Respecting others’ beliefs?

One issue that has come up repeatedly among my fellow Arabic language program participants is that of being respectful of others’ beliefs. This is especially due to one guy, a self-identified socialist, who is sometimes regarded by others (and himself) as being rather tactless. The debate is always about whether one should tread carefully or be sensitive when addressing beliefs (whether religious or political) that are different from one’s own. I hear arguments both for and against this idea of being “respectful,” and I find myself sincerely confused and ambivalent about this issue. Although I rarely say this, I can see both sides.

On the one hand, we all treasure our respective faiths, our ideologies, our politics, etc., and we really do not like it when others diminish those things. For example, as a leftist and a feminist, I am quite offended when I and people like me are denigrated for possessing, expressing, and acting upon our beliefs—and when I hear comments like “Marxism [or feminism] is dead.” I am also offended when atheists and agnostics put down my religion (or any religion) and try to undermine it for its non-conformity to their worldview. Besides, God, whether you are Jewish, Christian, or Muslim, has enjoined us to interact with each other lovingly, respectfully, and peacefully, so it would seem that we are to show a certain sensitivity—if not to the belief, then to the person him/herself.

On the other hand, how respectful could I be of a Nazi, a Klan member, a Zionist, a right-winger, a bigot, a religious fundamentalist, or anyone else who espouses and promotes ideas and practices that are so repugnant to me? Take the Christian fundamentalists, for example. I am gay, leftist, feminist, pro-Palestinian, and a potential future Muslim, and they are opposed to all that. How can I be respectful of the belief that everything I am is wrong, immoral, inferior, or sinful? Furthermore, how can I be respectful of people who are against everything that I am? Finally, especially in the recent past, it has always been my contention that when oppressed peoples (e.g., women, the poor, people of color, sexual minorities) are asked to respect oppressive beliefs, that this is a method for obtaining their assent and thereby legitimating oppression. Thus, I also see a lot of wisdom in the unapologetic non-tact, or even anti-tact, of my socialist friend.

I'm really ambivalent on this issue. Part of me enjoys donning my buttons, taking up my signs, going to protests, and shouting "Racist, sexist, anti-gay, right-wing bigots go away!" But part of me also finds it satisfying to connect with people who are different from me and believe differently than I do. But, again, I do not want that to drift into refraining from just condemnation of oppressive beliefs and ideologies and those who promote oppression. So, rather than trying to come up with a final answer, I'll simply leave the question open, for you to digest. May you and I both be guided to the truth.

In God's peace,
Bashir