Being judgmental.

[Sriram]

Hi everyone,

One of the first rules of spirituality is.... 'Don't be judgmental'.  This is because everyone is living as per their spiritual level, their genes, upbringing, culture etc.  The more mature and civilized we are, the less judgmental we will be usually. 

I know that many religious folk are usually very judgmental and tend to pass opinions and judgments about others.  But atheists are no less in their tendency to pass judgments and offer acrimonious opinions about the lives and beliefs of religious folks.   

Any views?

Sriram

[SusanDoris]

Hi everyone,

One of the first rules of spirituality is.... 'Don't be judgmental'.  This is because everyone is living as per their spiritual level, their genes, upbringing, culture etc.  The more mature and civilized we are, the less judgmental we will be usually. 

I know that many religious folk are usually very judgmental and tend to pass opinions and judgments about others.  But atheists are no less in their tendency to pass judgments and offer acrimonious opinions about the lives and beliefs of religious folks.   

Any views?

Sriram

spirituality has rules?! Please define spirituality first. I am as spiritual a person as the next; that is because I have an appreciation of aspects of the Arts and can imagine and dream as much as any other ordinary person for a start.

[Shaker]

It gets a bad rap in Buddhism (where it's often described as 'leaning') but is an existence without judgement (a) a desirable state of affairs or (b) even humanly possible?

[Gonnagle]

Dear Shaker,

 

(a) a desirable state of affairs or (b) even humanly possible?

Very desirable, never judge a book by its cover, do not be quick to judge, first impressions, all things we should be wary of.

And of course, Mathew 7, before casting judgement take a long hard look at yourself.

Humanly possible, probably not, but it does help if you rein it in, try and control it, make sure you have all the facts before you judge.

Gonnagle.

[floo]

I am perfect, but as for the rest of you...................!

Seriously though, each one of us has faults; I have plenty and reflect on them frequently! Doing that cuts me down to size for a little while.

[Rhiannon]

I agree with Susan; what rules?

Also there needs to be a separation of judgement and being judgemental. We do need to be able to make fair judgements about people and situations for a whole host of reasons, not least our own safety and that of those in our care.

[Enki]

Dear Shaker,

 
Very desirable, never judge a book by its cover, do not be quick to judge, first impressions, all things we should be wary of.

And of course, Mathew 7, before casting judgement take a long hard look at yourself.

Humanly possible, probably not, but it does help if you rein it in, try and control it, make sure you have all the facts before you judge.

Gonnagle.

Dear Gonners,

A short while ago on the 'Searching for God' thread, you said this:

Words used such as, liar, delusional, mad, insane, common words used by Alan's detractors, and I think it is noteworthy that not once did Alan use these words against anyone.

I am one of Alan's detractors who has argued strongly against some of his assertive and, to my mind, badly argued views. I have always tried to be polite and I have never used such words in responding to him, yet, it seems, you decided to judge me as if I had. You didn't even say 'SOME of his detractors'. I was however quite happy to let that pass without comment.

But, now, it seems, you wish to extol the virtue of not arriving at hasty judgments, a virtue which I strongly support, and without recourse to the Bible in my case by the way. Oh, and I agree, like many people I often fail.  However, in the light of the above, it just  might be worth you looking at Matthew 7 again, paying particular attention to verse 4.

[Gonnagle]

Dear enki,

Sorry, but that was most definitely not aimed at you, it was aimed at the very posters who use such words, but then again, my bad, my generalisation, my poor posting, sorry again.

Gonnagle.

[Enki]

Dear enki,

Sorry, but that was most definitely not aimed at you, it was aimed at the very posters who use such words, but then again, my bad, my generalisation, my poor posting, sorry again.

Gonnagle.

No problem, Gonners.  Apology completely accepted.  Cheers.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Sriram,

One of the first rules of spirituality is.... 'Don't be judgmental'.  This is because everyone is living as per their spiritual level, their genes, upbringing, culture etc.  The more mature and civilized we are, the less judgmental we will be usually. 

I know that many religious folk are usually very judgmental and tend to pass opinions and judgments about others.  But atheists are no less in their tendency to pass judgments and offer acrimonious opinions about the lives and beliefs of religious folks.   

Any views?

Yes:

1. By all means have a go at telling us what you mean by "spiritual". My experience is that it tends to be used by not very bright people who think their thoughts and opinions on pretty much anything are, like, really deep maaaan.

2. There's nothing in atheism that makes it judgemental (possibly you're thinking of anti-theism, which is a different thing). By and large those of us who find the arguments used by theists to be hopeless are content to leave it at that. Where some of us do respond with a "now hang on a minute" though is when some insist that their god is my god too, that their morality should be my morality too, that their right not to be offended is more important than my right to offend, that their faith beliefs should be taught as facts to children, that etc

That is, I suspect the behaviour you (mis)ascribe to atheists is in any case more likely to be a response to overreaching by theists.   

[Walt Zingmatilder]

spirituality has rules?! Please define spirituality first. I am as spiritual a person as the next;

How do you know? Have you got a spiritometer.........what are the SI units for 'spirit'

[L.A.]

Hi everyone,

One of the first rules of spirituality is.... 'Don't be judgmental'.  This is because everyone is living as per their spiritual level, their genes, upbringing, culture etc.  The more mature and civilized we are, the less judgmental we will be usually. 

I know that many religious folk are usually very judgmental and tend to pass opinions and judgments about others.  But atheists are no less in their tendency to pass judgments and offer acrimonious opinions about the lives and beliefs of religious folks.   

Any views?

Sriram

We have to constantly make judgements about people all the time. Who can we trust? Who do we share common interests with? Who might we have a successful relationship with? - it's just a necessary life skill.

The problem occurs when we equate 'not having much in common' with a person to being superior.

[Sebastian Toe]

How do you know? Have you got a spiritometer.........what are the SI units for 'spirit'

I think that those units are called 'Spirit Intuits'. 

[Sriram]

We have to constantly make judgements about people all the time. Who can we trust? Who do we share common interests with? Who might we have a successful relationship with? - it's just a necessary life skill.

The problem occurs when we equate 'not having much in common' with a person to being superior.

'Being judgmental' always means moral judgment.....and a 'holier than thou' attitude. Its not about normal analysis and decision making.

[L.A.]

'Being judgmental' always means moral judgment.....and a 'holier than thou' attitude. Its not about normal analysis and decision making.

Maybe, but it's a 'hairs breadth' between not lending a person money because you judge that you will not get it back and writing them off as a 'worthless fraud'

[Sriram]

Maybe, but it's a 'hairs breadth' between not lending a person money because you judge that you will not get it back and writing them off as a 'worthless fraud'

Yes...its normally independent of relationship with one self.  Like....'what's it to you'...or... 'are you any better'....? 

Certainly...we can say that we should not be judgmental when someone is sleeping around with someone else. But if it is with ones wife....how can we not be judgmental? 

All moral judgments are like that. They have a very specific relevance...and cannot be generalized.