Being *happy* for someone that they have an irrational belief?

[Silent3]

I brought up this topic in R/T, and not surprisingly, a lot of people simply didn't get what I was getting at, so deep is the "faith is good" meme (often with little regard for particular the object of faith, as if that's pretty inconsequential).

What's a bit surprising for me is that even some atheists and skeptics don't seem to get it. All I'm talking about is the idea of being actively happy (or not) specifically because someone has adopted what you yourself consider an irrational belief system. There was no mention about confronting anyone about their beliefs, berating anyone about their beliefs, discriminating against them because of their beliefs, disregarding any of that person's other good qualities because of their beliefs, etc.

I suppose for some people they just can't get around the idea that I'd dare judge anyone else's beliefs to be irrational (fill in the usual "no one really knows" hand-waving here). From other people who make that same kind of judgments as I do, who would agree that some beliefs are irrational, the reaction is surprising.

I personally have a hard time seeing how my mind is supposed to simultaneously hold the two thoughts, "That thing you believe is irrational" and, "Good for you that you believe it! I'm so happy for you!", without massive cognitive dissonance. I'm not talking about simply accepting that this other person believes this thing, perhaps being utterly disinterested that they believe this thing, but happy because they believe this thing.

I don't deny that some people might indeed be able to pull this reaction off, but I don't see anything particularly noble or admirable about doing so. I suppose in some circumstances where options are very limited -- like someone is on their death bed, and you might wish them a comforting delusion over pain and fear, if those are the only available alternatives -- I might indeed manage to be happy someone found some peace in an escape from reality. If we're talking about a reasonably competent mature adult under more-or-less normal circumstances, however, I have a hard time imagining being happy specifically because someone has an irrational belief as not having a belittling or condescending overtone (not one expressed openly to the person in question!), like being amused by a child having an imaginary friend.

I can't imagine being happy for a friend or relative who can to me to tell me the joy they'd found in Jesus any more than I can imagine being truly happy for someone who came to me saying they'd found their "dream job" working for the Michele Bachmann campaign. Depending on the various circumstances I might manage to hide my disgust, but it seems strange that anyone would actually fault me for not somehow dredging up true happiness for that person, for either announcement.

[laconicsax]

1. And remember: Being gay is a the same as having a belief.

:puke:

[SheilaT]

2. My personal standard in these things

is that I don't particularly care very much what someone else believes so long as:

1. They don't try to force their beliefs on me.
2. They don't do active harm to others because of their belief system.
3. They don't try to stop me from my own belief system.

There might be some other things, but those three immediately pop into mind.

If someone I knew told me they'd found their dream job working for the Michele Bachmann campaign I'd know to avoid that person in the future.

If someone finds joy in Jesus, that's fine for them, so long as they adhere to the three rules I posted above. While I am somewhere along the atheist-agnostic continuum, I do know enough people who are sincere members of some faith community, and who don't indulge in the various excess that I (and I'm guessing you) abhor, and so while organized religion is absolutely not my cup of tea, it generally doesn't hurt me if others are believers.