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My experience shows me that religious people use their religion to provide "floor values" and others to provide "ceiling values." Let me explain: Those who see their religion providing a base from which to grow and reach out to and include other different people. They tend to be more open-minded and less judgmental. On the other hand, those who see their religion as providing absolute limits in terms of beliefs and actions tend to fall into the "religious right" and to judge and try to control others. I find the latter group to be full of dislikes and "thou shalt nots, and I neither like or trust them.

wordywalt 9 Oct 19
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7 comments

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I think if religion, in the form of going to Church, does anything it should get people thinking about a higher spiritual plane.

Too often religion is presented in ways that don't transcend petty earthly matters.

1

I have both too. Here are some "extreme" examples

Ceiling value: Rape. Rape is evil. Non-negotiable.
Floor Value: Murder. Killing someone can have justification(self defense, not capital punishment)

I don't think the principle is different with non-religious people, but by recognizing that we have both and thinking about it, we can be more balanced in our world view and dealing with people.

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I hadn't thought of it this way but what you say makes sense to me. I, too, find the religious right difficult to get along with because they are so judgmental, black or white, right or wrong. There seems to be no middle ground on which to meet to exchange ideas. And, of course, they find me as an atheist, totally repulsive and to be avoided at all costs--something like the devil incarnate. If they feel that way, that's fine with me.

2

That is a good way to describe the defining core values of the religious. I have a lot of friends and acquaintances that are religious and non-religious both groups seem to share this trait of floor values. I also know religious and non-religious people who seem to have ceiling values most of which I do not get along with.

I think this maybe more of a human trait than a relies one; seems that there are two kinds of people tolerant and intolerant.

1

I have friends who have floor values and I would not be able to stand someone with ceiling values. But I will say that both groups depend on magical thinking. The ceiling people have narrow interpretations to fit their own prejudices. The people with floor values, have a broader interpretation and tailor their beliefs to fit how they see others and how they see life. "It's not that extremists have corrupted their religion, it's that moderates have sanitized it."

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The sad thing is that the people you describe as holding "ceiling values" are more true to their Christian faith than the others. The Westboro Baptist Church stands on solid ground within their religious interpretations.

The narrower interpretation of the buybull and the Koran are closer to what these horrific religions are all about.

2

That makes sense

Dylan Level 5 Oct 20, 2017
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