Religious tolerance

[keristor]

(Also posted on Dreamwidth, but it's access list only there

Comments

[hitchhiker]

actually, i think "tolerance" works very well for me. it's the recognition that yes, i can't stand these people, but i realise it's my problem, and not theirs.

[janeg]

I share your view that "tolerance" does not go far enough. I usually use "respect." And I live in Toronto because of its wonderful diversity, and because if I drive 45 minutes out of town, I find much less respect for diversity. Overtly less respect - racist, hateful comments. This is in rural and small town areas; I don't hear the same in cities like Hamilton

[keristor]

Yes, it's about respect. Respect for the person, not necessarily for their belief (many people I respect a lot as people believe some really odd things) and that they can believe something different without that making them 'stupid' or 'blind

[madfilkentist]

There are religious ideas which I merely tolerate and certainly don't welcome. When people say that those who don't hold a specific belief will be sent to Hell, or if they say that faith trumps any rational argument, I don't think they're bringing anything of value to the table.

But this is precisely where tolerance comes in. There's no great virtue in my merely "tolerating" people's abstaining from pork or going to Mecca on a pilgrimage. Something better than tolerance should be possible in those cases (which is the point you were making). Tolerance and respect do run both ways, but tolerance is due even to those who don't grant respect, as long as they restrict themselves to words.

[keristor]

Tolerance for certain ideas, but still respect for the people holding those ideas, is the sort of idea I had in mind. I don't have to respect the idea that the sun goes round the earth, but I can tolerate it because I respect the person who holds that idea.