Do you practice acceptance and tolerance regarding beliefs that differ from your own? Or do?

Question

you try to ridicule and discredit them just because they differ from yours?
How does this affect your soul?

As always, no bashing and please be mindful of your words. Please include your faith or religious affiliation with your response and as always....
Thanks for answering!

Blessings
)o(
Trinity

Answer 1

Yes, and I know that this is a sensitive area for all of us here, and that we have all seen answers that were filled with intolerance. What did those answers ever accomplish but drive deeper wedges between the two main warring factions here?

I bless you for this question. We can all see that bashing has occurred from both sides, and each side then takes the position that IT is the attacked. The truth is that every side has been the recipient of ridicule and bashing. The only way to break this cycle is to "walk away" when it happens to you. We can only do this as individuals, and I offer my hand to be spat upon by anyone out there who has intolerance for me as a pagan, and as a Witch.

Spit on my hand, I will not spit back. Say something hurtful, bashing, or disrespectful. I will walk away.

I add as a footnote to this answer that I would not be tolerant of any religion or spiritual path that hurt people, that was physically or psychologically harmful or abusive, or that had practices that were against the law, such as the child bride marriages in polygamist marriages in groups that are associated with LDS. I would call upon common sense and obvious warning signals to guide me as to when tolerance needs to be suspended in light of the need to protect another life.

Bright Blessings,
Lady Morgana )0(

Answer 2

I was born and raised fundamentalist Christan for over twenty years and as long as I was in the environment, I was able to keep the mindset that Christianity was the only way, the right way, and everyone else was wrong.

Then I began to travel and educate myself.
I began to see other cultures and religions, and the effects of these religions on the people. The greatest turning point was for me when I was in Iraq. I was speaking with an Iraqi who wanted to talk about Islam and Christianity. He was a sweet man, not overbearing, but was gently trying to save me. He was concerned for my soul! I think it really rocked some sense into me. Others feel about their religion as I felt about mine?

It really made me think and eventually I was forced to re-evaluate everything I thought about my religions and others.
It took a few years, but after studying history and other religions, I found I was able to accept a new, open mindsed towards religions.

As of now, I'm Inclusive Monotheistic. Personally, I think its one of the most tolerant religions, since the basis is that everyone must find their own path to heaven, and as long as you're reaching out to God(dess), then it doesn't matter what name you call Him(Her).

And I've found such peace and freedom in my new belief.

Though now most Christians call me Pagan :) Kind of a 180 for me.

Answer 3

Since I believe that human existence is predicated upon the divine/human interaction, I understand the desire to share your own revelations and testamonies with others. I can even understand why some religious concepts say it is required to spread the words of a particular creed. A life without any conscious searching for and dedication to the mysteries of our universe would be tragically empty.
What I don't understand is why anyone could blindly follow any religion. How can you NOT look into other religious beliefs? How could you NOT recognize the common factors that intertwine between most every religious tradition? And this being SO...how could you NOT accept that while they may not be 'for you'...perhaps they work just fine for someone else? You give me ANY messiahical kind of leader...there are plenty others exactly like them through mythology.
Honestly...I won't begin to debate any subject with someone who has a mind the keep locked away from all Light and a heart that is therefor prisoner and dying. To me it's a form of self-torture...surely a sin.
I might not agree with a vast number of other people's beliefs...whatever their religions....that's okay. They're not me. :) I also understand that most people are just 'sheep' following some representative they've accepted as their religious leader and don't actually investigate the historical precepts of their religion in an independent and scholarly fashion. (IE...unbiased and using as many sources as possible). The best I can do for that is just give a little promo: hey...did you know that the bible was written in Aramaic? Do YOU understand that language??
In answer to your question..yes, I try and practice tolerance even if and when I feel like laughing, crying or screaming because of the things I am witness to in another's incerdibly holy life.
My religion? Eh..Kerriwynism. My own particular offshoot of Wicca. ;)

Answer 4

Do you practice acceptance and tolerance regarding beliefs that differ from your own?

