Just look at how many references there are in the Torah, Koran and the bible about heathens, infidels, smiting those who don't believe, killing those who disagree. You all know its there. How can anyone claim these "books" aren't responsible for likely the majority of intolerance on the planet?
2007-10-27 15:47:48 · 17 answers · asked by XX stnirptooF 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Either A) "It's not intolerance when we do it" or B) "Show me where it says that" (Deuteronomy 13)
2007-10-27 15:52:27 · answer #1 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
The Hebrew Bible does NOT say anything about smiting those who don't "believe." Belief has very little to do with Judaism. Judaism is a religion of action, not belief!
Those "smited" in the Hebrew Bible were people without morals or ethics. They raped and murdered, they worshipped idols, they had religious sexual rituals. When God destroyed the earth with the flood, He chose the most righteous person on earth to begin a "new creation" of righteous people. Abraham bargained with God to save the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah if God could find even 10 righteous people. He could not. God ordered Saul to destroy a people, but Saul did not do as God commanded and lost his kingship because of his disobedience.
It is Christianity that puts "belief" above all else. Judaism puts justice, ethics, and morals above all else. We will be judged for our actions, not for our beliefs!
BTW, which war was it that the Jews started. Were they responsible for their own genocide? Why is it that Jews are always held to a higher standard?
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2007-10-27 22:57:57 · answer #2 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People are all self centered. ON ALL SIDES. The more ancient your faith is, the more causes for being rightfully self centered are emphasized.
If you check out almost any history, even the history of the people of Gandhi, you will find violence and survival of the fittest. Many will be surprised to learn that Ramayana and Mahabharta, the Indian religious classics are both filled with warfare by the "good' against the "evil". AND as always the good are always "US" and bad are always "THEM".
The Abrahamic faiths bring Monotheism to the equation, where there is One Lord for one and all. Thus you and I were both made by the same Entity. Thus if you love that Entity or fear Him (Him denotes maleness to the Almighty who is not limited by being a male. You have to live with the paucity of our languages), then you would never abuse or hurt any of the creatures that he nurtured and brought on to the Earth, unless in accordance to the purpose it was created. Thus a tiger has to kill the deer, to keep itself alive, but also to keep the deer fit and aware.
Islam ruled for centuries large swaths of land and many religions and cultures still survive after centuries of such rule. How do you explain that? True Christianity at some levels pretends to give the other cheek, but in reality millions were killed by the Christians, which continues on today in Iraq. At the same time, Christians gave the World Mother Teressa as well. Jewish people are acting a bit badly since they got power in Israel, but before then they were the light to the nations for centuries (and still some are, who are fair) by following ethics at a level most nations do not even consider thinking about.
So, it all depends on how you look at things. If you look at things from a self centered manner, then you can always put yourself and your group on a pedestal and worship it. If you are fair, you will find that almost all nations and groups that have survived have some good in them and some evil in them.
Good that is meant to be nurtured to get closer to the Almighty. Evil is meant to be suppressed, again to get closer to the Almighty. Only the Abrahamic faiths seem to have worked this out consistently over centuries and implemented these concepts in their societies much more completely.
May be I am myself prejudiced in favor of my own inclinations based on my upbringing. But, the Lord knows I as a Muslim, will trust a Jewish or a Christian person first, if I really know they are practicing, than I would trust an atheist from Russia or some other Joe whose foundations are not built on ethics.
What do you say to that?
2007-10-28 00:59:45 · answer #3 · answered by NQV 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Answerer 1 said to read the New Testament but why do people still cling on to the old testament and its intolerant views? Pick and Choose syndrome?
We gasp and are horrified by Honor Killings and such when "revealed" by programs like Nat Geo or Discovery... but the truth is most of the views held by those "Revealed" individuals are carried forth from the very same source book as many of the gaspers and "horrifiyees" holy text too :) ( bad english I know hehe )
I personally like very much a lot of the teachings in the new testament v. Especially about the inspirational life of Christ... but these days it seems to me, Living like Christ isnt as important as being wrathful like Paul.
2007-10-27 23:01:11 · answer #4 · answered by Tenzin 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
First, Islam is not an "Abrahamic" religion, it started with Mohammad and has no historical roots to Abraham.
Second, I don't find the words "tolerate", "tolerant" or "tolerance" in the Bible. I realize that term is used in this time to mean accepting, and even celebrating, behavior that not that long ago would have been seen as an abomination. God does not "tolerate" sin, never has, never will.
2007-10-27 23:03:18 · answer #5 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You can call it intolerance all you want, I call it practical advise in direct relation to what I believe. Sorry-- I refuse to believe that it's somehow "ok" to tolerate things that I found nauseating and morally bankrupt even before I ever read the Bible. Those who tolerate and accept everything value nothing.
2007-10-27 23:01:47 · answer #6 · answered by Wired 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I deny it.
Rather, some use the Abrahamic relgions as an excuse to kill as they massage around their favorite verses.
BTW The Koran is in a class all its own and cant be included in this list.
2007-10-27 22:54:03 · answer #7 · answered by ? 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Does anyone remember the first son of Abraham who was born of the slave girl? You know the one that will be hated and constantly fighting
2007-10-27 22:59:29 · answer #8 · answered by Gods child 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Same Book, from the same desert. 3 largest religions, responsible for 99% of the violence and war.
2007-10-27 22:55:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Any religion that claims to speak for God is being less than truthful. They manipulate their version of God to do what ever they believe. God takes their side in political disputes, what a petty impotent God they worship.
Man invented the Abrahamic God so it reflects the people.
Pantheist
2007-10-27 22:54:47 · answer #10 · answered by Equinoxical ™ 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Christians are not supposed to be hand holding kissy faces
come on now are you telling me that you tolerate every thing no matter how bad it is. Christians should not tolerate things that are not of Christ
2007-10-27 22:55:09 · answer #11 · answered by bblb 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