Why are we adopting the word tolerance rather than acceptance....?

Question

The word tolerance seems to be more and more used and replace the word acceptance to define people with religious beleifs that need special treatment...

Have you noticed the change of language in the media...

I mean: Replacing more and more the word Accepting by the word Tolerance?

I am glad many feel the same about this play of words....

We need to reclaim acceptance and toss out tolerance...

Answer 1

Good call! The connotation of "tolerance" is different, and more insulting.

Answer 2

I think that is a good question so I looked up the definitions. After reading the definitions I think you can see why tolerance when it comes to religious beliefs would be a better goal. The word acceptance sounds like you have to approve or be in favor of a belief. But I can tolerate (have the capacity to recognize and respect another persons belief) without having to accept what they believe. Does that make sense?
tolerance (n.) The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from ones own; freedom from bigotry.
Acceptance is defined as the act of taking or receiving something offered.
2. favorable reception; approval; favor

Answer 3

The bottom line is, tolerance and acceptance don't mean the same thing and can't (or shouldn't) be used interchangeably.
I may tolerate you painting your face green, but that doesn't mean I accept it, think it is a good idea, or want to encourage others to paint their faces green.
I think the reason we are doing more tolerating and less accepting is because we are faced with so many new ideas, new religions, new standards, and all the things that come with multi cultural events, such as immigrants from many countries who bring their ideas with them, and mass communication that exposes us to so many new ideas from all around the world.
We obviously can't (and shouldn't) accept everything or try to adopt every idea that we hear about, but we certainly can tolerate them, if that is what someone else wants to do or believe, as long as they don't infringe on the rights of others.

Answer 4

There is a big difference between tolerance and acceptance. Tolerance is putting up with something you don't agree with or more specifically...a : sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own b : the act of allowing something.
Whereas acceptance is less negative. If you accept something you agree with it and you are OK with it being around. It is not offensive to you.....the act of accepting : the fact of being accepted : APPROVAL..

So if their has been a shift in the media language I am sure it was deliberate. They are two very different words

Answer 5

Unfortunately, for people who constantly throw around the word "tolerance," this concept only works in one direction.

"Tolerance," in their minds, is reserved only for certain groups, viewpoints, and behaviors.

Look at the ACLU, for instance. A few days ago they supported the decision by some high school officials in Texas or somewhere to pull the plug on the valedictorian's mike at graduation, because she started talking about God and how He influenced her life.

Yet, just today, they've announced that they're suing the school board here in Miami-Dade, because the board yanked a textbook that shows Communist Cuba in an inaccurate (and favorable) light.

In other words, the ACLU thinks that our kids have a God-given right to have access to pro-Castro propaganda, but do NOT have a right to hear the word "God" mentioned at a graduation ceremony.

Tolerance. Definitely a one-way street.

Answer 6

Good Question.

I think that we use the word tolerance because people don't always agree with people but they should still TOLERATE it. If someone is gay Christians might not like it, and they don't have to ACCEPT it as thier belief, but they should leave it alone and TOLERATE it.

Answer 7

I thank you for asking that question, because you are right on. You asked the question that has been on my mind, but the word acceptance seemed to allude me.

My thinking on tolerance is its just the latest term used by the politically correct. But they prefer the term intolerant more than tolerant. By calling others intolerant it casts stones at those whom disagree with their point of views. If I disagree with the gay lifestyle I am labeled "intolerant", thus I am a bigot. If I agree with it I am labeled tolerant, and a swell fellow. Its all PC mudslinging with the intent on what they would call "educating" idiots such as myself. But in reality it is designed to shame "idiots" like me into believing like them (smart, intellegent, elitist, brainiacks).

You know, being an idiot is so intolerant. Shame on me.

Answer 8

Tolerance is allowing something without liking it. Acceptance is allowing with a liking.

Christians tolerate a lot of things.

Answer 9

Because it is just easier to tolerate. Actually, if you think about it, tolerance and acceptance go hand in hand.

Tolerance=I'll accept it but I don't have to like it.

Acceptance=It doesn't bother me. I'm okay with it.

Answer 10

Because people (conservatives or republicans) use the word because all they do is tolerate the poor, different religion, different race. The don't and never will accept those with different views and ways of life. They don't have it in them.

Answer 11

Lets work on tolerance before we can get to the acceptance level.