Belief Systems

[mmm]

So I'm getting into less concrete things and more into touchy-feely philosophical belief stuff. That's certainly not my forte, so bear with my misuses of terms and general vagueness.

For the past few years, I've tried to become more open-minded. You know, to think "I don't understand that belief whatsoever but I'll respect that person's choice to believe in it." This mindset has allowed me to be accepting of transexuals and others which is rad, right? But then I come across some weirdo saying that he's actually a wolf. Problem is, my belief system means I have to accept that. In fact, I see no difference between those states of mind apart from a difference in societal acceptance; both are equally alien concepts to me. In addition, this belief system doesn't take into account that people can be wrong, or crazy.

So I basically find myself with a belief system that ends up just accepting what is culturally acceptable at the time, which is pretty useless.

So how do you guys approach alien beliefs? Do you have a system set up for the occasion?

Do let me know if you need clarification and I'll try to explain things better.

[Shadow00]

I disagree with everything alien to me as part 1.
I don't comment on anything or discriminate as part 2.

In other words, if you're not me you're wrong but I won't tell you anything or hate you.
You're still wrong tho.

[org36]

Here's my belief system:
1. Use logic.
2. Don't care about beliefs.
3. Freedom of thought. Think about what would happen if we couldn't even think what we wanted. WHAT A HORRIFYING FUTURE.

[mmm]

So I'm getting into less concrete things and more into touchy-feely philosophical belief stuff. That's certainly not my forte, so bear with my misuses of terms and general vagueness.

For the past few years, I've tried to become more open-minded. You know, to think "I don't understand that belief whatsoever but I'll respect that person's choice to believe in it." This mindset has allowed me to be accepting of transexuals and others which is rad, right? But then I come across some weirdo saying that he's actually a wolf. Problem is, my belief system means I have to accept that. In fact, I see no difference between those states of mind apart from a difference in societal acceptance; both are equally alien concepts to me. In addition, this belief system doesn't take into account that people can be wrong, or crazy.

So I basically find myself with a belief system that ends up just accepting what is culturally acceptable at the time, which is pretty useless.

So how do you guys approach alien beliefs? Do you have a system set up for the occasion?

Do let me know if you need clarification and I'll try to explain things better.

I've been going through pretty much the same thing and ended up with what could be the same system as yours. If people genuinely believe something, I let them-who am I to dispute that? If a mentally ill person (which I think is what you mean by crazy) believes something like they're a wolf, I wouldn't dispute that unless it was for their treatment. Most likely this wouldn't be my place and there'd be no benefit out of me doing so. Proving people wrong is a tricky subject, because beliefs are a very sensitive thing. What if something can't be proved-like the existence of God? Just because there's no proof for or against the existence of God doesn't mean one should rule out the other-it's simply opinion. At the end of the day, beliefs are opinions and everyone should have a right to have them. At least, that's what I think.

What do you mean by culturally acceptable? Like if someone claiming to be a wolf now would be thought of as crazy but in (not to be racist or anything) tribal Africa (I'm grossly generalising because I can't think of anything else so sorry) would be burnt alive for being a creature of the devil?

To sum up my approach to this it's 'live and let live' and only seriously challenge someone's beliefs if (a)they affect you, (b)are manifested in a dangerous way (ISIS believing all Western people should die), or (c)have some sort of benefit to that person.

By culturally acceptable, I mean that a fair amount of the population acknowledges such a belief. Like, if transsexualism was thought of as weird as hell while being a wolf was accepted at the rates transsexualism is accepted today, I would accept the belief that someone is a wolf and think transsexuals are crazy.

Now if this was solely about the validity of people's beliefs, this discussion wouldn't be too important. But I factor in the validity of people's beliefs into decisions about what they should be allowed to do and such.

I.e, since I think transexalism is legitimate, a transsexual kid should wear the school uniform of the gender with which they identify. As for something more complicated I haven't made up my mind about, should the government have to pay for transexual prisoner's transitions, injections etc (the government has to pay for medically necessary operations)?

Now switch the transsexuals in those situations with people who want dog hair, tail, and ear implants.

It would certainly be easier to make decisions as a society if we disregarded beliefs, right? At least until you consider things you believe that is not held as a universal truth. Examples include: your faith or lack thereof, the value of the life of homeless people, the right to an education. Soon you realize there are no universal truths.

As some of you suggested, there is the option of purely relying on logic. I don't see how logic avoids a belief system, however. To some, it would be logical to kill all the homeless people because they are a waste of resources. These people hold the belief that society is more important than an individual's life. To other's, it would be logical to assist homeless people on a massive scale because they believe an individual's life holds value.

[Angel]

Although there is clearly a line between belief and being a crazy person, you should still respect people.
That being said, you do not have to believe what they believe in order to respect their choice in believing what they have decided to believe.
People are free to choose their beliefs and they have a right to do so.
I don't understand how people can be Atheist because I'm Mormon, but I don't think any less of them.
You can respect peoples beliefs without having to accept them.

[Shadowstar1922]

I tolerate and accept things as long as they're not hurting anyone or putting harm on someone, you know? As growing up i use to act straight, i mean everyone did, now everyone is gay af and everyone's all over gender stuff, but back then, i was just raised to love and tolerate everyone bc my parents were hardcore irish/italian catholics(my dad's side) and are some of the most pacifists mofos out there. you know. so i was just raised with those principles.

but right now, i mean, if you're not hurting anyone, do what you want. you were born in the wrong body? you wanna be a girl but your body says boy? get the surgery, hell i'll help u. two girls making out? rad. you guys are in love. you're not in love n u just wanna fool around? who am i to judge bc you're still not hurting anyone. religion? again my family is super religious but they're very private about it, they don't impose it on others, certaintly not me being an atheist (even though they are uncomfortable about it except for the priest in my family bc he is rad) i don't care. they're not hurting anyone by believing Jesus is the son of God and that God created everything whO CARES. LET PEOPLE BE THEMSELVES!

i apply this to a lot of things, which makes me target specific groups that don't. I'm very antitheist towards people who use religion to hate. i am very antiLGBTQ to the people in the LGBTQ community who are biphobic and don't understand bisexuals, even the trans and queer people too. i get all up in their face n stuff.

to wrap this up, mine is as long as you're not hurting anyone, u do u boo

[Boxorino]

i usually just let people say and do what they want unless it hurts someone else or themselves, like what shad said. (or unless i think it's actually really stupid and wrong.)

[Angel]

*claps for Shad and Boxy*
You guys said it the best.
Let people believe as they wish, but don't let them walk all over you and endanger you.
Religions shouldn't be focused on harming, but strengthening.

[Foopzheart]

I believe people can be who they truly believe they are. Unless they believe they are a dog, or a fairy. That makes no sense. Also, I tend to be strongly opinionated and as much as I try to defend my OWN beliefs, I let people believe what they want if their beliefs aren't comparable to Nazis or something.

[Shadow00]

I believe people can be who they truly believe they are. Unless they believe they are a dog, or a fairy. That makes no sense. Also, I tend to be strongly opinionated and as much as I try to defend my OWN beliefs, I let people believe what they want if their beliefs aren't comparable to Nazis or something.

Don't hate on fairies you homophobe