Religion is a hotbed for this kind of blanket dismissal of a dissenting view. There is a perception that because someone believes something different, they are uninformed. For instance, a person may not practice a mainstream religion, identifying as agnostic or atheist. This does not automatically mean they have no knowledge of religion. Likewise a person who has always practiced a specific religion does not automatically make them knowledgeable about the subject. It could just as easily be quite the opposite. In the quest to discover one's own beliefs, the atheist could, in fact, study a wide variety of beliefs, including religions, in order to make a more informed decision. Why then would a "religious" person assume superior knowledge and dismiss the conflicting view out of hand?
I struggle mightily with those that believe their belief system is superior and right, thereby invalidating all others. An article talking about how religious belief can cause believers to commit violence was recently posted. The opinion was dismissed out-of-hand because the person posting it did not "practice religion" with the terse justification that "you should stick to things you know about". Now I really have no idea about the amount of knowledge the person posting has or doesn't have however I do believe the person has formed a belief system that is valid to them. The interesting thing to me was that the article clearly pointed out that acts of kindness can also be fostered from religious belief as well. It did compare religious belief to alcohol consumption, which may or may not be a correlation you appreciate however I don't believe it invalidates the point trying to be made. The following are excerpts:
"The human inclination toward peacemaking or violence exists on a continuum. Happy, healthy people who are inherently inclined toward peacemaking focus on sacred texts and spiritual practices that encourage peace. Those who are bitter, angry, fearful or prone to self-righteousness are attracted to texts that sanction violence and teachers who encourage the same. People along the middle of this continuum can be drawn in either direction by charismatic religious leaders who selectively focus on one or the other."
"Despite the fact that violence is repeatedly endorsed in sacred texts, most Christians, Muslims and Jews never commit acts of violence in the service of their religion. Similarly, millions of people consume alcohol without insulting, hitting, kicking, stabbing or shooting anyone."The article goes on to point out that while Islamic extremists are making the biggest headlines, there are acts against humanity being perpetuated by Christianity as well. While a difference could be drawn that some of the Christian acts are sanctioned by laws in the countries of origin, that does not make them any less acts of violence performed in the name of a religion. Taking the translation of a religious text literally can result in a sad outcome, no matter what religion is at the source.
"As Evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity spread across Nigeria and Congo, thousands of children are being beaten or burned or disfigured with acid after being condemned by Christian ministers as “witches.” After all, the American missionaries teach that the Bible is the literally perfect word of God, and the Bible says, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” (Exodus 22:18)."Having an opinion is just that, a single opinion. The experiences we have collected, the people we have crossed paths with and the knowledge gained through study are all intertwined to form our "belief" system. I have had the opportunity to interact with amazing people from all over the world with a wide variety of beliefs. There are Christians (of all favors), atheists, Muslims, Buddhists and any number of other beliefs that I call friends. While I may not "practice" the same belief system, I can appreciate and respect their reasons for living their lives by their chosen beliefs and values. They have also "informed" my belief system simply by providing opportunities to experience the differences and learn more. I, personally, feel better for embracing those differences rather than dismissing them. We all appreciate it when people listen to the reasons for our beliefs therefore we should return the favor. After all, isn't one of the tenets of a popular world religion "do unto others as you would have done unto you"?
Here is the article in question so you to may form an opinion based on your beliefs: http://www.salon.com/2015/01/17/why_religion_unleashes_humanitys_most_violent_impulses_partner
