[CreepingJesus]

Here is a quote from something I read recently.

It perfectly encapsulates my own attitude towards believers.

If you claim that something is true, I will examine the evidence which supports your claim; if you have no evidence, I will not accept that what you say is true and I will think you a foolish and gullible person for believing it so.

Given the complete lack of evidence for a god, I am compelled to think of believers as foolish and gullible.

Given the amount of conflict between rival superstitions and the huge numbers of people being murdered in the name of various interpretations of the unprovable and improbable god, I am also compelled to think that religion does great harm in the world.

Given that each rival god cult believes that they will be rewarded for their piety upon their deaths by a deity who will eventually take terrible revenge on followers of all the other "wrong" faiths, heretics, and unbelievers, kill us all and consign us to burn for eternity in the pit of hell (no evidence for that either), I am compelled to think that believers themselves have trouble respecting the beliefs of others. (The first commandment forbids other faiths.)

Given the above I'm compelled to ask. Why should I, who cannot see the tiniest atom of value in religious belief respect the religious beliefs of others?

If I'm to respect someone's beliefs then they would need to provide evidence that these beliefs were true.

That's not going to happen so can anyone tell me why I should respect religious belief?

I'd really like to know.