There is a lot of talk here about tolerance. I do believe in being tolerant of differing lifestyles, religions, and beliefs. But someone once taught me that 'what you tolerate, you encourage.' Now this might be more applicable on a smaller, more personal level, but does that idea change or affect your feelings about tolerance - in terms of what we should or should not tolerate, or to what level - in any way?
Just something I've been thinking about while reading the questions and answers here.
2007-03-23 04:58:32 · 22 answers · asked by milomax 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Just to clarify my standpoint - I said I DO believe in tolerance. I am not Christian. I am not judging anyone. This is just for discussion, because that statement kept going through my mind.
2007-03-23 05:13:51 · update #1
Today's permissiveness becomes tomorrows standard.
2007-03-23 05:03:17 · answer #1 · answered by don_steele54 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
I find that there are so many things I "Could" be worried about and fight against or for. I have come to the point in my life where I must pick the battles I can take time for and leave the others to some one else.
This will, as a result, place my actions in that category of tolerating some and not others, even if I do not agree with any of them.
My priorities tell me that I need to go for the base problem and not the symptoms that are seen.
Kev
2007-03-23 05:04:57 · answer #2 · answered by Hobgoblin Kev 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't tolerate cruelty, tyranny and hatred. As long as a lifestyle, religion or belief harms no one, I don't see the problem in tolerating it, even if that is encouragement. I wonder at the closed mind of an individual who automatically dismisses anything 'different' as being wrong.
2007-03-23 05:06:27 · answer #3 · answered by Julia Sugarbaker 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We should never tolerate actions that adversely affect the well being of any person. What occurs between two consenting adults is a totally different story. Tolerance does not necessarily mean encourage, that is absurd. Tolerance is realizing that some things are none of our business because they do no harm.
I am intolerant of intolerance.
2007-03-23 05:05:24 · answer #4 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is a difference between tolerance and acceptance. Tolerance is letting someone do whatever without ever making your own opinion in the matter known. For many it is tact approval.
Acceptance is allowing that people have the right to make their own choices but you also have the right to let them know you disagree. That doesn't mean trying to force them to change to your stand. It simply means letting them know you will accept they have made the choice but you, personally, do not agree with them.
Many people today think you have to approve and be tolerant. It seems disagreement and acceptance label you some kind of horrible person.
2007-03-23 05:07:33 · answer #5 · answered by kaehya2003 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are certainly things that we should NOT tolerate.
In addition, tolerance does not necessarily mean we do not in some way also discourage the behavior.
Ex. "I think you're making a mistake, but it's your decision."
While this could still marginally be seen as encouraging the behavior (by not stopping it), sometimes it is better to do so than to insist that your way and only your way is right and should be followed. After all, we could be wrong.
2007-03-23 05:09:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tolerance is good and you do encourage what you tolerate because you're not saying it is wrong. However you can tolerate many things that you "think" are wrong and this isn't bad as long as no one is getting hurt in any way.
2007-03-23 05:16:07 · answer #7 · answered by Sue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I tolerate everyone for their religious beliefs. I don't tolerate when people attack others because of their beliefs. I encourage everyone to do the same, but I know I cannot force everyone to be tolerant of other people.
2007-03-23 05:05:16 · answer #8 · answered by Maverick 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I tolerate the screaming baby at a restaurant.
What's going on in the back of my mind is anything but moral and if acted upon would make me look worse than Hitler.
Perhaps I should be more forward and ask the parent, or ask the waiter to ask the parent, to calm the child or take it outside instead of sitting there suffering quietly. But I don't think that's encouraging the crying itself.
2007-03-23 05:02:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I disagree. I'm happy to tolerate the beliefs of others (no matter my opinion of them) but I can't tolerate their attempt to push those beliefs on the rest of society.
Example: You believe the right thing to do is wear a black tent at all times, great, have at it. But don't expect to walk into the DMV and get a driver's license without letting them take your picture. And don't scream at women in a public place because they don't cover their hair.
2007-03-23 05:18:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It sounds to me like tolerate means to "not judge" if so we should always tolerate. We should never judge another, it is never our job to judge another and the more we judge the bigger price to pay in the end. I recently went with someone to their church and the preacher judged one religion after another and a few famous peple. After, I told my friend that is why people have a problem with christians it is the judging, whatever word they call it, it is the judging. My friend remarked to me, well, it would be wrong to pretend what they do is ok, I remarked it would be "not judging"
do you get it yet.
stop judging
2007-03-23 05:11:06 · answer #11 · answered by happy_kko 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