As someone who comes from very liberal parents (one Protestant by background, one Jewish by background), and some very conservative (and religious) extended family, I've developed what I consider to be a somewhat more-than-typically-nuanced social outlook. My very liberal parents, in a leftist-reactionary manner, would probably proclaim that it is very important to respect and accept all religions. To them, I might ask "why?" Really, think about this question: why should I?
No society expects its members to respect every belief or every action of every person. The majority of us don't respect the beliefs of gang members, violent criminals, white supremacists, radical cult members, terrorists, etc. We do not respect these people's outlooks or opinions, because they are hateful, violent, or obsolete. Religion is nothing more than a series of outlooks and beliefs too, but is held to different standard. I believe it's because religion, usually, is old. It's traditional. It's historic. We respect these concepts, even if meaninglessly so.
If there's one aspect of a person we SHOULD be permitted to display intolerance for, it should be their opinions and their actions. Look at it this way: there is no reason to disrespect people based on race, sexual orientation, gender, hair color, height, physical disability, etc. These are traits people are born with, without choice. It's simply cowardly to hate people for these aspects - no room for debate. And, as I stated, I don't have hatred for the actual people who choose to follow organized religions. I have Catholic (or "Catholic Lite") friends and family, but I won't accept their religious tenets, just as they wouldn't accept all of my personal beliefs, opinions, or preferences. This isn't a far cry from the fact that I absolutely hate country music, but still might have some friends who listen to it.
There are those who perceive themselves as practicing churchgoers/mosquegoers/templegoers/whatever, yet disconnect themselves from the mainstream or orthodox religious population. There are Christians who call themselves liberal, there are Muslims who want nothing to do with Middle Eastern politics, and there are Jews who reject the self-righteous phrase "the chosen people." These are kind, open-minded people trying to hang on to an aspect of their family history and their childhood, but clearly they know something is inherently wrong with the religions they follow. Christianity does not permit picking and choosing which parts of the Bible are the most agreeable, and disregarding the entire Old Testament for being too mean and scary. There ought to come a time when these people just accept what they need to accept, and leave religion behind them.
I do have to confess, this post is somewhat reactionary. In part, this was inspired by the rhetoric of some of the GOP presidential candidates, all of whom are idiots (even Ron Paul, who seems likeable as long as you don't delve too deep). In part, it was also inspired by the recent deaths in Afghanistan, which served as a retaliation for the accidental burning of a few Kurans. I can barely wrap my head around it: taking innocent lives to compensate for the burning of useless pieces of paper. There is little doubt in my mind that more than 99% of Muslims probably agree with me that this is an abomination, and yet another unnecessary, ugly scar on the face of Islam. But there is also little doubt in my mind that the world would be a better place if every follower, peaceful and otherwise, gave it up like a drug.
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