What does "religious intolerance" mean to you?

[6_Time_Momma]

With all the religious threads posted here lately, the term "religious intolerance" has been thrown around quite a bit. Some people seem to think it means simply expressing ones beliefs. Personally, I feel it is more than that. For me, it means being disrespectful of someone else's beliefs. For example, calling someone's beliefs "garbage" or "fairy tales", or calling someone foolish or naive for their beliefs.

For example if I said "Man, you are nuts for not believing in God!" or "Catholic doctrine is pure garbage."

I sincerely don't understand how simply expressing one's beliefs can be considered being intolerant of other religions.

What does the term "religious intolerance" mean to you?

 

[Sparx]

Religious Intolerance is not respecting what someone else believes.

 

[Christine]

In means not respecting another person's religious/non-religious beliefs which involve making statements that would invalidate their belief.

 

[Viking]

Religious intolerance is stating 'My God is the right one'.

IMHO intolerance is unfortunately an ingredient of most - perhaps all- religions.

'Garbage' is a harsh word and not very nice, but 'fairy tales' IMHO perfectly describes what is told in a lot of religious books. Fairy tales are used to explain rules of behaviour to children, i.e. 'Don't trust strangers', 'Money isn't everything', 'The good always wins', etc.
Exactly that is the intent of many stories in the bible, perhaps on a slightly higher level, but fairy tales nevertheless.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

In means not respecting another person's religious/non-religious beliefs which involve making statements that would invalidate their belief.

Okay, I'm slow on the draw today. Do you mean if I were to say "I believe that those who don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God will go to Hell" is a statement that invalidates the beliefs of those who think otherwise? Or that if I say "I believe in God" that invalidates the beliefs of an atheist?

I honestly don't know what you mean by that. (Not a lot of sleep last night)

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

With all the religious threads posted here lately, the term "religious intolerance" has been thrown around quite a bit. Some people seem to think it means simply expressing ones beliefs. Personally, I feel it is more than that. For me, it means being disrespectful of someone else's beliefs. For example, calling someone's beliefs "garbage" or "fairy tales", or calling someone foolish or naive for their beliefs.

Sounds right to me... ITA

 

[chobie]

Religious intolerance is stating 'My God is the right one'.

IMHO intolerance is unfortunately an ingredient of most - perhaps all- religions.

That is what I also think is religious intolerance. However, it is not only the "My God is the right one" attitude, but the "my way of worshiping my God and interpreting my Holy Book is the right way" too that makes one religiously intolerant.

 

[EltonJohn]

Main Entry: in·tol·er·ant
2 a : unwilling to grant equal freedom of expression especially in religious matters

Webster's

"Calling someone's beliefs "garbage" or "fairy tales", or calling someone foolish or naive for their beliefs."

That may be rude, etc., but I don't think that falls under 'intolerant' as defined above by Webster's.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't think that simply stating one's beliefs indicates intolerance. It's a fine line though. If I say that I believe in the Lutheran Church and then you say that you believe in Catholic doctrine then I see it as simply stating one's belief. If you go on to comment on how they differ then I see it as possibly being a bit intolerant depending on how you phrase your comments.

I think that the problem is that religion is such a personal thing and people get overly sensitive to how others react.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Main Entry: in·tol·er·ant
2 a : unwilling to grant equal freedom of expression especially in religious matters

Webster's

"Calling someone's beliefs "garbage" or "fairy tales", or calling someone foolish or naive for their beliefs."

That may be rude, etc., but I don't think that falls under 'intolerant' as defined above by Webster's.

That works for me.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Intolerant IMHO is the lack of being ecumenical:

Main Entry: ec·u·men·i·cal
Pronunciation: "e-ky&-'me-ni-k&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Late Latin oecumenicus, from Late Greek oikoumenikos, from Greek oikoumenE the inhabited world, from feminine of oikoumenos, present passive particle of oikein to inhabit, from oikos house -- more at VICINITY
1 : worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application
2 a : of, relating to, or representing the whole of a body of churches b : promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation
- ec·u·men·i·cal·ly /-k(&-)lE/ adverb


I will not catch cooties by walking into someone else's church for any reason or hear them speak about their faith and nor will they when they walk into mine or when I speak about my faith.

My particular parish is actually reaching out to other faith denominations for purposes that benefit the community. This helped actually to clean up a particular beach access that was the sight for a lot of inappropriate activity--b/c of my parish and other churches getting together--they got the police involved who increased patrols and the inappropriate activity went down significantly that the beach can once again be enjoyed by families. Throughout the county---the churches have joined together on a community council to work together on things that will benefit the community. Doing stuff like that--they remember to not judge one another but yet work together. So far, nobody has caught cooties, yet.

