Is Christianity in general capable of being tolerant toward other religions, or would that be seen as?

Question

a betrayal towards God? If you're Christian, do you feel it is against scripture to show tolerance towards other religions or do you think it is perfectly fine for other people to believe the way they want to, even if they are atheist? I guess what I'm trying to figure out is whether or not people of the Christian religion are truly capable of showing tolerance toward other religions or is that completely against everything Christianity is based on?

I am also wondering the same thing about Islam, so if you are Muslim, please answer the question from your perspective.

By the way, it is not my intent to insult anyone with this question, I really am curious about the possibility of World Wide religious tolerance sometime in the near future.

cadisneygirl76,
So then you would be O.K. with other religions doing missionary work also? To come into your community and try to convert your loved one's to their religion? To proclaim that anything you believe that may be against their values is wrong? You wouldn't see that as hostile?

Sallyjane3400, I do not believe in punishment against other people. I do not see it as justice, but as a legalized form of revenge. I did indeed have a loved one (my grandma) killed by a stranger who was not in the least bit sorry. In fact he went about town saying horrible things about her after her death. He is of course being prosecuted, but I do not wish for him to be punished. I wish for him to be rehabilitated and if that does not work, for him to be contained so he does not harm anyone else.

male_lonely_shy, You are so cool! :)

cadisneygirl76,
Thanks for answering my specific questions. It is obvious that my perspective is a bit different than yours and that is of course O.K. I am sorry if the word "hostile" seemed too harsh, yet I can not say that I did not mean it. I know that I am not the only one who feels this way just as you are not the only one with your perspective on missionary work. I hope that the two view points can someday meet happily somewhere in the middle.

Answer 1

Thats a very good question and to be honest i dont see a lot of very good questions.

On with the answer. Im a Muslim. I clicked to see the answers most Christians will answer to this one.

But the dilemma is inherently existent in Muslim cultures who really dont know their religious scripture as well as they should.

Ive always said that Islam is not a religion of peace. Theres a good amount of war and peace in Islam. Both in equal measure. Because there are times for war, and there is a time for peace. War for example, is allowed if one side breaks anothers right of living. And it should be done on equal terms. Soldiers fighting soldiers and no innocents involved etc.

However, Islam is a religion of 'moderation'. What does that mean to the lay man? It might be an obscure concept, but when you read the Quran overall you will notice there are more verses telling people to: 'not be transgressors' 'do not break your boundaries' 'God does not forgive those who wreck havoc on earth' than anything.

That being said, Islam has something most other religions dont. It has a minimum and maximum for every behaviour.

Basically: It lays out the outlines of moderate, proper living. And lets you deal with the details.

As long as that being said, I think there really is no need for further explanation. Because moderacy requires that you get along with everyone in order to have a happy healthy life.

Answer 2

The tricky part of your question is the definition of tolerance. Some people think that if you even dare to decide that something is right then that means you are claiming everything wrong and you are intolerant.

I think we can live peacefully side by side diff religions and show respect because I live in an area where it happens. I still think religions have a right to proclaim values and what is right and wrong and to do missionary work and that doesnt mean it is being intolerant of other religions or people.


Why would it be hostile for a person to come up to me and ask me if I would like to hear what they have to say?
If they were screaming in my face and proclaiming all sinners with bullhorns well maybe, but if they are just approaching me or knocking on my door once in awhile how is that hostile or an attack on my beliefs?
I have absolutely no problem with other religious people asking me if I want to hear what they have to say. If I dont I just say no thank you. Wow that takes about a minute of my time.
Tolerance isnt about never taking a stand or never believing something is right or wrong. Tolerance isnt staying quiet about what you feel. Tolerance is about allowing other people to believe what they want and giving their beliefs some respect.
If I had just read a new Stephen King book and thought it was the best book I had ever read and I went up to you and said hey I think this is just the greatest book, would you like to read it. Is that an attack on whatever book you think is the greatest book ever?
If you get offended by people thinking their ideas or beliefs are correct then you just have issues. Why would you believe something if you didnt think it was correct? People are way too sensitive and politically correct.

Answer 3

I do want to state one thing, the thinking of the world is wrong. What you do not realize is that there is GOD and that HE created everything, not everything created HIM. The world is confused in it's fictional thinking. You see that GOD created us to walk with HIM. Then after the first sin of Adam, the world fell into sin. People seem to think that there are other god's, there is only one GOD, and HE is the great maker KING. He after man was seperated from HIM by this sin, put a plan into action to draw us back to HIMSELF. This plan was JESUS CHRIST comming down to become the sacrifice for the sin of mankind. I want to ask you a question, if there were more than one GOD, then aside from the small differences of the outward feature, why are we not all complete creatures in different forms. If you cut apart two dead people from different cultures they will be exactly the same inside. Now to answer your question, There is only one GOD anyway, the rest are all fakes, made up by the satan the deciever, for the Bible says so. The CHRIST who's name was JESUS, said that HE was the way the truth and the life, and that no man came to the father except through HIM. (John 14:6). JESUS CHRIST said this HIMSELF. He says that either one believes in HIM or they don't. But know this if one doesn't believe in HIM then they will spend an eternity in the lake of fire (Rev 20:14-15). So Please JESUS CHRIST said that all who believed in HIM and followed HIM would be with HIM forever in Heaven. Please go to www.rutrulysaved.com for more on this. Please go the site because everyone dies, where do you go from there Heaven or hell.

