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Respect Religion?

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michijo

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Interesting article about levels of respect and tolerance for religion:

Do Religious Believers Deserve Respect?

I met one person who believed that allowing jehova's witnesses into your home, even though you are an atheist, was the mark of an educated person. I think that is going to far. People attached "being educated" to so many events in life, so that being "educated" means you have no personal freedom anymore. You are like a wet towel that has no ability to protest or stand up for yourself.
 
I don't think it's a matter of "deserving" respect. It's a matter of whether or not individuals are respectful to others in general. I am respectful of others' religious beliefs as long as they aren't using it to be a jerk, but I suspect that that type of person would be a jerk regardless of their religion.
 
michijo said:
Interesting article about levels of respect and tolerance for religion:

Do Religious Believers Deserve Respect?

I met one person who believed that allowing jehova's witnesses into your home, even though you are an atheist, was the mark of an educated person. I think that is going to far. People attached "being educated" to so many events in life, so that being "educated" means you have no personal freedom anymore. You are like a wet towel that has no ability to protest or stand up for yourself.
Click to expand...

I don't think they "deserve" respect based just on that they are religious believers. Respect goes both ways. Anyone, whether religious, atheist, or agnostic can be jerks and by those actions may not deserve respect. I will try, even though I fail many times, to give a person the benefit of the doubt and give them respect from the start until they do or say something that will change my mind.
 
michijo said:
Interesting article about levels of respect and tolerance for religion:

Do Religious Believers Deserve Respect?

I met one person who believed that allowing jehova's witnesses into your home, even though you are an atheist, was the mark of an educated person. I think that is going to far. People attached "being educated" to so many events in life, so that being "educated" means you have no personal freedom anymore. You are like a wet towel that has no ability to protest or stand up for yourself.
Click to expand...



A person does not have to allow a Jehova's witness into their home, but by the same token, if they approach a person with politeness and are treated rudely,that is not exactly the sign of a person with much class, either.
 
michijo said:
Interesting article about levels of respect and tolerance for religion:

Do Religious Believers Deserve Respect?

I met one person who believed that allowing jehova's witnesses into your home, even though you are an atheist, was the mark of an educated person. I think that is going to far. People attached "being educated" to so many events in life, so that being "educated" means you have no personal freedom anymore. You are like a wet towel that has no ability to protest or stand up for yourself.
Click to expand...

I think that in this respect, 'educated' has nothing to do with being schooled, knowledgable or intelligent. It means polite. I've had Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses call at my house and have engaged with them politely, when they have been polite and not too persistent. I have also dismissed them quite brusquely when, turning up at an inconvenient moment, they have refused to take the hint that I didn't have time to talk.

I don't particularly like the evangelising of religion. My view is that religious beliefs come from a different place to rational argument. I don't believe anyone can be persuaded to adopt a religion; it has to be something you feel and know at a different level of consciousness and no number of words can place that knowledge within you.

Being prepared to discuss beliefs doesn't imply that you are open to persuasion, to conversion, to being a 'wet towel'. I've always found that when I have given time to talking with these evangelists or missionaries, or whatever they like to call themselves, I have found it interesting, if not convincing.
 
Andalublue said:
I think that in this respect, 'educated' has nothing to do with being schooled, knowledgable or intelligent. It means polite. I've had Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses call at my house and have engaged with them politely, when they have been polite and not too persistent. I have also dismissed them quite brusquely when, turning up at an inconvenient moment, they have refused to take the hint that I didn't have time to talk.

I don't particularly like the evangelising of religion. My view is that religious beliefs come from a different place to rational argument. I don't believe anyone can be persuaded to adopt a religion; it has to be something you feel and know at a different level of consciousness and no number of words can place that knowledge within you.

Being prepared to discuss beliefs doesn't imply that you are open to persuasion, to conversion, to being a 'wet towel'. I've always found that when I have given time to talking with these evangelists or missionaries, or whatever they like to call themselves, I have found it interesting, if not convincing.
Click to expand...

I'm through discussing religion with the religious. They believe what they do. I particularly dont like Jehovas Witness or Watchtower, because they are from New York. These people have only one goal, and that is taking your money and controlling your mind. There is nothing to talk about politely with them.

