Seperating The Person From The Opinion

[nailit]

I'll be the first to put my hands up to the fact that I havn't been too kind on here to those with a religious faith. Just wanted to get that out of the way...
But is it possible that we can (both on A.B and in the wider community) begin to see past religious opinions and see people for who they are, rather than what they believe?

I have born again Christian friends, I work with evangelical Christians, I work on a Wednesday with a muslim, on a Thursday I work with an atheist. No-one bats an eyelid and we all get on great.
Isnt it about what we share (our humanity) that makes the difference to how we treat each other and not our differences?

Who cares if 'God' created us or if we are simply the product of nature?
Shouldn't the simple (observable) fact that we are all here together, at this moment in time, be enough to inspire us to work together towards a better life?

[nailit]

In real life, I don't give a rats ass what anyone believes as long as they don't force it down my throat...

[douglas9401]

I agree. If only folk would stop rehashing and reheating the pot with monotonous regularity.

[pixie374]

It should.... I have a family of clients that are extremely strict Pentecostal Christians- and my sister and I (both atheists) work very regularly and closely with them, and so does a Muslim lady. It makes absolutely no difference at all.
AB is not really the same as real-life, though. Some of it is debating/ arguing/ disagreeing or whatever you want to call it. The thing that is important, imo, is to remember that disagreement is not the same as dislike. It shouldn't be personal, just about the posts at the time.

[Mozz71]

Yup. Respect folk's beliefs, whether they are believers or not.

[woofgang]

I agree Nailit.

[mibn2cweus]

Opinions are like farts. The one thing is seems we can all agree upon is that our own smells the best.

[nailit]

Just today....
I work for the Trussell trust, a Christian organization, At dinner time I

[nailit]

Aaarrghhh….
hang on.

[Tilly2]

...buy a ham roll from my local muslim shopkeeper?

[nailit]

Just today....
I work for the Trussell trust, a Christian organization, At dinner time I sat down for lunch with another avowed atheist, an evangelical Christian who has just returned from a bit of missionary work in Rwanda, a young muslim lad and someone who really doesn't give a fig one way or the other (agnostic).
We all get on great. No one accuses the Christians of been deluded, no one accuses the muslim of being a terrorist, no one accuses the atheists of been evil Marxists etc.
Sometimes seems that the only times these things come to light is on the internet...

[Tilly2]

That's 'cause it's Stoke and people are nice in Stoke.

[Barsel]

nailit Some people are not capable of doing that. Some people who have religious beliefs get great pleasure in ramming that down our throats and low behold anyone who doesn't agree.! Perhaps we should ignore people who seem to go out of their way to cause trouble because they believe they are right and try to persuade us they are right. Keep up your good work. x

[Barsel]

You don't happen to come from Stoke do you Tilly Lol.x

[anneasquith]

I don’t often know the religion or none of new people I meet. It’s one aspect of us only.

[Tilly2]

How did you guess, Barsel? :-)

[Barsel]

anne, I had a neighbour for many years who I got on with really well. One day I told her I was doing my family tree and I wanted to go to the Latter Day Saints church as they hold a lot of info. Not a problem she said, I'll take you,I'm a member of that church. I had no idea. Did it make any difference to the way I felt about her? Not at all, why should it. x

[nailit]

Best Answer Tills..
//That's 'cause it's Stoke and people are nice in Stoke//
'cause we are ;-)
We have oatcakes and Wrights Pies...What's not to like?

[anneasquith]

Exactly Barsal .

[Tilly2]

My two best friends are a Baptist and a Catholic. We do talk about their faith but there is never any way they would try to bring me into their fold. I can, however, totally depend on both of them in times of crisis. They are a godsend, fortunately for me.

[jakep]

In real life, we know the person as a friend or colleague. We see their facial expressions and emotions. We can chose not to express opinions that will hurt the person.
With true friends, debate can be honest and should not make a difference to the friendship.
One of my few good friends has totally different opinions to mine on Brexit, for example.
With AB, it is the opposite really, we only see the opinion.