Is it necessary to try and understand the opposing viewpoint?

Only if you want to be able to say you have an open mind. Respect is just polite behavior in a conversation. I'm not saying that you have to believe in something you don't - but yea, I think you have to try to get how it makes others feel and think about things. I understand your problem though, as I have the same kind of problem with atheists (I'm a believer) - it's a real stretch sometimes for me to get to the side of the table where I can see their point - and sometimes I miss it completely. It's that way with everything I think - life experiences are what we have to draw on. Anything outside of those can be hard to wrap your thoughts around.

I have to say though, that it is easier with people like you Linz, who at least ask respectfully and without a lot of disdain. You make it easier to try.

Maybe not so much understand their viewpoint as understand why that is their viewpoint. There are some ideas that I just will never be able to grasp or understand- here is a simple example. I know people who smoke, I will never understand why they do this, other than the addiction. To me it is smelly, addictive, a huge waste of money and time and disgusting. I have never been able to understand what the appeal to putting a burning stick in your mouth and sucking on it is. I have never been able to grasp how someone can run outside in a blizzard just to have a smoke. However, I respect people's right to choose that. As long as they are respectful of me (step away from the doorway, don't smoke in my house, clean up after yourself)- I have no problem with a person making that choice in their life. I may not understand that, But I can respect that.

Also I think it really is more important to respect differing points of view and always remember that just because we have different opinions, that does not mean we hate each other.

The only exception is when someone's beliefs become violent or harmful to others or is truly full of hate, like the Holocaust or terrorist who attack other cultures simply because of religious differences and do it in the name of their God. There should NEVER EVER be any kind of understanding or respect for those things.

Necessary? No, only if you want to. But I feel learning from others is a wonderful thing, and part of the essence of life.

I love being open minded and exploring all view points and understanding them.

While I may not agree with certain viewpoints, I'm almost always able to UNDERSTAND them given enough time to explore and talk about them.

For instance, I find atheism to be fascinating and completely logical. I honestly understand why one would be an atheist. However, I'm still a theist.

Take care!

If you find yourself in the situation of having to deal with theists about religious topics frequently, then yes, you should try to get some understanding of how a theist mindset works. If not, then simply respecting it and moving on is the best way. Why spend a bunch of time learning something you're never going to use?

I think you should take it by the individual. There are some people in my family who are cast-in-stone believers. I respect their belief and leave them alone, except for the times that they make some kind of fuss over my beliefs, and then I take them on gently and let it go gently when it reaches the usual impasse.

Yes, respect their viewpoint, but don't let them insult or trample on you in their righteousness.

There are, however people trembling on the edge of discovery. They once believed, but questions are clearly bubbling in their minds. Despite all the programming they are learning to think and ask questions. These people you should help. Provide them with food for thought, recommend books, suggest lines of inquiry that may lead them toward a more realistic understanding of the world; and hope in time they see the harm religion has done.

You CAN save people from religion, but only the people who have taken a step toward recovery. The rest... well, let them be. It is better to be their friend and treat them gently so they will understand that atheists are not terrible or evil people... which may eventually lead them to notice how many 'believers' really behave in dreadful ways... and that religion doesn't necessarily create kind or decent people.

Yes, for several reasons. One being the opportunity for personal growth.

But beyond all that, I can give you a good solid reason to believe God is real.

The Bible.

God certainly isn't going to do all He did without informing us.

God is certainly capable of preserving His words and their meanings for any length of time.

The Bible is attacked, even ridiculed. But those that read it, and put into practice what it says find out just how very real God is.

Here's a poor illustration, but it works: I had an apple for lunch, if I ask you how it tasted, what the texture was like, the aroma, you couldn't say. You'd tell me YOU had it, not me.

Of course...you cannot "get" God, until you've trusted Him.

So if you, in sincerity, make the attempt to trust Him, He will honor that.

This is not on a "head" level, but from the heart. Use your mind, certainly, but it goes beyond a head knowledge.

I think "understand" is a bit of a strong word. All that's required is more of a bit of empathy - a general ability to comprehend where they are coming from, while not necessarily "understanding" why they are coming from that particular belief. It's like trying to empathize with a friend who likes a particular guy that you don't find at all attractive yourself - you don't really understand it, but you understand where they are coming from with their feelings.

In the end, we are all human, so there is a certain level of "understanding" built in. Merely recognizing the gap between your individual methods of belief will get you far. Picking out facts that are associated with the beliefs of others helps tremendously. Getting a feel for the person's background which led to their belief provides a great basis for, well, understanding. It is important to seek out that kind of info.

Immersing yourself in that person's world is not necessary.

Understand, yes. Agree with, no.

In any debate, understanding is key. I understand why and how theists believe. I don't agree with it at all. Some people NEED a guiding force in their life, they NEED to know there is more. I don't need that. I'm content with knowing this is all there is and I need to make the most of it while I'm here.

I don't believe we can criticize or debate that which we can't understand.

I think atheists are more capable of understanding a theist POV than a theist is of understanding an atheist POV.

It probably isn't possible to truly understand another viewpoint. Although it might be easier for some. I once listened to someone explain why Christianity must be true. They claimed that since there are so many religions, not all of them can be correct. So one must be the correct one. And he said that since he is absolutely sure that he has felt Jesus, that Christianity must be true. But he failed to realize that Muslims feel the exact same way about their religion.

I think that it leads to good discussion, but if you think about it, it's always hard to understand another person even if you have the same religious beliefs. My experiences, both internal and external, have made me who I am. They account for how I understand the world, the methods I use to obtain knowledge, my thoughts and opinions. No one else is exactly the same. I can relate in some aspects, but never in all.

That's what makes life so great. If we were all the same, things would get dull awfully fast.