Is it possible to respect other's religious beliefs

[acavender]

My $.02–if it’s even worth that much.

To get on in a religiously pluralistic world, there are two attitudes that are essential:

1. 
   *]Respect for each and every human being, precisely because he or she is a human being. For those whose faith teaches that each human being is created in the image and likeness of God, that should be a no-brainer. But of course one need not have explicit faith to believe that each and every human being bears tremendous dignity simply by virtue of being human.
   
   *]A readiness to learn from others. That doesn’t mean we have to accept teachings of other religions that directly contradict the teachings of our own faith. But to say “What my religion teaches is true” is not the same as saying, “My religion is so comprehensive and teaches all there is to know about every aspect of life, so I have nothing whatever to learn from anyone else.” It may be that my own faith just doesn’t address a particular area, or addresses it in passing, but doesn’t place much emphasis on it.
   
   To take one personal example of #2: Does Christianity teach that God’s commandments are gifts to us, intended to enrich our lives? Sure. But because of Christianity’s tendency to emphasize grace over law, it’s very easy in Christian circles to dismiss interest in law and commandments as legalism. (And legalism is, of course, a real danger.) So I can find a sense of law as gift in Christianity if I look hard enough, but it tends not to be emphasized. I get a much stronger sense of the gift that God’s commandments are from what I’ve begun to learn about Judaism.

 

[Valke2]

My $.02–if it’s even worth that much.

To get on in a religiously pluralistic world, there are two attitudes that are essential:

1. 
   *]Respect for each and every human being, precisely because he or she is a human being. For those whose faith teaches that each human being is created in the image and likeness of God, that should be a no-brainer. But of course one need not have explicit faith to believe that each and every human being bears tremendous dignity simply by virtue of being human.
   
   *]A readiness to learn from others. That doesn’t mean we have to accept teachings of other religions that directly contradict the teachings of our own faith. But to say “What my religion teaches is true” is not the same as saying, “My religion is so comprehensive and teaches all there is to know about every aspect of life, so I have nothing whatever to learn from anyone else.” It may be that my own faith just doesn’t address a particular area, or addresses it in passing, but doesn’t place much emphasis on it.
   
   To take one personal example of #2: Does Christianity teach that God’s commandments are gifts to us, intended to enrich our lives? Sure. But because of Christianity’s tendency to emphasize grace over law, it’s very easy in Christian circles to dismiss interest in law and commandments as legalism. (And legalism is, of course, a real danger.) So I can find a sense of law as gift in Christianity if I look hard enough, but it tends not to be emphasized. I get a much stronger sense of the gift that God’s commandments are from what I’ve begun to learn about Judaism.

1. 
   very nice post. Every commandment, I believe, should promote, or at least not detract from, ethical behavior If it doesn’t, it needs to be applied in a way that rectifies that or it needs to be abandoned. That’s my opinion. There are plenty of Jews who would say I’m crazy. Because how can you abandon the divine word of God. Which leads me back to my original dilema, that of everyone being in possession of the word of God and arriving at contradictory conclusions.
   
   Another point I like to keep in mind when I start believing that I’m right and everyone else is wrong, is that there is no religion that I’m aware of that hasn’t been influenced, and strongly influenced, by other religion and/or religious practices. So for me to claim that Judaism is the one true religion requires me to ignore the fact that so much of Judaism was influened by earlier religions, as well as later religions, such as Christanity.

 

[scylla]

They can if they are conveying the truth through story.

The stories might be different but the truth conveyed if it is indeed true would be exactly the same.

As we can know absolutely that things are true, Jesus came and taught absolute truth.(He didn’t lie)
So in order to faithfully follow Jesus you would seek and hold onto that absolute truth.
(if a group admits that it isn’t absolutely true then they can be dismissed as they do not hold onto truth.)

This narrows the playing field hugely and makes your choices just a handful that could be the true belief system. Making it very simple to follow God, but most people don’t seek truth, but their own personal desire and pleasure.

In Christ
Scylla

This is why we respect them, not their belief. I respect their dignity, not their lies. (they might not know it is lies they are following)
So I respect the person who believes they are sincerely seeking Jesus

 

[Booklover]

Yes, it’s possible to respect others’ beliefs as long as they also respect yours, are not a threat, or teach absurdities!

Vickie

 

[Valke2]

The stories might be different but the truth conveyed if it is indeed true would be exactly the same.

ok.

As we can know absolutely that things are true, Jesus came and taught absolute truth.(He didn’t lie)
So in order to faithfully follow Jesus you would seek and hold onto that absolute truth.

And I would say that Jesus is one story used to convey truth.
There are other stories that convey truth as well. And they do so without mentioning Jesus.

