The Mandelbear's Musings

Tolerate:

1. Allow (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) to exist or occur without interference.

2. Accept or endure (someone or something unpleasant or disliked) with forbearance.

For the most part I do more than tolerate religions, and religious people -- I am fascinated by diversity, and by systems of thought and belief. I read about them for fun, and enjoy learning about them and discussing them. There are wonderful stories in there -- gods, heros, and ordinary people in difficult times. There is deep wisdom that has stood the test of time and adversity. There are cultures with fascinating traditions and delicious food. There are people with joy in their hearts, who love their fellow creatures without distinction because their religion teaches them that it's the right thing to do.

There's also a lot that I disagree with, some fundamental ideas that I simply can't bring myself to consider believing, and some ideas that are simply hateful. Those I tolerate. People believe these ideas, often the more passionately the more bizarre and difficult they are. I tolerate these people, too, and disagree respectfully, as long as they tolerate me and my beliefs in return.

When people come to my door wanting to convince me to join their church, or believe their beliefs, I politely turn them away. I believe in politeness. When people yell at me from a picket line, and hold signs that say my friends and I are going to hell, I may yell back or hold up my own sign. I believe in free speech, too.

When people try to write their beliefs into law and insist that I follow their religious practices, when they try to teach their absurd beliefs to kids who are too young to know better than to trust people in authority just because of that authority (my kids, when they were that age), when they incite hatred and fear; torture, terrorism, and war... I don't have to tolerate those people. I have to resist them.

I can tolerate their belief that their religion is right, but not their belief that they have the right or the duty to impose it on anyone else by force, or by propaganda full of hatred and lies. I don't have to tolerate hatred, or lies, or extremism. There may not be much I can do about them, but at least I can speak up.

Thanks to catsittingstill for the idea of Stand Up For Religious Tolerance Day.