Are you willing to learn or do you just automatically condemn?

Book of Shadows - This is a photo of a Book of Shadows..it is the place where many witches keep their most valuable secrets...and the knowledge and experiences that they have had along their chosen path..
United States
November 18, 2008 12:12pm CST
Each of us has our own belief system in place..whatever your beliefs are..they are yours!! What I was wondering was...if a person that you cared about began to study or believe something that went against your personal beliefs...would you be willing to discuss it with them rationally without condemning them... No one likes to be preached to...or condemned for what they believe..would you be willing to look objectively at their belief system and try to understand? Are you the type of person who believes in religious freedom for everyone? Or is that everyone who believes as you do? What are your thoughts?
2 people like this
5 responses
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
18 Nov 08
Hello my friend, hope you are well! I think personally it would be a compromise, I would never preach or condemn them providing they didn't preach or condemn me! It's all very well learning something new which is all well and good, providing they don't start throwing it down your throat! And trying to change you, or trying to change the other person with their new beliefs! We all have a clear ideal of what we believe in and what we want from life, providing we keep the boundaries and respect our partner for their believes, of course rational discussions are healthy providing beliefs are not mocked or criticized in any way, there's criticism and theres constructive criticism. But compromise is the key here my friend!
• United States
18 Nov 08
Hi Sweetie...((((HUGS))) I think that it is not so much a compromise...but rather an acceptance of one another..hope that makes sense... I hate to think of people going through life with blinders on..never questioning why...I would never try to talk someone into following my path in life...but I am always willing to help someone who comes to me to learn along the way... I am well and I hope that you are too!
2 people like this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
18 Nov 08
Acceptance is a wonderful word my friend and if everyone was accepting it would truly be a wonderful world we would be living in! I am great thanks, still on the rollercoaster but that's life for you xx
2 people like this
@Jezebella (1446)
• United States
18 Nov 08
I am willing to learn. I actually want to learn. I want people of other faiths to tell me what they believe and why. And once they do I will not condemn or tell them they are wrong or anything. I will ask more questions if need be and thank them for helping me understand their faith even more.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Nov 08
That is a great outlook!
@34momma (13882)
• United States
19 Nov 08
your belief system is something you choose. and if people choice to believe something that i don't believe it, what do i care. i would not feel the need to have a conversation about it with them. i don't need to sway anyone my way, i need people to respect my choices as i respect theirs. and i think that is what a true belief system is all about. loving each other dispite our choices
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
18 Nov 08
I think everyone has a right to their own beliefs no matter if it is a friend or a family member. I would not condem then at all. I do feel like we could talk about it. There are pros and cons to anything and if we all had the same beliefs in anything it would be a real boring world.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Nov 08
I respect your openness on the subject! Boring world indeed!! LOL
@manunulat (604)
• Philippines
19 Nov 08
Philosophy is not being objective at times and yeah, it is innate within a person's belief system. To cultivate and flourish it is to exchange ideas and share these beliefs with others. I don't mind discussing and debating on such ideas as long as the atmosphere of debate permits a goal for understanding. More often than not, when mind repels, it creates constriction and one should be ready to reflect and accept each other's mistake which is not possible, for every aspect of human nature often is to project "superiority". I believe that there should be religious freedom but reality is, not all of this freedom are within the bounds of social norms. Remember, those who claim they are objective are the ones being subjective... should we open only one ear? I guess we should listen with both ears and our eyes if we really want to make this world a better place to live in.