil, demons and hellfire - those were the awesome parts of Sunday School.

Kill the trolls!!!

[–] BlackHeart314 15 years ago

He was giving a hypothetical example. You arguing against his example is totally irrelevant.

Anyway, yeah. I don't see how people expect to progress their beliefs in any way if their first response to criticism is taking extreme offense. If you have an opinion, sugar-coating it will just detract from what you were trying to say. Being blunt avoids unnecessary attachments, but some people are too sensitive/defensive to see that.

[–] Barloq 15 years ago

He was giving a hypothetical example. You arguing against his example is totally irrelevant.

I know. It wasn't really meant to be an argument.

Kill the trolls!!!

[–] Cookie_Monstar 15 years ago

I don't think that we have to respect someones beliefs just because they say to. I do believe that we should, as humans, respect one another and respect whatever they chose to believe. I don't believe in religion, I think it's more of a show to say, "Hey look I go to church, I'm a good person by default" but that statement is not the case. It takes being kind, considerate, compassionate, sympathetic, tolerance, patience and caring to be a good person, in my opinion.

So by default, no we do not have to respect there beliefs. It's just like my previous statement, that some people think they are good people by default, just because they go to church. So I don't think neither is correct, but that's just my opinion.

[–] monsters_lair 15 years ago

I do believe that we should, as humans, respect one another

What do you mean by "respect" in this regard? That we should always respect other people, their ideas and opinions, no matter what they do? Doesn't respect have to be earned, based on peoples actions?

and respect whatever they chose to believe.

And there you did exactly what i talked about in my OP. Why should we respect beliefs? Would you respect my beliefs if i said that Howard the Duck is god, and you are the devil?

So by default, no we do not have to respect there beliefs.

Contradicting yourself a little here?

[–] Cookie_Monstar 15 years ago

What I mean is that no one has to respect anything by default, it's a choice to have respect just like it's a choice of religion. But since we are all human, I think that we should respect each other and there beliefs.

I just think that the world in which we live today, should be able to overcome differences like race and religion. I didn't mean to contradict myself, it's just that people don't HAVE to do anything, but since we're able to, then why shouldn't we? If we are able to respect and tolerate peoples beliefs, even if they differ from our own, then what's the reason not to?

If you honestly did believe that Howard the Duck was God and I was the Devil, I would respect it. I'd be a bit thrown back, and probably humored a bit, but I wouldn't think your were less of a person because of it (well maybe just a little since it's quite bizarre).

It's hard to accurately tell you exactly what I mean through text.

[–] BlackHeart314 15 years ago

If we are able to respect and tolerate peoples beliefs, even if they differ from our own, then what's the reason not to?

Maybe because in some religions' holy books, it instructs their followers to be radically intolerant and hateful. Muslims and Christians who claim that their religions are "peaceful" are either 1. lying or 2. completely ignorant of what their own holy texts say.

If you honestly did believe that Howard the Duck was God and I was the Devil, I would respect it. I'd be a bit thrown back, and probably humored a bit, but I wouldn't think your were less of a person because of it (well maybe just a little since it's quite bizarre).

Well... that's a total contradiction from start to finish, but anyway. The OP's point was that we shouldn't be expected to be completely tolerant of *beep* when it's being thrown in people's faces.

[–] Barloq 15 years ago

Maybe because in some religions' holy books, it instructs their followers to be radically intolerant and hateful. Muslims and Christians who claim that their religions are "peaceful" are either 1. lying or 2. completely ignorant of what their own holy texts say.

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were a scholar in both the Koran and the Bible. Can you show me a passage from the New Testament that commands Christians to be a bunch of murderous psychopaths?

Kill the trolls!!!

[–] BlackHeart314 15 years ago

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were a scholar in both the Koran and the Bible.

Nice. I never said anything like that, but go ahead and exaggerate what I said while making all kinds of nice little assumptions about me. First of all, I went to a somewhat rigorous Christian school for 12 years and was a Christian for a large chunk of my life, until a wave of reason hit me in the face. So, you want scripture? Alrighty. How about this:
Leviticus 20:13
Exodus 21:15
Deuteronomy 17:12
Leviticus 21:9
Deuteronomy 13:13-19
Deuteronomy 13:7-12
etc, etc, etc.

Ah, but you wanted scriptures from the NEW Testament, didn't you? Because I mean, since Jesus came and all, it just overwrites all of the detestable genocides and crimes that "god" committed, because this time he's talking about love (oh, and eternal damnation). The Christian principle to downplay the OT is based on virtually nothing, other than the fact that if they didn't, they'd have to say that it was okay that God wiped out entire civilizations, and that it was perfectly fine that he killed forty-two young men with bears because they insulted one of his favorite prophets by calling him bald.

Where am I getting this? Well, don't listen to me... listen to Jesus:
Matthew 5:17
Luke 16:17
Matthew 5:18-19
Also, he directly references an OT passage about murdering children if they disobey their parents in Mark 7:9-10.
Jesus knew and had memorized at least a lot of the old testament, and never once spoke out about it. I mean, good lord, he was a Rabbi. How can you say he just did away with the old laws if he was such a strong proponent of them?

[–] ANewLeaf 15 years ago

My question is mostly to christians (because this forum is dedicated to a christian film). Why can we challenge political and other ideas and opinions without anyone raising an eyebrow, but have to put on kid's gloves when talking about religion? Why do we, by default, have to respect religious beliefs? Why do you feel attacked and victimized?

It is relgion in general that is touchy, and christianity is not the most touchy of the lot, I would say ATM muslims and scientologists hold that distinction. The reason that people are so touchy about this is because the beliefs are built upon blind faith and that faith is by its very nature founded on very shaky ground so people get very defensive about being forced to look at their own belief structures with regards to religion because they don't want that faith to be weakened by facts or evidence that might counter those beliefs.

Look at the baseless attacks on evolution, the willing clinging to ignorance that people undertake to protect their faith. I would suggest that if your faith requires that you purposely avoid evidence that might weaken that faith then your faith is in fact weak to begin with. The stronger of faith could look at the evidence, realize that evolution exists, and then still have as much faith as ever and see god's hand in evolution.

But christians as the only ones brought up on this thread just because the movie is christian? That is convenient. Sorry but when people, including priests of a religion call for the murder of a person who draws a cartoon of a historical character within that religion those people don't get a pass in a topic like this. ATM the muslim world has been the most confrontational, defensive and violent religious body for decades now.

Your main point though is perfectly valid, religious beliefs are no more protected then other belief systems. They are open to being discussed and disagreed with. That said the people in those religions are also open to defend their religious beliefs in turn in NON-violent return discussion.