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The best conversations I've experienced...
...have been with friends with different beliefs and all of us sitting around sharing our own personalized thoughts on many subjects and instead of a bitter battle to make everyone believe the same thing, we learn from each other. Now if only the world worked in that way!
posted by
SurvivorMom
on July 27, 2007 at 12:07 PM
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Jaahda - thanx for stopping in
posted by
gomedome
on July 27, 2007 at 9:19 AM
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Sunnybeach7 - that's more or less my philosophy as well
As others have stated in earlier comments, a person's behaviour and their inherent integrity are all that I care about.
posted by
gomedome
on July 27, 2007 at 9:18 AM
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Well, let's see...
If I only had friends that believe the way I do, I don't think I'd have any friends at all.
When I take someone as a friend, my only concern is the type of person they are.
You could worship a rock for all I care...if you show that you can treat people with respect and kindness, you can be my friend.
posted by
Afzal_Sunny7
on July 26, 2007 at 11:12 PM
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but as Ariala said tis behaviour that counts :-) respecting others !!
even if they're misguided
posted by
Jaahda
on July 26, 2007 at 10:50 PM
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LOLGome - I have friends who do things i hate !!!!
posted by
Jaahda
on July 26, 2007 at 10:48 PM
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shelly. -a point that more or less supports my suggestion that we naturally
seek the company of those who think as we do.
posted by
gomedome
on July 26, 2007 at 5:08 PM
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With my friends, religion isn't a big deal, so it doesn't matter
posted by
shelly_b
on July 26, 2007 at 4:46 PM
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Antonionioni - it really is a natural thing for all of us to seek the
company of others who think as we do.
When the disparate numbers of existing believers versus non believers is considered: (Using 10% versus 90% as an example), a person who does not believe in God simply cannot live their lives without social influence from, and interaction with, the believing majority. But this is not true of all believers, they may well be able to exist in an environment that is completely comprised of believers without any real exposure to non believers. Especially when it is considered that religious beliefs tend to be a basis for groups of people organizing themselves into communities, something again not true to any great extent of non believers. Sooo, what are they basing their disdain and its resultant prejudice on? . . . With no interaction with those who do not believe in God, it can only be based on the bullshit they have whipped up amongst themselves.
posted by
gomedome
on July 26, 2007 at 3:56 PM
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posted by
A-and-B
on July 26, 2007 at 3:22 PM
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Well-observed, Gome.
It's religious and social conditioning - this is good, that is bad - combined with one's personal comfort zone; if something is bad or makes you uncomfortable, you avoid it. I'm talking about normal behaviour here, not those who sling abuse. They just have a screw loose.
posted by
Antonionioni
on July 26, 2007 at 2:40 PM
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Ariala - I feel the same way, all I ever ask from people is that they act
normal, or as close as is possible.
posted by
gomedome
on July 26, 2007 at 2:39 PM
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My friendships aren't based on beliefs, but behavior...I could expound, but
I think that says it all.
posted by
Ariala
on July 26, 2007 at 2:29 PM
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