And I will admit--b/c of my church's example....I have become more ecumenical in my way of thinking.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Main Entry: in·tol·er·ant
2 a : unwilling to grant equal freedom of expression especially in religious matters

Webster's

"Calling someone's beliefs "garbage" or "fairy tales", or calling someone foolish or naive for their beliefs."

That may be rude, etc., but I don't think that falls under 'intolerant' as defined above by Webster's.

Well, going by that dictionary definition, looks like nobody on this thread has gotten it right yet.

(But, I wanted to know what people thought personally.....not dictionary definition )

 

[DisDuck]

6_time... There is a difference between your 2 statements.

1) "I believe that those who don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God will go to Hell" says that I believe in G-D and your beliefs are wrong since you will go to hell for your beliefs. Not just a statement of fact but a judgement also.

2) "I believe in God" says I believe, period. Just a statement of fact without a judgement of the belief or lack of belief and any consequences of such.

#1 is religious intolerance.

#2 is just a statement.

 

[Christine]

Okay, I'm slow on the draw today. Do you mean if I were to say "I believe that those who don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God will go to Hell" is a statement that invalidates the beliefs of those who think otherwise? Or that if I say "I believe in God" that invalidates the beliefs of an atheist?

I honestly don't know what you mean by that. (Not a lot of sleep last night)

I guess it's more the way it is said versus it just *being* said. I mean let's say that I don't believe in JC but others do--that doesn't bother me even though I know, as a group, their belief invalidates my own. Just because you say that you believe in JC and you feel it's the only way to get to heaven, that doesn't really bother me. It's when it is preached to me and someone tries to argue with me about it. By not stepping back and letting me have my belief quietly--well that is intolerance. If you say that JC is what makes sense to you and gives you comfort--fine. But when you try to tell me that it is the only way (because that's how YOU feel), then I have a problem. By the way, I mean "you" in the general sense.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

According to some people's definition, one cannot adhere to one's own religion and be tolerant at the same time. I mean, if one doesn't think one's god is "the right one", why on earth belong to that religion? Sounds like nonsense.

 

[ncgolfer]

6_time... There is a difference between your 2 statements.

1) "I believe that those who don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God will go to Hell" says that I believe in G-D and your beliefs are wrong since you will go to hell for your beliefs. Not just a statement of fact but a judgement also.

2) "I believe in God" says I believe, period. Just a statement of fact without a judgement of the belief or lack of belief and any consequences of such.

#1 is religious intolerance.

#2 is just a statement.

Well if #1 is intolerant than count me in because that is exactly what I believe.

 

[Crankyshank]

Being closed minded about other religions and beliefs is intolerant.
Forcing your beliefs on others (agressively proselytizing) is intolerant.
Refusing to acknowledge there are other ways to seek salvation/nirvana/insert prefered term for bliss here is intolerant.

It's one thing to state your beliefs. It's quite another to ram it down one's throat and refusing to consider other's religious POV.

 

[DisDuck]

So, ncgolfer... I am a Jew so that means I am going to Hell. Interesting as my religion does not have one. But I am going anyway, huh?? So I should not practice my religion and convert immediately. Yes that is intolerant and for all the flames I may get on saying this so be it... This is what was said during the Spanish Inquisition, during the Easter European Pogroms, the reason 'shetls' were established and what was said in Germany in the 1930's... convert or else.

Dump on me all you will. Historically going back thousands of years we have been a good target no reason for that to change.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

6_time... There is a difference between your 2 statements.

1) "I believe that those who don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God will go to Hell" says that I believe in G-D and your beliefs are wrong since you will go to hell for your beliefs. Not just a statement of fact but a judgement also.

2) "I believe in God" says I believe, period. Just a statement of fact without a judgement of the belief or lack of belief and any consequences of such.

#1 is religious intolerance.

#2 is just a statement.

I guess I just don't see that as intolerance.

For example (the only one I can think of right now, sorry) if someone who believed in reincarnation said to me "I believe that since you are a Catholic, you will not be reincarnated as a queen, but only as a lowly bug" I don't see that as intolerance, I just see it as them expressing their beliefs.

--My apologies to those who believe in reincarnation. I know there is more to the belief than my twisted statement, but I was trying to come up with an analogy.

 

[jrydberg]

Tolerance does not mean one has to respect the views of others. It means one has to respect the right of others to have differing views.