How can there be religious tolerance in the world?

Question

It's not like the world is full of intolerant people because even on Yahoo answers there are so many tolerant people from different faiths. But then again, religious intolerance is very much there. So, how can we have a society (if not a world) where people stop condemning each other to Hell and where they do not have REPENT NOW written on their faces?
What steps would you suggest to make the world or at least some part of it an example of tolerance?
Gathering various tolerant people and beginning a new society (something like Bertrand Russell's communal groups to facilitate children's growing up) perhaps?
All intelligent ideas are welcome.
Thank you.

Answer 1

Religion tends towards intolerance. Religion encourages intolerance. Religions are based on emotional manipulation of human insecurities and childhood indoctrination. There are no real gods, so no religion is really any more of an authority than any other. Because of this, they tend to promote the idea that they are the "chosen ones" and everybody else is some version of scum.

This is a very successful strategy in gaining and keeping converts, but it also tends to make religion very intolerant of those outside of the religion. Even religions that claim tolerance do so only to the point that they think they can convert others. After that, "love thy enemy" quickly turns into "don't throw pearls before swine".

The only reason there is any religious tolerance is because people, from the most ardent atheist to the most over-the-edge zealot still have more in common than not. Also, we have some laws in place that guarantee seperation of church and state. That way no religion can leverage government to promote them over any others. Of course, the Christians are trying to whittle away at that guarantee right now with bills such as the Protection of Expression of Religion Act which takes away any compensation from winning a case that defends the religious clause in the Constitution.

If Christians are able to whittle enough of the Constitution away, you'll see some real intolerance.

Answer 2

I have no idea I wish I could give you a good answer. I think we should focus on where the most intolerance is coming from and find out why, before anything can be done. But I am not sure whether this world has ever been reliously tolerant. It will be interesting to see how globalisation effects this issue because it is something we are going to have to deal with more and more as the world becomes more open and interactive.

Answer 3

I suggest that we ought to seek ways of respectfully "thanking" the Gods of yesteryear as we send them off into retirement, and to recognize that we don't need to find more tolerance for the variety of beliefs when it is clearly and ultimately a commonly shared, acceptable, intolerance which must prevail. Conformity is the final name of the game.

There is certainly a debt of gratitude owed to the belief systems of our past - both the good and the bad of them - and it has come time to officially recognize religion as having caused important part of our heritage to become what they have. Once done, we must set aside our variety of beliefs and redesign or invent a new system based solely on reason and logic - one which must make room for and include all of the-best-of-the-best of our present day religions and one which proclaims that from here on out we (all of mankind) are on our own together.

If we could agree to cooperate and compromise, we might be able to create an Eden - a real heaven for all to enjoy right here and right now.

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Answer 4

It amazes me that no matter how sinfull a life someone lived, Even a rapist , or drunkard or bank robber, Or any other sinfull thing, When they die, From the preacher down to the family, They all put that person in heaven & not hell, I hear the same service at a funeral, Knowing that a person was a evil one, evryone wants to put them in heaven, yet while he was alive they told him or her that they were going to hell for their sins & then at the funeral to my surprise, He is now in heaven. Christians don't have to tolerate sin. As a Christian myself for 37 years, I had to work with many sinners, I did not shun them, But yet I did not run the country side with them. I treated them all equal as far as having to work with them, No matter if they were Muslum, Catholic, Baptist, or just plain sinners, But did I tolerate their sinning, No, you can use the word tolerate in 2 ways, Accept their lifestyle or don't accept it but yet work with them in a factory, & I choose the 2nd. Why do you think Hell exist for.

Answer 5

It isn't going to happen. It's against human nature that everyone in a group would think and react in the same way. There are radicals in every group. Generally it's the radicals that are least tolerant of others.

Answer 6

It would need a new religion that's tolerant of other religions. the basic problem is that all religions are by their very nature intolerant.

Answer 7

Becoming intolerant of intolerance. Although it's hypocritical, it would work

Answer 8

People can teach themselves that others have other religions and though words are ok to use, we are to let those people live in peace with us. Opinions are fine, violence is not fine. Treat people like you want to be treated.

Answer 9

the never will religion is the worst thing on this planet

Answer 10

When we all begin searching for the light.