I knew a former member of the Jim Roberts group. They think they are giving up worldly posessions in order to grasp infinity. But Jim Roberts is merely taking all their money and leaving them to roll around on bikes to find more people to give Jim all their worldly possessions. Its quite a bussiness.
 
I don't think anybody's obligated to invite anybody into his home. But I invited Jehovah's Witnesses into mine enough times to satisfy myself about their beliefs. On the last visit, they left behind a red book (I can't recall the title, but at least a theme is "You too can live forever") that sparked my interest. I do very much admire evangelizing and think it takes guts. I respect that. Nevertheless, I have no interest in talking to them except for saying, because this is sincere, that I pray for their souls.
 
I've thought about telling Jehovah's Witnesses that I'm a Canannite when they knock on my door, just to mess with them. I keep telling myself I'll do it, but I end up nodding and politely saying, 'Sorry, not interested...'
 
Amadeus said:
I've thought about telling Jehovah's Witnesses that I'm a Canannite when they knock on my door, just to mess with them. I keep telling myself I'll do it, but I end up nodding and politely saying, 'Sorry, not interested...'
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I have a friend who like to tell them he's a Druid. :lol:
 
lizzie said:
I have a friend who like to tell them he's a Druid. :lol:
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That's a good one, but it doesn't beat telling them that they're responsible for the genocide of my people.

I'm not really that much of a jerk in real life, and I have a terrible poker face.
 
Amadeus said:
That's a good one, but it doesn't beat telling them that they're responsible for the genocide of my people.

I'm not really that much of a jerk in real life, and I have a terrible poker face.
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Oh, my friend isn't trying to lay on a guilt trip or anything- he just likes to shock people. He's kind of outrageous that way. :mrgreen:
 
Amadeus said:
I've thought about telling Jehovah's Witnesses that I'm a Canannite when they knock on my door, just to mess with them. I keep telling myself I'll do it, but I end up nodding and politely saying, 'Sorry, not interested...'
Click to expand...

Messing with them would be disrespectful. But I've spent serious time studying some of JH's core beliefs and have satisfied myself about these, so I have no problem being forthright and friendly, and what I have to say generally discourages further interest in trying to proselytize.
 
lizzie said:
Oh, my friend isn't trying to lay on a guilt trip or anything- he just likes to shock people. He's kind of outrageous that way. :mrgreen:
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Oh I know, I'm just taking it to an extreme. I don't think JW's are bad people or anything, or that they're complicit in genocide, just having fun with the scripture (dark humour).
 
Amadeus said:
Oh I know, I'm just taking it to an extreme. I don't think JW's are bad people or anything, or that they're complicit in genocide, just having fun with the scripture (dark humour).
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I have learned to just tell them I was raised in a very devout Christian home. That seems to put them at ease, and not insult them. I don't think I've every had anyone be really pushy with me, except for some Hare Krishnas in an airport many years ago.
 
With the watchtower people it is really scandalous, because they target minorities in ethnic areas of NYC and also they target blacks in the American south, which is why often in the deep south a Jehovas Witness can be African American, making it neccisary to be polite to them. I am no racist, but I have to see this as some kind of Yankee plot to control minorities.
 
lizzie said:
I have learned to just tell them I was raised in a very devout Christian home. That seems to put them at ease, and not insult them. I don't think I've every had anyone be really pushy with me, except for some Hare Krishnas in an airport many years ago.
Click to expand...

I have not actually encountered them in Canada, though I don't do a lot of travelling.

I believe the chanting is similar to Allah Akhar for Muslims ('God is Great'), and is designed to give inner peace.

In other words:

 
The Krishnas are actually a variation of one of like the oldest religion in the world. I like to bring them up when Christians talk about how they give out so much food to the poor, being the only benefactors in the world. Krishnas give out more and better food. If you look what they do, its interesting, they go into war zones like in the Chechnyan Wars.

Hare Krishna Food for Life - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
michijo said:
I'm through discussing religion with the religious. They believe what they do. I particularly dont like Jehovas Witness or Watchtower, because they are from New York. These people have only one goal, and that is taking your money and controlling your mind. There is nothing to talk about politely with them.