This is why we respect them, not their belief. I respect their dignity, not their lies. (they might not know it is lies they are following)
So I respect the person who believes they are sincerely seeking Jesus

Ok. SO you would ultimately vote that it is not really possible to respect another’s religious beliefs, even though you could respect the person. What about people who are not seeking Jesus, such as Jews, Buddahists, Muslims, etc.?

 

[scylla]

Ok. SO you would ultimately vote that it is not really possible to respect another’s religious beliefs, even though you could respect the person. What about people who are not seeking Jesus, such as Jews, Buddahists, Muslims, etc.?

So yes I would vote that it isn’t possible to respect another’s religious beliefs, only persons.

I would respect them as persons and as persons of dignity all have the freedom to believe whatever they want.
I would never respect the belief system of a Protestant, Buddahist, Mohammadens, Etc as they all are false, and can be proven to be so, by just talking to them. Jews are the exception as they are basis for Christianity and essentially true yet not fulfilled.
(this is my own personal opinion as I have a hobby of chatting about religion and have never found an honest Protestant but I am sure there are some who exist who are sincerely seeking)
I think some come to these forums.

Sometimes it takes a while and it takes tact as many people identify themselves and are emotionally tied to their beliefs, regardless of their validity.

This is especially common with Protestants as some groups stress personal interpretation which makes for a belief system which is essentially based upon a persons own personality.
This makes dialogue with Protestants very difficult also, as any rejection of it is very emotional and difficult as it is based upon themselves.

Forums usually are poor ways of communicating as it is difficult to clearly express yourself and lay groundrules before discussing religion. Also the anonymity allows for a freedom to run, freedom to lie, freedom to be dishonest which is not possible in a personal encounter.

I can unintentionally offend in a forum whereas face to face allows for more clear communication.

God Bless
Scylla

 

[cheddarsox]

sometimes I respect the person, but not the beliefs, sometimes I respect the beliefs and not the person, sometimes I respect both the person and their beliefs…and sometimes I find I cannot respect either.

I believe there is Absolute Truth, but that any human understanding of it is imperfect. Many ways of explaining what we do know of that truth however…are respectable, though all fall short of the fullness of the truth.

cheddar

 

[jschwehm]

Much of what is being discussed here is addressed at the following link by the Vicar of the See of Rome.

chiesa.espressonline.it/dettaglio.jsp?id=105842&eng=y

I thought some of you might find this very interesting as it sheds light on what Benedict XVI is thinking and how he addresses these issues.

Jeff S.
www.catholicxjw.com

 

[mark_a]

We all want to think of ourselves as being capable of respecting beliefs that are not our own. But is it possible? If someone takes the position that their religion is true and that other religions are either false or incomplete, how can they truly respect the religious beliefs of others?

As a Jew, I can claim that it is possible in Judaism, because we believe that anyone who lives a righteous life will have a share in the world to come. But the reality is that the majority of Jews, and maybe the vast majority of Jews, believe that Judaism is the one true religion and that all other religions are flawed.

If by respect we mean refraining from criticizing or insulting one’s religious beliefs, then I suppose it is possible. But if we mean that we are willing to accept the possibility that our neighbor’s beliefs are at a minimum, at least as valid as our own, then I’m not sure this is possible.

Good question.

I think we are to treat others with mutual respect. You know, treat others as you would like to be treated.

 

[Karianne]

Don’t ‘straw man’ me! I didn’t say not to understand. I also didn’t say you can’t look for things that we DO hold in common. What I DID say that it is absurd to claim to respect what you are convinced is wrong. It is entirely reasonable and expected of us as christians, however, to respect PEOPLE that hold to opinions and beliefs that are wrong. Your example is an extreme case of indifference. A less extreme, but also indifferent case is to allow his congregation to live in the mistaken idea that it is not necessary to speak about Jesus to the imam’s followers since they already have religious beliefs.

I think that you’re absolutely correct, it’s impossible to respect the views of someone who wants to kill me just because I’m not of their faith.

I can respect their personhood and the fact that are a Child of God, but I cannot respect their views. I’m thinking of the people that flew a plane into the Twin Towers. They honestly believed that they were martyrs and that they were doing the right thing. After that experience, ntm the situation right here in my area with the Pentagon, I do not respect the views held by those people.

My case may be slightly different however, because I consider my Faith to be a sacred, personal thing, a view held by many Ethical Humanists, btw.
If I want to persuade someone that my Faith may be more helpful to them I would try to give a better witness, meaning that they would see that I had something that made me happy so I don’t have to blabber at them or pose as a good Catholic on these boards to impress anyone.

