What do you think of religious tolerence???

Question

I'm interested in what the christians have to say in particular but you all can answer. Now, i showed a clip from youtube to my mom about an atheist being discriminated against in her school. Mom replied back that she was sorry that happened but they shouldn't just throw out religion in schools- said something about babies and baths that i didn't quite understand.
I found that hyppocritical because she only felt that way because it was HER religion being practiced. What if they were all practising wicca, or islam. I think she'd have a different oppinion.
Sooo... what I mean to ask is if the religion was something that you tooootally didn't agree with (such as a pagan one), would you tolerate it being practised in a public place? What if the wiccans wanted to have a school group, like the christians have fellowship of christian athletes in school? Would you protest? Would you care?

Answer 1

As long as the religious activity being practiced isn't harmful or illegal I would tolerate it. By tolerate I mean in the classic sense in that all people are equally valuable, but not all ideas are equally valid. It is the price we pay to live in this country and a price I gladly pay.

Answer 2

I don't care if other religions are being practiced in a public place. I think it helps promote understanding. But I absolutely do not want it /promoted/ by my tax dollars or for any person to be singled out by it. After school religious groups I think are fine, so long as the school allows any religion to organize a group. (If they host a Christian group, they have to host a Wiccan group, should Wiccan students want to organize one) No religion should ever be taught as being better or worse than other religions in a public school (private schools don't get my taxes and can do what they wish), and I do not think religious activities should be a part of the required time period of class, such as prayer before class, because students without religion are going to feel alienated (especially young children who do not understand the intricacies of religious choice and tend to follow the pack.)

I'm writing from a Wiccan perspective, and also from an instructor of religion at a college level.

Answer 3

It's tough to say. Personally, I don't believe in any religions. People have a strong reaction to being discriminated against for their religion. There aren't very many tolerant religious people. For example, a christian wouldn't care if someone said that a muslim had false beliefs, but if someone said a christian had false beliefs, they'd go crazy and start preaching.

To be honest, I don't think religion should be taught in schools. It's not logic. Logic and rationality should be taught in schools, not faith. That's a personal thing. Leave all of the religious teachings outside of school, such as a church or special school. Now, if it was mandatory to take a religion class, that would be complete nonsense. If it is in school, it should be optional. It should not be preached apon students who don't believe it.

Answer 4

If the Government is involved in promotion, it must be no religion or all religions, including pagan ones. In this category would be schools and courthouses. A public place like a street is a different matter and all religions have a right to say what they want in a public place as long as they are not inciting others to violence.

In private and in your own front yard, you can have any prayer meeting or belief or worship whomever you want, that's your business.

I'm a Christian and of course I believe Christian beliefs are the best. But I recognize that God gave every human the choice of whether to believe in Him or not. I as a creation of God can and should do no less.

Furthermore, I have no problem with people discussing and debating their beliefs as long as it's done respectfully and without violence. That's the beauty of having Freedom of Speech.

Answer 5

I think that all religions have a tremendous level of respect within themselves such as respect of the God, the leaders, the holidays- whatever they may be. And i think that same respect needs to be shown to everyone.
I personally come from an evangelical back round- but today so many people try to force their beliefs that they make others run from the ideas they are trying to share, because they present them in a force-full way and a way in which i feel Jesus would not be happy about.
I believe that everyone should have the right to have a school group- and i personally would not want to be involved or have my child be involved in a wiccan group, or another group outside of my own personal faith- but i however would not try to protest and would be disappointed in others protesting...because in the end - its not for us to judge- its for God to judge

Answer 6

I think equal rights should be given to all religious groups. If the Bible can't be taught in school, the Qu'ran can't be either. If the Christians are allowed to have an after-school club, the Wiccans should be too. Isn't that what religious freedom is all about?

And I'm a Christian who believes that Wicca is from the devil, by the way.

Answer 7

Yes, I would tolerate it. They have every right to have a school group similar to FCA in a PUBLIC school. However, I would protest should they do anything harmful or distracting to themselves or others in the school place (and respecting the preferences of others).

I don't have to agree with it and I can share my opinion that I think it is wrong (in a safe way), but I should tolerate it if for no other reason than that showing tolerance yet disapproval is a great way to witness.

Answer 8

The Mayflower Pilgrims came to America precisely because they wanted to have the freedom to practice their faith. Religious tolerance is part of the very foundation of American philosophy.

I do not agree with Muslims, or Wiccans, or Lesbians, or Sodomites (let me call them what they really are, instead of corrupting a perfectly beautiful English word such as gay), or atheists, or Christian Scientists, but, I will stand against anyone who will deny them the right to practice what they believe in.

Having said that, I do not wish to have them influence my children, or family, and in that regard, I will not tolerate them around my family, just as you wouldn't normally tolerate a white supremacist hovering around your children.

Bear in mind, I am not talking about "respecting one's beliefs" because if I believe that such a "belief" is false and ungodly, how can I respect it ? I have no respect for Wicca, or Islam, or Scientology, or White Supremacy.

I can, at best, tolerate their existence, remembering that we live in a fallen world.

Answer 9

Of course I would tolerate it... And maybe if we could learn about other religions maybe we would get closer to each other, we would act differently and people wouldn't discriminate like they do now...
You know I come from a place where religions caused a really big war here and I think that if they knew more about each other, and if they have been more tolerant, a lot of innocent lives would have been saved... Unfortunately human kind is really selfish...

Answer 10

The First Amendment guarentees religious "tolerance".

But our congress and courts have gone against this amendment and have written laws prohibiting religious tolerance.

In truth, true Christians have NO FEAR of ALL religions being taught in schools or in public places. Those who are making these laws agains prayer at school functions or having religious symbols in puplic buildings ARE NOT CHRISTIANS. They are people who fear the power of God.

We say, let all religions have completely equal access!