If I tolerate things around me, I am just living it, whether it's positive or negative. Tolerating things/people means to allow it to happen and not to stand up against it if it's harmful and ignore it if it helpful.
What are your thoughts?
2007-07-23 20:34:03 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My own view on tolerance is that we are to respect people who have different viewpoints than our own. That doesn't mean that we have to agree. It also doesn't mean that we have to sit quietly while someone steps off of a building because they believe they can fly. That's not tolerance of that person's belief. It's turning a blind eye. I do think people can and should attempt to change the world around them using positive methods, and I don't feel that this is in any way intolerant.
The problem I've seen in the world, and on these boards, is that people tend to believe that their own perspective is correct, so all other peoples' perspectives are not valid. How can that be? What are the odds that you (not you specifically but the "you" that thinks they're right and all else is wrong)--what are the odds that you know the truth, and the other 6.5 billion people on Earth are wrong? What are the odds that you're right and the billions who came before us were wrong?
Closed-minded clinging to a belief system is the one thing that I find difficult to tolerate. After all, if your belief system is the Truth, then it cannot hurt to openly discuss it with a non-believer and consider their point of view. If it's the Truth, then that other person will eventually come to see the Truth.
Tolerance is respecting the person, even if you don't respect their beliefs because you see them as biased, unfounded, inconsistent and illogical. Because they're probably thinking the same thing about you--or me.
2007-07-23 20:50:02 · answer #1 · answered by silverlock1974 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think we should tolerate things up to the point where they become life-threatening or bad for the individual, family or community as a whole.
That is why we have restrictions against advertising smoking and laws against things like speeding, jaywalking or doing drugs, as well as laws against more obvious things like murder, robbery, spousal abuse, libel, slander etc.
While these laws restrict the right of the individual to do absolutely anything he pleases, they are for his own good as well as the greater good of the community in which he lives and works.
History has shown that pretending not to notice evil only encourages more of it and appeasing wrongdoers instead of confronting them leads to even greater problems further down the track.
For example, if another Hitler, Stalin or Pol Pot rose to power should we tolerate their atrocities so we can help them to grow and gain wisdom and peace or should we stop them and in so doing save millions of innocent lives?
Should we engage them in endless dialog and diplomacy while people are suffering and dying under them or should we first put a stop to it and then work things out at the negotiating table later with appropriate punishments and sanctions so they are not tempted to do it again?
If my neighbor want to blow his head of with a shotgun should I let him because it would be a good learning experience for him or should I breach his constitutional rights and take the gun away from him and treat him up in a psych ward until he is no longer a danger to himself?
Looking the other way is not tolerance - it's apathy!
2007-07-24 04:22:46 · answer #2 · answered by jeffd_57 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tolerance, to me, is a good thing. It means respect. It means granting dignity to my fellow humans. It means listening to the other side and evaluating it before making rash decisions. Instead of coming to a sudden, snap judgment about something, it pays to exercise some tolerance and honestly research the issue first. Also, tolerance means that I can accept the basic premise that other people believe differently than I do.
2007-07-24 03:40:12 · answer #3 · answered by solarius 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
What does tolerance mean to you?
Well! When I support you, it does not mean that I agree with you, nonetheless, I cannot harm you by going against you if I want to have peace with you. By tolerating you, I may help you to grow, I may help you gain wisdom and peace with your mind. I allow you to help me build the world. If it is good, I will see your success and if it bad I will feel sorry for you.
I cannot go against tolerance because it allows America to grow in many ways. People with different beliefs agree on certain issues to advance the world. People who cannot tolerate do not serve in a positive manner to any one.
Why I believe what I believe? Because you show me support even though you do not agree with me. If it is a good, thank to you I made it; if it is bad, you are not responsible because tolerance means choices. This is what is good about America and that makes it a Great Country.
Our family our children live in a world of diversity that is cultural, social, educational, and spiritual. Even when one wants to feel that his system is better, it ought to respect the right of others to have other beliefs.
I guess we have to live with tolerance because even Jesus does not force us to change people, they have their choice and we must respect their choice. He did not force them to follow Him, but they were welcome if they chose to do so.
2007-07-24 04:11:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
To me, tolerance means accepting that other people believe other things than me and not being disrespectful to them for doing so. This in no way means that I have to agree with them. To sum it up, a tolerant person does not slam (as in call the people stupid or intelligent for their belief) other's beliefs.
And yes, I do think it is good for our countries and communities as a whole.
2007-07-24 03:42:29 · answer #5 · answered by Amanda 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Tolerating something doesn't mean that you have to like something or accept it. It just means that you allow it to go along and don't interfere with it. If you tolerate something, you can hate it all you want, you just have to allow it to occur and don't interfere with it.
2007-07-24 03:39:47 · answer #6 · answered by Jason P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think religion is more harmful and wasteful than it is good or useful and I am going to stand against it more now, thank you for the inspiration.
2007-07-24 03:44:40 · answer #7 · answered by CHEESUS GROYST 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Who decides what harmful or not? There's the rub.
2007-07-24 03:37:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