I came to respect the Quakers while I was in their midst for about a year. They make Unitarians look like evangelical bible-thumpers. The services are perfect for introverts. Also good for people who don’t know what they believe.
But I found that I enjoy sitting in agnostic silence at home much better.
I respect any faith that doesn’t actively convert.
Qua religions . . . no, I have no respect for philosophies based on irrationality. But I can agree with specific aspects, taken entirely out of context. I can admire Judaism’s valuing education and success. I can admire Christianity’s concept of being “rewarded” for being good, though I seriously disagree with their idea of the good. There are also admirable aspects of Eastern religions. But I cannot respect religions that demand blind, unthinking obedience and conformity.
The religions in which I don’t find anything to admire are the Amish, and similar. They are anti-technology, conformist, xenophobic and homophobic. They value “toiling” rather than creative work, rarely accepting an idea that would lighten their work load. I find nothing to admire in their “simple” lives.
I admire such groups as the Amish… one reason being because the way in which they go about living appears to me to not cause much in the way of pollution, at least in comparison to say someone such as my self who relies on fossil fuels for survival.
While it is true the Amish aren’t farting around as much as the rest of us, they are hardly blameless when it comes to pollution.
I don’t particularly care for the Amish’s philosophy of resisting change and glorifying toil for the sake of it. Yes, modern convenience carry costs, but so does isolation and blind obedience to authority. Their stupidity in the face of the genetic disorders that are of their own making is just sickening.
I like their turkey bacon and apple pies, though. But the bean pies that the Farrakhan folks sell are also delicious. All this proves is that you can still cook and believe crazy things.
I met a Unitarian Jehovah’s Witness once; he knocked on our door and then didn’t know what to tell us.
Q: What do you get if you cross a Jehovah’s Witness with an atheist?
A: Someone who knocks on your door for no reason.
I admire some religiously devout people who strictly adhere to their beliefs, so long as those beliefs aren’t loathsome. While I may have some admiration for individuals, it is for those individuals and not the group. However some groups are certainly worse than others.
How do you think they cook their food and heat their houses?
Horses actually cause more pollution than cars.
“There has never been anything by the wit of man so well devised, or so sure established, which in continuance of time hath not been corrupted.”
Not that us Episcopalian folk are totally innocent. Overall, though, pretty happy with being allowed to disagree on things, the good works aspect, and the slew of swearing. Swearing is outside of the sanctuary and chapel, of course. My mother would kill me if she caught me dropping an f-bomb in front of a stained glass window with a picture of the Virgin Mary. Eh, I’m well-socialized in that regard, I guess.
I like most religions in general, even if I don’t agree on everything. Will mention Sufiism and Sikhism since I don’t think anyone has brought those two up yet. I have an existentialist bent and have always appreciated Buddhism and those in my life who practice it.
Despite the “religious” theme, this is not a debate, simply a poll of opinions.
Off to IMHO.
The Jehovah Witnesses that knocked on my door at 8:30 Thanksgiving morning inspired a lot of violent thoughts.
Amen and as long as they don’t bother me I will not bother them.
I admire and respect most groups of Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Confucians, and Taoists. I’m generally predisposed to be favorable towards most religious traditions other than Islam, Mormonism, and Hinduism.
The Bahai seem like nice enough folk and if I was going to believe in any religion, their religion comes close. Mostly I don’t think much about religion.
Gotta throw some props to the Pastafarianists.
In regards to actual religious practices, I don’t admire any of them. Likewise for the really insidious tendency to attract people who go to almost any extreme of self-delusion to avoid thinking for themselves or disagreeing with the “sacred” tenents of whatever their faith is. I find that to be particularly depressing.
However, there are some social or philosophical things that I think are intriguing.
Amish: I really like the underlying presumption that new things aren’t necessarily good things, and that everything you do or own has an impact on your life. I vehemently disagree with their specific application of this presumption. However, that doesn’t mean that the underlying idea is bad. I think it’s a very worthwhile stance to carefully and time-consumingly determine if something is going to be detrimental to whatever you hold important. For them, it is the value of hard work and their social cohesion and “apartness” from others - but it doesn’t have to be those specific values. That concept is what I find useful from them. That’s why I don’t have a Facebook account.
Paganism/Druids/Animism: I like that they focus on the wonder and unity of the natural world. I could do without the woo.
Buddhism: I can really get behind a philosophy that encourages people to handle their own personal internal balance and to stop worrying about the outside world. Again, woo is unnecessary.
Modern Quakers: Very similar to Buddhism in their focus on the internal self. I like that.
I respect a moderate form of most any religion. I’m an atheist myself, but have no problem with the peace and inspiration many religions can give their followers.
No. I respect people’s right to their religion, as long as they don’t try to force their beliefs on anybody else (like by banning gay marriage) or try to get their creation myths taught as science in public schools. But the religions themselves are obvious myths and “woo” and not deserving of respect.
There’s really nothing religion has accomplished that a strong healthy respect for the golden rule would accomplish as well. Example: Soup kitchens. If I were homeless, I’d like people to help me eat. Hence, I support soup kitchens.