Respect. What does it REALLY mean?

[Justforfun000]

With all of this screeching over disrespect to religions through cartoons, South Park episodes, prevention of their beliefs being made laws and so forth, I really got to thinking about what "respect" really means.

In many ways, it is a very vague concept. Most definitions seem pretty identical. Here's one:

re·spect (rĭ-spĕkt')
tr.v., -spect·ed, -spect·ing, -spects.
To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem.
To avoid violation of or interference with: respect the speed limit.
To relate or refer to; concern.
n.
A feeling of appreciative, often deferential regard; esteem. See synonyms at regard.
The state of being regarded with honor or esteem.
Willingness to show consideration or appreciation.
respects Polite expressions of consideration or deference: pay one's respects.
A particular aspect, feature, or detail: In many respects this is an important decision.
Usage Problem. Relation; reference. See Usage Note at regard.
[From Middle English, regard, from Old French, from Latin respectus, from past participle of respicere, to look back at, regard : re-, re- + specere, to look at.]

So, showing deferential regard for...This to me seems like the most accurate interpretation that they are going for. Deference is defined as submission or courteous yielding to the opinion, wishes, or judgment of another.

So if that's what they expect, then we have every right to challenge them wanting respect. If you don't agree with their viewpoints, you should not have to "yield" anything. This is putting their own selfish interests above others without any justification for it. If you can't question or challenge them, than you are simply putting them on a pedestal that is immune to criticism. Fuck that.

Now to "avoid violation or interference with" I can see a very limited right of them being allowed to congregate, share ideas and beliefs and so forth. However, this is where a great deal of the battles start as ones who want to have society bend to their religious beliefs seem to mix this up as a right to express their "freedom" of religion.

"To relate or refer to; concern."
This is too vague as it doesn't imply an action.

"The state of being regarded with honor or esteem."
This is really another way of saying giving deferential regard to.

"Willingness to show consideration or appreciation."

Exactly how can people be considerate when you are dealing with secular society and in some cases, completely opposing viewpoints? They certainly aren't going to give them appreciation. Do they have a right to expect this from others?

The rest is just repetition of the same themes.

I think it's interesting to look at the root meaning of this word which is simply to "look at", as in regard, but with a leaning towards the past tense. I wonder how it grew into the shaded meaning of being exalted a bit? Could that be humanities tendency to glorify traditional ways? There are certainly a lot of people that love to use the Appeal to tradition fallacy as a reason for their opinions.

When you really look at the word respect, it really doesn't even seem to be a very fair concept in many ways.

[wolveraptor]

Ideally, respect is only given mutually, so religions would yield to secular authorities at times. This would obviously occur when a human's rights are violated due to an imbalance in the respect given to each authority. For example, a fascist/totalitarian state that banned all religion would obviously be a case of too much respect given to the secular government, whereas a theocracy would be the opposite.