From: 78witherspoo@cuavax.dnet.cua.edu
Subject: Re:      Should we respect others?
Organization: The Catholic University of America
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 14:27:47 GMT

In article <BsuMD3.9x4@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu>, creps@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Steve Creps) writes:
Steve-- 
	Good post!  Some things I thought of:

 
> We should respect people, not necessarily
> their beliefs....We are to
> respect the person who holds to error, but to respect the error itself
> is the same as saying, "Well, I don't believe that myself, but who am I
> to say my beliefs are any better than yours?"  In my opinion, the person
> who thinks someone else's beliefs that contradict his own are just as
> good as his own beliefs, lacks the conviction of his own beliefs. 
_____________________________________________________________________
How can this last statement be true?  I guess I don't understand.  Are you
saying that someone's beliefs are a _separate_ part of them?  That they sort
of dangle above them in mid-air, while christians are the _only_ people who are
wholly integrated beings?  

I guess my point is that what _harm_ could it do to you?  I had no idea that
simple respect would be so scary a topic.  I hold the opposite opinion on this,
but I am still going to respect you as a human being.  Nothing is influencing me
to do this, no little imp is sitting on my shoulder whispering "Respect!"
in my ear.

> One
> who truly, strongly believes something with conviction _cannot_ accept
> as valid, or even worthy of respect, beliefs that contradict them.
> That's not to say that one should ridicule someone for such beliefs --
> respect for the person prohibits that -- or that one even must speak up
> against the beliefs in question if it will cause hard feelings.  But to
> tell someone, "Well, I don't believe that myself, but if it works for
> you, then I'm all for it..." is wrong, in my opinion.
___________________________________________________________________
Hmmm... you are saying you won't ridicule someone for holding a different
belief ("respect for the person prohibits that"), but that _condoning_ it
is another matter?  Okay.

 
>>Crystal clear. I would add that discrimination, bigotry, and hatred are
>>derived from a lack of _respect_ of other's beliefs.  The crusades are a 
>>perfect example of this...
> 
> 
>    I certainly have no respect for the notion that the Crusades are "a
> perfect example" of a "lack of _respect_ for [others'] beliefs."
______________________________________________________________________
Okay, I will call the foul on my own comment.  I meant to say that the crusades
to take the Holy Land back from the infidels during the middle ages were an
example of using one's belief as a blank check to run havoc over another
people-- simply because they believe differntly than you do.  This kind of
stuff has been going on for a long time, and is nothing more than human
political power struggles masquerading as "holy causes".  That is so much BS to
me that I can't think about it for very long.  And christians are not the only
practicioners of this, but they seem to be very good at it...

> --Steve
__________
Should we just "agree to disagree" on this one?  I have no interest in
prolonging this point, we will probably just go 'round and 'round the same
point of departure.

Besides, I am going on vacation tomorrow!

Love and good walking your own faith,

Tom Witherspoon 
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