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Here's a question for the group: Should the intolerant be tolerated? I'll include all Neo Nazis, Fundamentalists of all stripes (Muslim, Christian, etc.), Fascists, etc. or anybody who takes a hard-line stance that their way is the only way for all of us and is actively working to enact that vision here in America.
Logically, tolerance for all is tolerance for all. So even the intolerant should be tolerated. However, I came across the idea that intolerance has the potential for creating a minority-rule situation, where the majority can disagree with the intolerant and yet still be forced to bend to their will. A small example can be something like Kosher food where we all eat Kosher food even though only a tiny minority of people in the US are Orthodox Jew. Gentiles can eat Kosher but Orthodox Jews MUST eat Kosher. So some food makers make everything Kosher for simplicity. It's harmless so there's no point in complaining about it -- there's nothing to really complain about at all.
More dangerously, minority hard-liner parties can end up taking over the ruling class in any country as their intolerance REQUIRES others to bend to their will to keep them included. Somebody once told me that this was partly how the Nazi party came to power -- not through majority rule but through minority rule. My WW2 history is pretty fuzzy, though so I'm open to correction on this detail. But the point still holds -- an intolerant minority can end up controlling the majority.
So it has me thinking about politics and religion in America and how many of you view tolerance and intolerance. What does your faith tradition teach for you as far as how others are treated if they are intolerant of you or of other groups? What is your responsibility to others who are different from you in both politics and religion?
Since I asked the question, I'll put my own thoughts out there. As a man from Okie/redneck roots, I ascribe to a strong "don't tread on me" ethic. I have a very high degree of tolerance for others. Whatever you believe that helps get you through your day is fine with me. How you live your life or who you pray to is none of my business. But the intolerance of others is a serious trigger for me. It puts all my protective instincts on red alert. I can disagree with a racist & just blame it on ignorance. But as soon as they want to impose that racism on the group (via law or by cajoling others into putting their ideas into practice), I get really upset. I have no problem with Christianity, for example. But as soon as somebody wants to impose Christianity on me somehow, I bristle. It would be the same for Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus or even Wiccans. I'm only tolerant as long as you are, too. Admittedly, this is not a "logically consistent" view. But I hold it nevertheless.
So what is your view on tolerance? What does your faith tradition teach? What do you teach your kids or grand kids (if you have any)?
Logically, tolerance for all is tolerance for all. So even the intolerant should be tolerated. However, I came across the idea that intolerance has the potential for creating a minority-rule situation, where the majority can disagree with the intolerant and yet still be forced to bend to their will. A small example can be something like Kosher food where we all eat Kosher food even though only a tiny minority of people in the US are Orthodox Jew. Gentiles can eat Kosher but Orthodox Jews MUST eat Kosher. So some food makers make everything Kosher for simplicity. It's harmless so there's no point in complaining about it -- there's nothing to really complain about at all.
More dangerously, minority hard-liner parties can end up taking over the ruling class in any country as their intolerance REQUIRES others to bend to their will to keep them included. Somebody once told me that this was partly how the Nazi party came to power -- not through majority rule but through minority rule. My WW2 history is pretty fuzzy, though so I'm open to correction on this detail. But the point still holds -- an intolerant minority can end up controlling the majority.
So it has me thinking about politics and religion in America and how many of you view tolerance and intolerance. What does your faith tradition teach for you as far as how others are treated if they are intolerant of you or of other groups? What is your responsibility to others who are different from you in both politics and religion?
Since I asked the question, I'll put my own thoughts out there. As a man from Okie/redneck roots, I ascribe to a strong "don't tread on me" ethic. I have a very high degree of tolerance for others. Whatever you believe that helps get you through your day is fine with me. How you live your life or who you pray to is none of my business. But the intolerance of others is a serious trigger for me. It puts all my protective instincts on red alert. I can disagree with a racist & just blame it on ignorance. But as soon as they want to impose that racism on the group (via law or by cajoling others into putting their ideas into practice), I get really upset. I have no problem with Christianity, for example. But as soon as somebody wants to impose Christianity on me somehow, I bristle. It would be the same for Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus or even Wiccans. I'm only tolerant as long as you are, too. Admittedly, this is not a "logically consistent" view. But I hold it nevertheless.
So what is your view on tolerance? What does your faith tradition teach? What do you teach your kids or grand kids (if you have any)?
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