Can we share a common belief and respect ... while keeping yours and mine?

Question

Global warming, epidemic and incurable diseases, lack of resources in some regions for certain population, natural disasters, these are serious and critical problems for our human beings to tackle and to survive. They are difficult enough and we have had more than enough of them to deal with, then, do we really need to add to this long list with a spiritual and cultural confrontation one?

If one religion or culture insists that they are the only right one, and if they insist on preaching and spreading their belief into regions and cultures already pre-occupied, and if this new expansion is not well received, then this is the making of a conflict of culture and religion. Affected people would then need to struggle for the acceptance or recognition of the religion and culture of the choice, on top of other survival and environmental and health problems.

Instead of making others to believe mine or yours is the only right one and to stay away from spiritual and cultural clash, can we share a common belief and respect ... while keeping the culture of yours and mine?

Can we try to tackle the common problems with a common focus and with a common pool of resources?

It’s a very simple minded thought, but just don’t understand why this has to be so much complicated ... very silly me, am I?

Nona the brit · Accepted Answer

I agree with you in principle but the problem is that everyone just thinks their version is best and that other people would benefit from it. It is hard to draw the line between respecting another country's culture and turning a blind eye to things that perhaps should be tackled by outsiders. I have the classic liberals dilemma - I believe what you say, that all people should have a free choice of how to govern their country, treat their citizens, and follow their own beliefs but when it comes down to it, if those choices are far removed from what I think is 'right' I want to interfere! As someone with liberal attitudes I want to interfere in cultures that don't have liberal attitudes...but that goes against liberal beliefs. It's a difficult paradox at times.

For example, the Afghanistan incident recently. I do respect a country's right to have a state religion. I can't take that so far that I think everyone else should mind their own business when Afghanistan sentences a man to death for converting from Islam to Christianity (the religions are irrelevant). Either the country can do as it choses (freedom to set own laws) or its citizen can do as he chooses (freedom of religion) - which is it right for me to support? I come down on the side of the individual but then that means I'm not respecting that country's right to set its own law in all matters.

Another example might be the many civil wars within Africa. Should we just mind our own business, withdraw UN Peacekeeping troops and leave the civilian populations to suffer while the powerful play their games?

Nonlight · Answer

I think that too .....

But it is very nice to knew what pepole around the world think about you and your country ...... how pepole see you from their window ...... how you can improve your country to better .... and show other people your realy country ... because we want to learn more from other people not only from books .

sorry but this is my opinion .. learn from wise and learned better than from doctor.

Willimagine · Answer

Hello Nona,

>> the problem is that everyone just thinks their version is best and that
>> other people would benefit from it.

Isn't this the very root cause of so many conflicts and lost life and huge destruction over so many years? Haven't we learnt?

In the name of giving beneift and showing other people "the best" version of one's religion and culture, then, accidentally or intenstionally to go in and kill and destroy, with good wills or by mistakes. However, lots of the end results didn't justify the actions from that one's religion and culture, eventually. For example, India's independence from the British Empire in the old days, and Iraq's ongoing fights against the US right now, and also in Afghan as you mentioned.

>> It is hard to draw the line between respecting another country's culture and
>> turning a blind eye to things that perhaps should be tackled by outsiders.

So again, you believed that outsiders could handle things better than the insiders of another country's culture, and should interfere when it's not "right".

In a sense, you still believe there is only one "right" view, religion, and culture, and you think you have the full authority and respect from all countries and people for you to define what is "right" and what is wrong and take action accordingly. Then, we seemed to be going back the same old question, aren't we?

>> As someone with liberal attitudes I want to interfere in cultures that don't have
>> liberal attitudes...but that goes against liberal beliefs. It's a difficult paradox at times.
>> Another example might be the many civil wars within Africa. Should we just mind our own business,

If we go back to the African history a bit further up, say 150 or 100 or even 50 years go, and if we can compare what it was used to be and how it is now, can we, especially the British, loudly and proudly say, all current problems are the Africans' own faults? And, who really turned on a blind eye on the rapid expansion of slavery and shipping out their natural resources, and at times supporting one tribe against another for one's own benefit which might have planted the seeds then and now.

Is that fair for us now just blame the Africans and thinking just sending the UN troops are good enough?

I strongly share your liberal attitudes, Nona, and I hope our "liberal attitudes" only limited amongst ourselves and disregard others.

Yes, at times we all must interfere for situations like WW2 and the currently Dafour crisis, but, if we don't take a long hard good at ourselves and our own dirty mind, nothing will really change.

Or, the "right" and "best" one will still win ... some how. Are you that confident?

Nona the brit · Answer

I did say it is a huge paradox and I think that most people, if they are honest, want to interfere in another country over certain issues, even if they overall believe in non-interference. It's the liberal agony isn't it!

Jhumjhum · Answer

As an individual I believe that every religion ,nation ,culture has something positive in it.Otherwise it cannot exist for long time.The only thing is that we have to find it out keeping our bias aside

Nona the brit · Answer

Oh yes, I agree that every culture must have its positives. But it's hard to look away when you perceive a strong negative as well. For example, slavery exists in quite a few countries but I cannot accept that I should just think 'oh well that is their culture, none of our business'. I think those who campaign and work to end slavery are fully justified in interfering in another countries culture.

Jhumjhum · Answer

What I want to say is -If you meet a person who is from a country who keep slaves, don't be bias about him /her, might be he/she also doesn't like the practice as well as you ,but couldn't do anything to stop it or he/she doesn't feel it wrong because he/she is used to it from the very beginning but that does not mean he/she is a bad humanbeing .
Every nation/ civilization/religion has some positive and negetive sides .No one could claim that we are the best,and if any nation/religion/ civilization wants to do that they create a total disuster of mankind .
This is only my personal opinion

Salman` · Answer

For me, good things should be shared, when we talk about Islam, we also talk about the strong reasons why it is good. for the factor that Islam is only the one religion people have been observing and converting to it. But it is right we should show respect to other religions and shouldn't be forced anybody to do anything.<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Nona the brit · Answer

What is 'good' is completely subjective though.

Willimagine · Answer

From Salman: for the factor that Islam is only the one religion people have been observing and converting to it

What do you mean by that?

I thought the population of other major religions have also experienced growth. If that is true, then how would you justify that?

From Salman >> But it is right we should show respect to other religions and
From Salman >> shouldn't be forced anybody to do anything.

That's kind and seems more graceful, thank you, lets agree to disagree, and show respect to each other.

From Nona >> What is 'good' is completely subjective though.

So, so is your earlier idea of "what I think is 'right' I want to interfere! " ... isn't it?

If you acknowledge that your right is 'completely subjective', then how 'right' is that and who can give you that 'right'?

By the sound of that, your 'interfere' seems to be more forceful. In your view, do you mean once you think it's 'right' for you, you then can just interfere?

If two or three major powers or religions each has got this kind of 'right' mindset, how could this earth survive?

Can we share a common belief and respect ... while keeping yours and mine?

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