2007-10-21 13:22:29 · 21 answers · asked by Eartha Q 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
phewww..so glad everyone got the irony of that! Thanks for the intelligent answers!!
2007-10-22 04:46:45 · update #1
Good one. The "tolerant" are extremely intolerant of those with whom they disagree.
2007-10-21 13:25:36 · answer #1 · answered by Jeff A 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Hi, Eartha. Your question suggests a couple of things.
First, an observation: The people who are quickest to demand tolerance are often the most intolerant of those with different views. This is hypocrisy, the tribute that vice pays to virtue.
Second, the grammar of "intolerant" and "intolerable." These look like adjectives describing others, but they are actually self-reports. If I say something is intolerable, I am describing the limits of my toleration, and not the object I seem to describe. We can all improve the limits of our own toleration for religious viewpoints contrary to our own.
Third, there are some things no one should tolerate, like the suppression of free religion or free speech. In justice, we have a duty to fight against an oppressive government. As the Declaration says:
"When a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
At church today, we prayed that everyone in the world have the freedom to pray in public and practice their religion freely. We should never tolerate anything less.
Cheers,
Bruce
2007-10-21 20:52:37 · answer #2 · answered by Bruce 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Believe it or not, our pastor spoke of this today. How as Christians we are to state our case and then, if it begins to turn argumentative, just walk away. We don't have to force our beliefs on someone or beat them over the head with it. I think that is where so many others (Christians) get it wrong. We want to force others to believe what we believe rather than allow them to make their own choices. It is a shame that the few that do this give the rest of us a bad name. On the other hand, it seems funny to me that most people are tolerant of ANY belief system, so long as it is not fundamental Christianity. Wonder why that is? And don't say it's because we are the most outspoken, that isn't necessarily true. Islam is the most radical and outspoken of all of the belief systems, but you rarely see it attacked in this forum.
2007-10-21 20:42:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
In this case, "truly tolerant" sounds like another word for "cowardice." I'm a reasonably tolerant individual, but I refuse to let other people badmouth another race, group, or person and not speak up about it.
Tolerance is all about my ability to accept things that aren't a part of my normal mindset or belief system -- NOT about me sitting back and allowing bigots to attack other people without speaking out.
2007-10-21 20:34:56 · answer #4 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Do you suppose that other than this being somewhat of a trick question, it truly depends on what you are asking us to be tolerant of. Different ideas, religions, beliefs, races, cultures etc..etc.. Sure.
People that hurt others, lie, steal, sell drugs to kids? How much are you supposed to tolerate before you are giving them a free pass to cause others harm?
2007-10-22 05:54:00 · answer #5 · answered by mark g 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If fire and water can tolerate one another, then I don't see why not.
Tolerance is pretty damn easy. If one can't be tolerant (and tolerant doesn't mean in agreement with or approval of), then they have a weak and pathetic outlook. They do not deserve to be recognized at all. They have no right to exist.
2007-10-22 08:15:35 · answer #6 · answered by tombollocks 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. That is the true definition of tolerance. If you want to call yourself tolerant, you cannot pick and choose what you are tolerant of and what you are not. Inherent in the definition of the word and the idea.
2007-10-21 20:26:27 · answer #7 · answered by Amanda 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hmmmm. . . that's a good one, Eartha Q. I suppose you've hit on the height of irony -- that those who say they are the "most tolerant" are often quite the opposite.
Now I need a Tylenol after pondering that. :)
2007-10-21 20:27:28 · answer #8 · answered by Mary B 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Clever and yes we should for the most part let them be nasty and not get involved in their negativity but sometimes you have to hit a bad dog on the head with a rolled up newspaper.
2007-10-21 20:27:07 · answer #9 · answered by Rational Humanist 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's quite a paradox. I have no tolerance for people who are intolerant. Guess that makes me a hipocrite!
2007-10-21 20:25:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