Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
I couldn't figure what to title this.
As I was reading another thread, and threads throughout the centuries I've been here, one theme comes up among less hardcore religious themselves and non-believers.
It's the idea that a religious cannot say the other person is wrong about his or her faith just what's right for them.
I've always found this a bit odd.
For example, take the scenario of a client and therapist:
The client (say John) has delusions.
It is up to the therapist (Anna) to address John's symptoms as a cause of her client's delusions.
Anna does not tell John he is wrong. Of course from his perspective he is right. That is fine.
1. My question is, why can't Anna believe John is wrong despite knowing John's delusions is what is true to him?
A religious person can tell someone else they are wrong about their theology AND still maintain that that theology is right for them.
It's not being rude in a discussion or debate. It's just saying that the religious person's criteria of how he sees reality is in conflict with the other (you can't have god and no god at the same time; you can't have heaven and reincarnation at the same time).
2. Why can't all religious and non-religious say "you are wrong about your theology" without using that statement to discredit what's right for that other person?
I don't believe god exist. John does. I can tell John he is wrong about his theology (in this example), but that doesn't mean it is wrong for him. I'm just being honest our two beliefs contradict each other and that's not my view of reality. Saying you're wrong isn't a bad thing as long as you don't discredit another person's conviction by saying it.
3. Why do many treat it as such?
EDIT
A parent and teacher tells their child or student they are wrong, but in a way of constructive criticism. A friend may tell another friend they are wrong to show them where they are in error without discrediting the person with whom made the error (whether it was an actual error or mistake).
Whether one uses the words/phrase "you are wrong" is personal preference, but in context is the same; why do people get so offended by it and likewise why can't they say it?
As I was reading another thread, and threads throughout the centuries I've been here, one theme comes up among less hardcore religious themselves and non-believers.
It's the idea that a religious cannot say the other person is wrong about his or her faith just what's right for them.
I've always found this a bit odd.
For example, take the scenario of a client and therapist:
The client (say John) has delusions.
It is up to the therapist (Anna) to address John's symptoms as a cause of her client's delusions.
Anna does not tell John he is wrong. Of course from his perspective he is right. That is fine.
1. My question is, why can't Anna believe John is wrong despite knowing John's delusions is what is true to him?
A religious person can tell someone else they are wrong about their theology AND still maintain that that theology is right for them.
It's not being rude in a discussion or debate. It's just saying that the religious person's criteria of how he sees reality is in conflict with the other (you can't have god and no god at the same time; you can't have heaven and reincarnation at the same time).
2. Why can't all religious and non-religious say "you are wrong about your theology" without using that statement to discredit what's right for that other person?
I don't believe god exist. John does. I can tell John he is wrong about his theology (in this example), but that doesn't mean it is wrong for him. I'm just being honest our two beliefs contradict each other and that's not my view of reality. Saying you're wrong isn't a bad thing as long as you don't discredit another person's conviction by saying it.
3. Why do many treat it as such?
EDIT
A parent and teacher tells their child or student they are wrong, but in a way of constructive criticism. A friend may tell another friend they are wrong to show them where they are in error without discrediting the person with whom made the error (whether it was an actual error or mistake).
Whether one uses the words/phrase "you are wrong" is personal preference, but in context is the same; why do people get so offended by it and likewise why can't they say it?
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