No, I do not tolerate or accept ignorant beliefs.

Or do you try to ridicule and discredit them just because they differ from yours?

Yes, I do ridicule and discredit them. I don't do this because they are different. Everyone has a right to be different. I do this because these beliefs are full of fallacies, contradictions and their is no evidence to support them as truth.

How does this affect my soul?

It doesn't. I have no soul.

You ask for us to include our faith or religious affiliation. I am sorry to disappoint, but I have none.

Answer 5

I accept that others have their own beliefs, just as I would like acceptance that mine are not what they would have. An excelent example is this:

Two of the guys that I work close with daily are devout Christians. They talk with eachother about their church, and extra activities that they are involved with within their church. I have no problem with that. They asked me if I go to church, I simly responded "What I do wouldn't be considdered a normal church by what you guys do." And they left it at that.

I actually think that what they do is admerable. They are not the "one day a week" Christians. They deeply beleave in their faith. They are active in their church community. And, they are willing to tollerate that fact that I do not follow the same religion. I may not agree with their beliefs, but I can at least accept that they have faith, and that they are not trying to force it onto me.

Answer 6

Tolerance is rationally the best policy to avoid division in society and unjust suffering of individuals. It's not the same thing as acceptance.

I do think it's corrosive to the spirit to speak harshly against the things that other people hold to be good. To an extent, though, I feel an obligation to speak plainly and to present to believers what I think is right, if they insist on the subject.

Answer 7

I have a very alternate viewpoint here. I'm not a bigot and I'm totally accepting of people. However, I do believe that there is one true God and only one way to enter into heaven. Most everyone I meet - is searching for Him. I don't ridicule or discredit anyone - in fact - most people that I meet want to know more about what I believe and I'm happy to share. I don't believe in religion - as a set of practices designed to bring you to God or bridge the gap so you can please Him. I don't think any human is good enough to do the job - if you're honest - you can't even keep the 10 commandments 100%. God has to come to the person - not me forcing it on them so - in anyway that I can help in the process I do - but I don't put anyone down - most of the time there is an inroad to Jesus Christ built into every religion and belief system to where they are searching for Him but don't know it until someone explains it to them. I love everybody - even people who are diametrically opposed to my beliefs - but that doesn't mean I accept their "truth" as equal to what has come to me - what I have isn't "my" faith. It came to me - I didn't find it myself. Everyone is on a spiritual journey - and wherever a particular individual is - that is where they are - simple as that - to me it's not a matter of comparing "truths" - truth demands - that there is one way - just like a compass leads you to true north. It's inherent in the order of the universe. Tolerance - is not about calling all religions "equal" - you can hold to absolute truths - but others are in reality - that's the only thing most people don't tolerate. So, I think - alot of people don't tolerate people like me - because it's the only thing generally allowed by the general population not to be tolerated - that is to believe in absolute truths. But, everyone believes in absolute truths - we trust in scientific principles everyday - such as gravity. So - it's funny how most people define tolerance - but I have a different view and I'm okay with that.

Answer 8

Tolerance and acceptance are not the same thing.

I tolerate almost everyone. It takes abuse or law-breaking to get me to be intolerant of another.

I do not accept beliefs that are radically different from my own. For example, if someone believes that the Holocaust didn't happen, they are not going to be on my X-mas list.

Be well.

Answer 9

I try to accept/respect all faiths, even ones that I don't agree with. I'm Catholic. I have been posting in current events and politics about the uprising in Burma by the Buddhists and am sympathetic to their causes. I know people of many faiths and many non-Christian faiths.The beauty of a religion or belief is in the people. Religion teaches faith and morals. That is why we need religion and not just my religion, all religions. Ecumenically we may not believe in the religion but we can respect and believe in the person who follows it.

Answer 10

That's an interesting question. I certainly have tolerance for anyone that has different beliefs from my own, but I do tend to attack those that either force their beliefs on me or create arguments about their beliefs that don't make sense.