respect

Two ideas you will find many people within the Pagan community preaching, discussing, and complaining about are respect and tolerance. Tolerance of all views, respect of all beliefs, etc. I actually get really sick of it.

I try to respect and tolerate people who have different views than I have. Isn't that just what most decent people do? But why do some Pagans act as if stating disgust over ideas is just "wrong?" I'll give you an example.....

Last spring or summer (somewhere in there) a friend sent me a link to a Pagan discussion site. I wasn't interested simply because I didn't have time to waste browsing through it. But not long ago I decided to take a moment and have a look. Seemed like a nice site. I looked over a few topics and decided to check out a discussion entitled "reincarnation." The person who initiated the discussion mentioned she was interested in knowing everyone's ideas of reincarnation. There were quite a few responses, all very different, all ending in "this is just my opinion and I respect all other opinions," or "I'm not saying my ideas are right, I'm just voicing my ideas," or "no offense to anyone who doesn't think the way I do," etc. First of all, I thought, why are these people so paranoid about hurting someone else's feelings or offending someone with their beliefs? Seems rather ridiculous to me. But the discussion took a new turn when I read a particular opinion.....this person mentioned believing that we do not reincarnate unless we choose to, our spirits decide where we go. The response to this was from a person named Toran, who said, "I think the idea that we decide where our spirits go after death is so stupid. I don't agree with it." All hell broke loose after this post. Several people wrote that, "saying another person's ideas are stupid is so disrespectful," another said, "you are out of line when you say his beliefs are stupid," etc.
I have to side with Toran. Who gives a damn if he thinks something is stupid? He didn't say a person was stupid or call anyone an idiot, so give him credit for holding that back. But why can't he voice his opinions about an idea he thinks is stupid? I think a lot of things are stupid. I think belief in reincarnation is stupid- our spirits jump from body to body, time after time, until one day we are suddenly "enlightened" enough to stop? What an idiotic idea! I laugh at it sometimes, I think it's that stupid.

So what? You believe in this reincarnation I mentioned? Did I say you were an idiot? No, I said the idea was idiotic. It's not for me, I think it's ridiculous. I respect the fact that you believe in it. I even tolerate your belief in the idea. But I still think the idea is stupid. If you can't handle it, maybe you should re-examine your beliefs. Why are you so insecure, why does my thought about your beliefs make you uncomfortable? Sure, get irritated over it. That's normal in a disagreement.

That is what pisses me off about the Pagan community. This "we all have to be happy together and respect each other and tolerate and be nice and constantly remind each other that all our views are so wonderful." and I'm just going to puke over this "positive" attitude crap. You know what? Each time I think something is stupid, I'm not going to step lightly just because sensitive people might get "hurt" over my opinion. I'm free to say I believe someone's views are stupid. I have pages on this site describing ideas, actions, and attitudes I think are stupid or ridiculous. Problems with that? Go away.

Diversity......it's what this great country is all about. Free speech.....it's what this great country is all about. Respect.....yeah, you get the idea. I can say someone's ideas are stupid without disrespecting them as a person. But put that aside......we're all human and make mistakes. We all disrespect someone from time to time, we all say things that might have been best left unsaid. Why are people so sensitive over this? People argue, people disrespect, misspoken words are said......and we all get over it. How boring life would be without free speech, debates, and a few harsh words now and then. The Pagan community needs to lighten up.