Answer 4

All people are free to believe as they choose. I can be friends with anyone of any religion and have been in the past, however people of other religions find it difficult to remain friends with me because if push comes to shove and you say to me "you know me, you know I am a good person, or devoted muslim, jew, hindu, etc..... you do not really believe I will go to hell do you?" Well I have to tell them the truth which I believe to be so and that is that I believe Jesus is the only path, way, road, etc.... to heaven. This is my belief based on the words from scripture written by his disciples of what Christ himself said. How could I be a TRUE Christian if I did not believe that. Now the question is can others still be tolerant of us knowing what Christians believe based on scripture.

Answer 5

Christians should be tolerant of everyone; that isn't the same as agreeing with them.
Jesus said He was the only way to God and so Christians can never accept that any other religion is right. This sounds arrogant but if Jesus was God like He claimed to be you must either wholeheartedly accept His teaching or reject it.
I believe everyone has a right to believe what they want but I also believe that Christians have a responsibility to speak the truth or we are culpable of condemning people.

Answer 6

The religions you have mentioned and a few others are very very exclusive in their claims. In evangelical Christianity (as opposed to some of the more liberal branches) anyone who is not a Christian is not going to heaven but will receive eternal damnation. You either believe as they do, or you're not acceptable to God and stand condemned. It is repeatedly underscored throughout their scriptures - so if they are going to take seriously their faith as given to them in their scriptures, they can at best be courteous, and polite to those who disagree, or are of another faith, but not quite tolerant in the way we usually use that word. In fact, there are parts of the bible that tell them to act in very dissmissing ways to anyone who is not christian as they have defined it.

It all boils down to what they believe about their bible. If they really do believe it is somehow God's literal and inerrant Word, then they are stuck with a very exclusive and intolerant position towards the rest of society in order to be consistant and not a hypocrite.

which is why the more 'liberal branches of these religions are much more tolerant. They view these texts as records of how people of faith at an earlier time tried to make sense out of the world, but do not hold that these texts are infallible or in any literal way Gods word.

Anyway - that's how I have seen it.

Answer 7

I only follow the Holy Bible and God's standard's.
We're to plant the seeds of God's word and tell others about Jesus love and what He did for ALL. I don't condemn anyone. That job belongs to satan. It's up to the Holy Spirit to bring conviction,not mine.
We're to love everyone as God loves everyone. But God Is a God of judgment too.
If a loved one was killed by a stranger. Wouldn't you seek justice ?
Sure you would. You would also expect the judge to pass a sentence fitting the crime,or he wouldn't be a just and fair judge.
God has given us His standards to live by and when we're In direct violation of these we are going to stand In judgment before a pure & holy God. He will pass judgement.That sentence will be an eternity In everlasting hell to be tormented forever.
However,If you've ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord & Savior admitting you're a sinner and receive the sacrifice that Jesus died to give whosoever. Then Jesus has paid your sin debt In full. Repent,read the Bible and spend time with God through prayer & worship. Find A church that teaches the whole Bible and never look back. Jesus Is coming.

Answer 8

I need to remind some of you kids who have been educated in the public school system that the US was founded by people who were, for the most part, Christian. They created a country in which the religious freedom and tolerance you are asking for in this question is not only possible, it is the rule of law.

I think I'll leave it at that. I think Christianity is extremely tolerant. Sure, we're going to speak up when we think something is going the wrong direction, but for the most part we want to have the freedom to practice our faith and therefore grant the same freedom to others.

Answer 9

Christians should be able to show tolerance of someones Religion, or lack of it. Sadly the world has raised to many to think that if 'you do not think the way I do then you are wrong and I will do anything and everything to belittle you.' Christians need to remember God taught us Love, Mercy, and yes even Tolerance. We may not agree with everyone but we can still show love, mercy, and tolerance. Everyone has the right to believe what and how they want. Peace

Answer 10

Some Christians will say no, and others will say yes. In other words, the Bible is not really clear on tolerance. Most of the Old Testament is clearly intolerant, including God himself, but the New Testament is much more tolerant, and Jesus never turns anyone away. There isn't a whole ton of evidence in the New Testament that shows that we should be tolerant, but I think the majority of Christians believe in tolerance.