What does tolerance mean to you?

Question

Seems like people who preach tolerance, aren't tolerant of people who say they are wrong. What exactly does tolerance mean to you?

Answer 1

I think the appropriate way to have tolerance is to have tolerance for an individual but not always for that individual's opinion. For example, one should have tolerance for a member of the "flat earth society" (and for the right for that organization to exist to begin with) but to actually tolerate his or her opinion that the earth is flat based on all that we know would be foolish. In the same way, what we know as born-again believers leads us not to tolerate false teachings, but to always be respectful of others and allow them freedom of religion....though always followng the "great comission" to try to encourage them to know that there is one way to salvation and eternal life.

Answer 2

For a group that continuously pleads for “tolerance,” liberals are the most intolerant people you will ever meet. To them, “tolerance” means that we must accept their values as being equal – nay, superior – to our own. Here’s a case in point: In California, back in 2001, a lesbian couple wanted to have a child via artificial insemination. However, the medical practice where they sought services was owned by two Christian doctors who refused to provide the service because of their religious beliefs. Rather than respecting the doctors’ beliefs, the intolerant lesbians sued saying they were being discriminated against. The case made its way to the CA Supreme Court which ruled against the doctors. I guess the doctors’ right to practice their religion (which is supposed to be protected by the First Amendment) is trumped by some un-enumerated “right” to be gay. The parties have recently reached a settlement ending the case. Oh, by the way, the couple did get the service performed elsewhere and have had 3 children since filing this lawsuit. So it’s not that they couldn’t get the procedure – they were just mad because they couldn’t get it from these Christian doctors. The plaintiff’s attorney said, “It shows a journey that our whole society is taking together, away from intolerance and towards inclusion.” Give me a break. Why couldn’t the gay couple have been tolerant of the doctors’ religious beliefs? And if you think I’m exaggerating, let me direct your attention to the Hatch Amendment that was defeated in Senate committee recently. By a vote of 13-10, the committee members voted down an amendment to the controversial health care bill that would have strengthened existing conscience laws that allow doctors and hospitals to refuse to provide abortions on religious grounds. If health care reform is passed, Christian doctors, nurses, and hospitals could someday be forced to provide abortions. I guess the “right to an abortion” also trumps our right to exercise our religion. I’d say this is the start of a slippery slope but I fear we’ve already slid down this slope and now wallow in the mud at the bottom. Imagine these very possible scenarios: You’re a Christian landlord and you don’t want to rent your home to an unmarried or gay couple. Too bad! What about if you’re a Christian business owner and you don’t want to include gay partners on employee benefits? Tough luck! What if the pastor of your church refuses to perform a wedding ceremony for a gay couple? Where does it end? If the CA Supreme Court ruling holds, our protected right to practice our religion is subservient to someone else’s right to “not be discriminated against.” We will be forced by law to engage in activity that violates our religious beliefs. And it’s all being done in the name of “tolerance.”

Answer 3

In addition to accepting different cultures, its about listening to someone who you think is a total idiot or weirdo, and continuing to be politer than they are. If that's not tolerance, I don't know what it is! Lots of people on Yahoo seem to come here just to insult and abuse others.

The fine line between online intolerance and helping a very confused person to see the truth. Sometimes you have no choice but to say "Sorry, but that's not true", which is just fine if you follow it with a "Here's why." There are exceptions: a theist who tells an atheist "You're going to hell. The Bible says so." Is being intolerant because their reasoning is invalid from the point of view of the other side, which does not take the Bible literally. "You're going to hell. Here's proof of God and a quote from the Bible," is not intolerant. An atheist who says "You're a total ********," is being intolerant while an atheist who says "But that proof is wrong because...". An atheist who says "You're a total ********, and here's why I still think God doesn't exist..." is borderline and open to interpretation.

Being intolerant towards those who are already being extremely intolerant towards someone is generally accepted, although merely reporting them and finding a better use for your time is better.

Answer 4

I'm not tolerant, I'm apathetic, so I probably can't give a whole lot of insight into this. But I see tolerance to be the acceptance that everyone is seperate and unique from their inborn traits and should only be held accountable for things they have control over.

Tolerance is about choices, and how to increase the number of choices people can make for themselves. Anything that limits choice in intolerant. Anything that removes choices from the people is intolerant.

Tolerance is about life and individualism. Make your own life, your own choices, and be held accountable only for the harm you cause others.

Almost no one is perfectly tolerant. The world thrives on conflict.

Answer 5

Ask a Indian Hindu ,tolerated the plunder of 60000 temples by muslims and conversions of over 30million people in 800 years now they are 300 million and the christians transported all the riches from India and were wsoccessful in 80 million conversions and still we fight for the rights of minorities at the stake of majority hindus which we call religious tolerance.

Answer 6

Basing my answer on how I perceive tolerance, not on what the word really means.

Tolerance = I can do whatever I want, but you don't have the right to do whatever you want because I don't agree with it. And if you tell me I'm wrong, you're hateful and bigoted.

What I wish it would mean.

Tolerance = We all have the right to follow our beliefs, and we learn to get along, agree to disagree, and still respect each other. The ability for opposing views to have a civil discussion and not turn to anger and hostility. We could all express our beliefs without being belittled or insulted.

Answer 7

Tolerance means that I can live side by side with those who do not agree with me. It does not mean that I must agree with their beliefs or life-styles. And, I am free to voice my objections without being ugly about it.

For example: I disagree with homosexualily, believing that it is a sin against God and the purpose of creation. However, I do not advocate killing them or taking away their basic rights as human beings.

I am opposed to homosexual marriages because it distorts the biblical description and meaning of marriage--and it is morally wrong. Historically, it violates every cultural understanding of what marriage is.

All of the above does not make me a homophobe. I have relatives that have chosen the homosexual lifestyle. They are welcome in my home. I'm a serious Christian that takes the Bible seriously.

Answer 8

Acceptance, respect. I can accept/tolerate/respect your point. I can openly debate it without name calling, and to be truly tolerant, should never say "Your wrong" or call names, but merely offer the point that I disagree.

However, personally, if someone reusults to intolerance of my beliefs, calling names, or telling me out and out I am wrong, they have already violated the mutual respect, and I no longer feel the need to continue to be respectful. In that instance, it is earned.

Answer 9

Tolerance to me is the kind acceptance of others who believe and live differently than I do.

Answer 10

tolerance means respecting the ideology, opinions of other people and at the same time telling them in an assertive way our opinions and not compromising with our ideology.a rationalist, armed with a scientific temper ,believes that there may be truth in other people's words and modifies his/her opinions if there is truth in the other people's ideology.to be tolerant our minds should be open and our thinking should not be dogmatic.