Does Religion Deserve Respect?

[alice in chains]

Religion by nature ignores what doesn't benefit it.

Example: The Aztecs religious idea was that human sacrifices to the rain and sun gods were necessary to keep the universe going. Did the Aztecs not bother to test this theory? Or was it intentionally ignored because science and thought is the enemy of religion and people have too much mind control to lose and too much fear to gain.

Where is the credibility to religion if people are not willing to test what they so strongly take as truth? If they really take it as truth, why not test it to confirm? Not doing so is oppressing your own self.

 

[itsmeJonB]

One's faith deserves respect. Religion as it stands does not

 

[Accountable]

Religion in and of itself does not deserve respect, imo. I agree with Wyndex that people do deserve respect and allowed to believe whatever they wish, unmolested. However, actions don't necessarily deserve the same respect.

Where is the credibility to religion if people are not willing to test what they so strongly take as truth?

Most people I hear saying this actually mean that religious people should be willing for others (specifically, the speaker) to test what the religious person takes as truth. There's a huge difference between that and a person challenging his own beliefs.

I agree that a person should challenge and investigate any belief he holds - religious, political, or anything else - to be sure the belief deserves to be held.

 

[Dana]

I don't know. I respect those with different beliefs than I do as long as they aren't preaching to me and trying to shove it down my throat.

 

[porterjack]

Example: The Aztecs religious idea was that human sacrifices to the rain and sun gods were necessary to keep the universe going. Did the Aztecs not bother to test this theory? Or was it intentionally ignored because science and thought is the enemy of religion and people have too much mind control to lose and too much fear to gain.

i suspect that you have answered your own question here

if science can disprove dogma, why would the those teaching and controlling through dogma want to have their arguments defeated. Surely they would lose the control that they seem to lust after. Seems to me that any religion that does not seek to control and encourages free thought will not enable it's leaders with power

 

[Minor Axis]

One's faith deserves respect. Religion as it stands does not

However, there are pretty clear examples where faith consisting of extreme views does not warrant respect. So as a blanket statement, I'd say that is incorrect. The clear answer IMO is "depends".

 

[Accountable]

However, there are pretty clear examples where faith consisting of extreme views does not warrant respect.

Remember that when you get pissed for being disrespected.




:jk