I’m not sure what you mean by “respect the religious views of others”.

I believe that everyone is entitled to hold their own religious views as long as those views aren’t in conflict with the rights of others (if they believed that slavery was right, for example).

But I think their views are misguided, and I think this is true of most theists. My mom used to say that Mormons were crazy because what they believed, and I remember my reaction when I first learned what transubstantiation is.

You can certainly be friends with people of other beliefs – the majority of the people I’m friends with are theists. You need to understand how they view discussions about religion and respect their wishes in that area.

Marriage depends on how closely the beliefs align. If you are both christians, it may work, though if one of you is a Lutheran and one is a evangelical, it may be difficult to find common ground. If you could go to each other’s churches and not feel weird than it will probably be fine.

Marriage between theist and atheist is harder. There’s really no middle ground, and this is especially problematic when children come into the picture.

Posted: October 14th 2010

See all questions answered by Eric_PK

People deserve respect, beliefs don’t.

I feel passionately that all human beings are given the basic respect to be free to believe whatever makes sense to them.

By free I mean that they shouldn’t be persecuted or have rights or privileges denied to them.

I do not mean that they should never have their beliefs challenged or questioned. That would basically put a stop to all discussion, free speech and progress.

No idea or belief is beyond questioning. I suspect people who ask for respect (meaning silence) when their beliefs are questioned are simply afraid that their beliefs won’t stand up to scrutiny.

Posted: October 13th 2010

See all questions answered by Eshu

If someone believes they can be saved by the death of a carpenter who had to die and then became a zombie because his dad, who is also him, required it because two people screwed up 6,000 years ago and he demands a perfect sacrifice because, well, just because, no, I can’t respect that belief. It is downright goofy.

But I can respect, and stand up for, their right to that belief and their right to practice it, as long as it doesn’t interfere with other people’s rights, especially their right to be left alone.

Most of my friends are religious. I think they’re wrong about that one thing, and it’s a trivial thing.

Posted: October 13th 2010

See all questions answered by Dave Hitt

I respect the rights of others to believe whatever they want. I don’t respect beliefs themselves if I think they’re wrong, because they also tend to be harmful. Some take offense to this, but they shouldn’t; if I don’t respect one of your beliefs, that’s not a judgment on you besides that you’re wrong about this one thing. And the beliefs themselves don’t have feelings to hurt.

My wife is a liberal Christian, so that answers your other question. We talk about religion sometimes, but we avoid direct confrontation. Each of us quietly hopes the other will “come around”, but we each have a Christian mother and an atheist father who are still happily married so we’re not worried that continued difference in our positions will come between us.

Posted: October 13th 2010

See all questions answered by SmartLX

'Respect’ has different meanings. Here’s the first sense that could be relevant in the context of this question:

to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with: to respect a person’s privacy.

Since I certainly don’t feel as though any person has a legitimate claim over what goes on in other people’s heads, you could say I respect a person’s right to religious belief. I don’t believe people should be punished for 'thought-crime’.

On the other hand, I don’t believe that anyone has the right for their beliefs to be shielded from criticism. That goes for theists and atheists alike. So if respecting other people’s beliefs really means politely pretending I think they’re sensible, or true, or 'true for you’ (whatever that means), then I’m not interested in giving or receiving that kind of respect.

Here’s a second meaning:

to hold in esteem or honor: I cannot respect a cheat.

In this second sense, things are much simpler. I don’t respect religious belief. It’s childish nonsense. Theists aren’t necessarily childish, many are very intelligent people, but their ideas about metaphysics aren’t fitting for an adult.

Marriage and friendships exist between theists and atheists, so that’s certainly possible. I have some religious friends myself. I find it hard to imagine I’d ever have enough in common with a theist to want to marry one though.

Posted: October 12th 2010

See all questions answered by bitbutter