I knew a former member of the Jim Roberts group. They think they are giving up worldly posessions in order to grasp infinity. But Jim Roberts is merely taking all their money and leaving them to roll around on bikes to find more people to give Jim all their worldly possessions. Its quite a bussiness.
Click to expand...


All work done by JW,s is done free--donations is all they receive--no plates passed at meetings--no selling magazines or any of it--all donations.
There is 0 mind control--that is fabricated and untrue.
They moved out of New York---- Wisely.
 
michijo said:
With the watchtower people it is really scandalous, because they target minorities in ethnic areas of NYC and also they target blacks in the American south, which is why often in the deep south a Jehovas Witness can be African American, making it neccisary to be polite to them. I am no racist, but I have to see this as some kind of Yankee plot to control minorities.
Click to expand...



Reality--- A Jw will share Gods truths with anyone, Skin color means 0 to a Jw--we are one human family worldwide--unified in Love and peace brotherhood--carrying on the work Jesus started and does not stop until the end.
 
kjw47 said:
All work done by JW,s is done free--donations is all they receive--no plates passed at meetings--no selling magazines or any of it--all donations.
There is 0 mind control--that is fabricated and untrue.
They moved out of New York---- Wisely.
Click to expand...

They are still in New York. I used to live up there in Queens with a Hispanic girlfriend. I saw these bastards from watchtower everywhere. Also, one day a one of them came because they target Hispanic names on mailboxes and saw the Lopez name. When they saw me they asked her in Spanish if she had a gringo in there like surprised. I know what they are up to.

Jehovah's Witnesses - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
Gardener said:
A person does not have to allow a Jehova's witness into their home, but by the same token, if they approach a person with politeness and are treated rudely,that is not exactly the sign of a person with much class, either.
Click to expand...

JWs are some of the most persistent people I know. I had one actually ask me if my NO SOLICITING sign meant him too? I really wanted to hit him.
 
michijo said:
They are still in New York. I used to live up there in Queens with a Hispanic girlfriend. I saw these bastards from watchtower everywhere. Also, one day a one of them came because they target Hispanic names on mailboxes and saw the Lopez name. When they saw me they asked her in Spanish if she had a gringo in there like surprised. I know what they are up to.

Jehovah's Witnesses - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Click to expand...


They sold all the Brooklyn properties as far as I know--they are constructing a very large place elsewhere. Jw,s go door to door everywhere they can, with the good news of Gods kingdom and Gods appointed King( Daniel 7:13-15) Jesus. Trying to help their fellow man find entrance into Gods kingdom. No charge.
 
michijo said:
Interesting article about levels of respect and tolerance for religion:

Do Religious Believers Deserve Respect?

I met one person who believed that allowing jehova's witnesses into your home, even though you are an atheist, was the mark of an educated person. I think that is going to far. People attached "being educated" to so many events in life, so that being "educated" means you have no personal freedom anymore. You are like a wet towel that has no ability to protest or stand up for yourself.
Click to expand...
If you want to respect religion, then respect it. If you don't want to respect it, then don't.
 
kjw47 said:
They sold all the Brooklyn properties as far as I know--they are constructing a very large place elsewhere. Jw,s go door to door everywhere they can, with the good news of Gods kingdom and Gods appointed King( Daniel 7:13-15) Jesus. Trying to help their fellow man find entrance into Gods kingdom. No charge.
Click to expand...

I thought we didnt have kings or kingdoms in the USA. :confused: This Jesus person sounds unamerican. Probably some foriegner.

I assume they moved out of brooklyn then for rising real estate values. These days the south is the only wild place with cheap rent left in the USA, mainly because a certain breed of snobs avoids it for reasons that are increasingly unclear.
 
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John S said:
If you want to respect religion, then respect it. If you don't want to respect it, then don't.
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I get nothing out of. When I was younger I was more disturbed religion because young people are weak and targeted. These days I am a grown person with little fear of death. I am also pretty tall and fierce. I basically dont care about anything in this world. I find religion petty and stupid.
 
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