What Is REAL Tolerance?

Question

Is "tolerance" really such a good thing? Websters defines tolerance as "capacity to endure pain or hardship:the capacity of the body to endure or become less responsive to a substance (as a drug) or a physiological insult especially with repeated use or exposure". So how is tolerance a good thing? If you believe you know what is right, are you being true to yourself AND your belief by being to "tolerant"? Isn't tolerance just a way of giving up?


Let the hate begin....

I can't wait to read the hate filled replies! No one will actually think about this before they answer, I'll have to filter through the drivel to find the one or two relevant answers, but this is a "free" country, as many of you keep reminding me...

WOW, I'm truly impressed. Some really excellent answers, from almost everyone. The idiots must have the day off...

Of course I only used the definitions that fit the needs of my point, it would not be propaganda if I'd used the whole definition ; )

Answer 1

I think tolerance does mean to endure or to put up with, but it does not have to mean acceptance. Too many people confuse the two. Ok, you have a pedophile living in your neighborhood. You have to put up with him being there (can't just kill him), but you do not have to accept him hurting another child. Get out there and stop him if he's around a kid. Call the cops.

Answer 2

Does Websters define "tolerance" solely in the way you cited? Have you neglected to use the entire definition, using only that which supports your particular point of view?

1 : capacity to endure pain or hardship : ENDURANCE, FORTITUDE, STAMINA
2 a : sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own b : the act of allowing something : TOLERATION
3 : the allowable deviation from a standard; especially : the range of variation permitted in maintaining a specified dimension in machining a piece
4 a (1) : the capacity of the body to endure or become less responsive to a substance (as a drug) or a physiological insult especially with repeated use or exposure ; also : the immunological state marked by unresponsiveness to a specific antigen (2) : relative capacity of an organism to grow or thrive when subjected to an unfavorable environmental factor b : the maximum amount of a pesticide residue that may lawfully remain on or in food

Answer 3

Tolerance is a good thing when applied across a broad spectrum. The part you're missing is where your beliefs start to impose on the rights of other individuals. At that point, their rights outweigh your opinions.

Tolerance is not giving up, it is the realization of a multitude of beliefs, and acceptance that not everyone believes as you do. It is not a compromise on your personal views. However, it does limit your actions somewhat when it comes to how you share your beliefs.

Answer 4

The problem I have with your type of thinking is who sets the standards for what will and will not be tolerated? Who decides the punishment for going outside of those standards? Do you claim to speak for God? Are you not a sinner whom God tolerates? Answer these questions and you may become a little more tolerant of others.

Answer 5

Tolerance means (well a different definition of Websters) realizing that you may have differences (beliefs, practices, ethnic or other background, etc) and to not allow those differences affect how you relate, work together, or live.

Tolerance is not giving up, it's simply respecting others as human beings and refusing to treat them differently and allowing them to make their choices as they will (within accepted social laws, i.e. not harming others etc.).

Answer 6

LOL interesting twist....

I suppose it's good for people to become "tolerant" of you, but according to the definition it's hard to become tolerant of someone else.
But words evolve.
Christianity was once a term used as an insult to those who followed Christ.
Pagan's literally interpret to some pretty rude things.
Both words have evolved to mean other things, so I suppose tolerance has as well.

Answer 7

I think tolerance used to be a good thing. I think olerance should be like this... You're a Christian and you stick to the truths of the Bible, but a friend of yours (a classmate, instructor, or something) is a Muslim. You love them for who they are, but you do not agree with their beliefs. You include them in activities with your friends, but you do not "give up" what you know is true.

Tolerance today is saying that everyone's beliefs are true and we should just let them believe whatever. Not everyone's beliefs can be true b/c they contradict eachother. Truth cannot contradict itself or else it is simply not the truth.

Answer 8

A "free" country? What? Doesn't the internet extend to the rest of the world?

Americans. Always assuming they're the only ones around. Still, they have their good points. Like Coca Cola and Brad Pitt. So we tolerate them.

Answer 9

Real tolerance in a general setting is the ability to adapt, overcome, and endure.

Real tolerance in a psychosocial setting is the ability to accept, integrate, and modulate ourselves and others.

Finally, REAL tolerance is living and allowing to live the multifaceted aspects of our differing experiential world inventories without judgment, ridicule, violence, abhorrence, hate or malice.

Answer 10

The word tolerate means 'put up with something or somebody unpleasant'.
And tolerant isn't a way of giving up, but it's way to win.
Rasulullah SAW gave us an example about tolerance.
He had a nonmuslim neighbor that liked to disturb him everytime he went to Masjid. and Rasulullah Muhammad tolerated him. When his neighbor got sick, Rasulullah came to his neighbor's house and pray for him, then that man came to Islam.