I would not want to participate in something I thought was just plain wrong, and I wouldn't want anyone to "respect" my beliefs if they think they are just plain wrong.
My sister in law is an atheist who prides herself on respecting everyone. It actually irks me no end that she sits smugly at the table as if an anthropology student studying the rituals. I don't consider this respect at all.
Yeah-- ouch. I know that superiority very well. Not cool.
My Goodall analogy was more about my own internal mechanism for keeping my cool when they are being intrusive
toward me-- I certainly wouldn't be doing/thinking those things when I'm joining hands with them while they pray, I am silent and I bow my head when they bless a meal. I'm being non-intrusive because
I accept those people for who they are. I use whatever works to keep my temper when they proselytize inappropriately-- because I
understand that this is essentially a pillar of that faith, and that they are doing so because of what they believe in that faith. I don't want to create hard feelings with them-- but I'm also not going to pretend to believe something that I don't.
You know-- respectful-respectful. Sensitive to cultural norms.
For me it isn't about being PC, it's about being at peace with what I
know is right for me-- but no longer being so arrogant as to presume to know what is right for THEM. There was a time when I believed that
any belief was foolishness and that religion was toxic, and would have readily "proselytized" for my non-theistic worldview. At some point, I realized that my way probably isn't the right way for everyone, either.
KWIM?
Teens just aren't there yet-- on either side, honestly. The ones with deep faith think everyone could/should have it, and the ones without it are offended/superior. It's a developmental thing, at least partially.