 

[awantz]

We all want to think of ourselves as being capable of respecting beliefs that are not our own. But is it possible? If someone takes the position that their religion is true and that other religions are either false or incomplete, how can they truly respect the religious beliefs of others?

Yes, it is very posible. We are a Catholic and Protestant couple and we respect each other’s beliefs.

 

[Valke2]

Yes, it is very posible. We are a Catholic and Protestant couple and we respect each other’s beliefs.

But do you believe that your spouse’s beliefs are false?

 

[Montalban]

We all want to think of ourselves as being capable of respecting beliefs that are not our own.

No, ‘we’ all don’t.

If I found a person’s belief is to paint themselves blue and pray in front of a picture of their god Elvis, I don’t have to respect them at all.

 

[lak611]

I think you can respect someone elses beliefls but still do not have to believe the same way. I am a christian but I have deep respect for the Jewish Nation. My christanity came from and started with Judaism. How could I not respect that. Before Jesus and even in the begining of Jesus it is ALL Jewish History.

I am not catholic but I respect the deep beliefs they have in their church. They have passion and love.

I feel the same. I have a Jewish friend, and I have a lot of respect for him and for his religion and nationality. I also respect Jewish people whom I don’t know personally, but know from places like this forum. The original Christians were all Jewish. The Old Testament (the Hebrew Bible) is part of my Bible. Without Judaism, there never would be Christianity.

I also have respect for my Protestant family members and friends (those I know personally and those I know from these forums). You are my brothers and sisters in Christ who truly love our Lord and Saviour.

 

[pira114]

We all want to think of ourselves as being capable of respecting beliefs that are not our own. But is it possible? If someone takes the position that their religion is true and that other religions are either false or incomplete, how can they truly respect the religious beliefs of others?

As a Jew, I can claim that it is possible in Judaism, because we believe that anyone who lives a righteous life will have a share in the world to come. But the reality is that the majority of Jews, and maybe the vast majority of Jews, believe that Judaism is the one true religion and that all other religions are flawed.

If by respect we mean refraining from criticizing or insulting one’s religious beliefs, then I suppose it is possible. But if we mean that we are willing to accept the possibility that our neighbor’s beliefs are at a minimum, at least as valid as our own, then I’m not sure this is possible.

The flaw in this question is that you have given two definitions to one word. I don’t believe the concept of respecting someone else’s beliefs means conceding that their beliefs are in any way correct. It just means that you allow them to have their beliefs without holding it against them in any other context.

 

[Alexius]

Gilbert Keith: Religion is not a game. It is life or death for the soul … and worth a hundred candles.

Or the MSRP of the soul in question …

 

[RobedWithLight]

Yes, it is very posible. We are a Catholic and Protestant couple and we respect each other’s beliefs.

Valke has a valid point in asking you if you actually consider each other’s belief as false.

Perhaps the bottomline here is not respect in the sense that you consider the other’s belief as true or false, but respect for their* right* to believe in what they say they believe.

 

[Valke2]

The flaw in this question is that you have given two definitions to one word. I don’t believe the concept of respecting someone else’s beliefs means conceding that their beliefs are in any way correct. It just means that you allow them to have their beliefs without holding it against them in any other context.

But, if YOUR belief is that anyone who does not follow “x” is committing a sin or bound for hell, then can you really allow that person to have their own beliefs without holding it agianst them?

If I marry a woman who is a Catholic and I believe she is committing idolatry through her religion, and idolatry is a sin that is equal to murder, can I really respect her religious beliefs?

 

[Karianne]

But, if YOUR belief is that anyone who does not follow “x” is committing a sin or bound for hell, then can you really allow that person to have their own beliefs without holding it agianst them?

If I marry a woman who is a Catholic and I believe she is committing idolatry through her religion, and idolatry is a sin that is equal to murder, can I really respect her religious beliefs?

Not if you think that she is sinning.
Not if you think that she’s going to teach your children to sin.
God chose a Jewish mother for His son, at least that’s what I believe.
Why would a Jewish guy, who has an “in” with Jewish women do anything different!?

 

[KathleenElsie]

I think you can respect the persons decision to believe as they do. This just means that you don’t “force” them into saying they believe as you do. A respect for the person not the belief.

Now to respect their beliefs is a different matter. I pray I am worthy of personal respect for how I live my religion/faith. I pray that others will believe as I do. But, I do not expect non Catholics to think I am right and they are wrong. (Well maybe I do pray for them so then we would all be catholic:thumbsup: .)

I just want those that do not believe as I do to allow me to believe as I do. To me this is what most people believe is respect for another’s religion. I hope this makes sense.