Atheists, what does "judge not lest ye be judged" mean to you?

Question

Because maybe what you think it means is different than what I think it means. :)

Answer 1

It's like Christians who scream that aborting a mass of cells is murder. If they didn't do that we wouldn't look at them and wonder why they haven't adopted a few unwanted babies, or why they support legislation that cuts free lunches and playground facilities for needy kids. Because they judge others, others judge them and find the hypocrisy.

Answer 2

If you can't take it, don't bring it.

EDIT:

And BTW, my eyes are up here, dude...

EDIT:

I'm watching you...

***watching***

Answer 3

do unto others, before they do unto you.

Answer 4

It means if i tap my feet in the airport bathroom, mind your own business, coppers.

Answer 5

I'm thinking something along the lines of "If you can't walk the walk, don't talk the talk."  :P

Nah, unless there's some sort of preluding, context setting part to the quote, it means "do not judge someone unless you also wish to be judged."

Answer 6

Nothing, just mumbo jumbo.

Answer 7

lest? ye?...

Answer 8

if i'm willing to judge others i must be willing for others to judge me.

Answer 9

Personally, I put it right up there with "let he without sin cast the first stone". Don't believe in sin, but, because none of us are morally perfect , we have no right to condemn others.

As for "judge not lest ye be judged", to me, it means approximately the same thing. Do not begin to judge others because you don't know the reasons behind it, and you haven't exactly been a model of perfection yourself.

Atheistically yours,

JM Gendron.

Answer 10

That people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.  Keep like common sense to me.

Answer 11

It means nothing to me.

Answer 12

It means applying your standards to the people you judge and yourself equally.

That's the only way to avoid hypocrisy.

Answer 13

I think it means, if you are going to choose to judge people, then judge them by your own standards, don't expect more from them than you are cape able of yourself, don't be a hypocrite.

Answer 14

I can judge away, just as long as I dont mind being judged as well

Answer 15

To me, it is akin to 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'

Being judgmental assumes a superiority, either in action or in thought.  While I have my opinions about many subjects, I try not to assert that they are 'right'.  This may seem easy to do, but in actual practice it is very difficult and needs constant awareness on the speaker's part.  

We all have beliefs, and the fact that we have them means that we feel strongly about them and want to defend them.  Not judging others means at the very least listening to or trying to understand another point of view, even if you disagree strongly.

People with very strong beliefs, both religious and non-religious, have a tendency to shrug off anything that they don't believe in or believe to be wrong as 'evil', 'bad', or 'stupid'.  Everyone has difficulty with this, and it is something to work on.

Answer 16

Don't judge unless you want to be judged right back. Pretty simple.

Answer 17

Psssst, you left off a part ... it's judge not lest you be judged in like manner.  Kinda puts a different spin on things eh?

Not an Atheist btw

Answer 18

I take it literally.

And it supports the idea that every wrong thing we do has consequences... and no judge or jury can impose or deny those consequences. As you sow, so shall you reap.

It's plain and simple. It means what is says.

And Paul was wrong, just as he was wrong to substitute his gospel for the Original Kingdom Gospel. More on my bio.

Answer 19

it is where too many christians show their hypocrisy by judging others and promoting lies, bigotry, hatred and intolerance

Answer 20

I would assume that it means don't judge unless your willing to be judge. Probably wrong the whole "not lest ye be" part was a little bit confusing.

Answer 21

I think it is an quaint platitude. I judge everything around me based on complete, accurate information. If I don't have the required information, I withhold judgment until I do.

Answer 22

It means leave people alone.

Religious people seem to have no idea what that means.

Answer 23

It means "don't question the religious mumbo-jumbo that I am selling you otherwise the big man in the sky will be angry"

Answer 24

dont judge unless you want it to come back to you too, ie yourself to be judged, because thats what will happen