ok balerion..
is that what respect means to you?
"Respect is not required to treat them humanely or practice kindness"
what does that leave?
Does coddling someome with stupid and dangerous beliefs equate to compassion? Not in my world. That would be making myself an accomplice.
that is exactly what my definition of respect is, 'To treat people humanely and practice kindness, regardless of what beliefs they hold.'
I agree.
when I say respect their beliefs, I mean do not go off on what you think is wrong with their beliefs, they have pry heard it millions of times before, and it shows them you have no desire to learn about their beliefs and just want to judge them on your own understanding of things regardless of any understandings that can be had if you were to actually listen.
Now you're talking about being quiet and not challenging anyone's beliefs. That's got nothing to do with respect. I mean, using that definition, you aren't treating me with respect, because you're telling me my bekiefs are wrong. Obviously, this isn't a world even you want to live in, so why harp on about It?
And if people don't want to have their beliefs questioned, don't bring them up.
you can disagree with a persons beliefs and not disrespect the belief or the person, you do this by not judging the others beliefs or at least not confronting them with that judgement.
Why would I want to do that? Why should I let stupid and dangerous ideas go unchecked? Why shouldn't I disagree with someone else's worldview if I thi k it's flawed or inferior? You keep saying we shouldn't do this, but why not? Because it might offend you? Since when do you have the right to not be offended?
I digress back to one of my earlier arguments:
u1: 1+1=3
u2: your wrong!
or:
u1: 1+1=3
u2: 1+1=2
which is more informative.
You're contradicting yourself. Earlier, you said we should tell peolle what's wrong with their beliefs. Now yiu say we should. Which is it? And why should I listen to you anyway? I mean, I agree that there should be a dialogue, but I don't think that dialogue necessarily needs to be civil or overly concerned with the feelings of the other party. If Westboro Baptist protests a funeral, I don't personally care if my jeers hurt their feelings. Why should I?
by trying to defeat their belief, you are only cementing their belief, they have the will to have their beliefs stand up to scrutiny, (note:did not say anything about reasonability)
Not necessarily. Many people are converted--in botb directions, and within subsets of each--through argument. And just because some people are thickheaded isn't a good reason to shut up.
ignore them and scrutinize your own beliefs like where you get your information, what do you know, what do you think you know, how did you come to know, then you will have your own beliefs, not theirs. if everyone does this, then eventually all those 'bad' beliefs will be no more because no one will just follow someone else's beliefs blindly anymore..
Theze arent mutually-exclusive ideas. I can debate fanatics while remaining flexible and introspective. Beliefs aren't necessarily binary.