## Religious tolerance of other religions.

Post by TUfriend » Sat Nov 10, 2012 8:34 pm

We wasted an hour talking about this in robotics.
Do religions teach practitioners to be tolerant of other religions?
I say yes, I have always been taught to respec other's opinions and my church agrees that everyone who believes in some form of higher power is going to heaven.
My friend(who is Hindu) believes that they don't, saying that things like the 10 commandments say "you shall have no other God before me," declare that only their religion is right.
This stemmed from me saying that Muslims, Jews and Christians all worship the God of Abraham.
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### Re: Religious tolerance of other religions.

Post by Jason Toddman » Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:54 pm

Well, remember too that the 10 commandments originated with Judaism, not Christianity. And Old Testament Judaism was VERY intolerant of other religions (which at the time usually consisted of pagan religions espoused by their political enemies at the time). It is only VERY recently that religious toleration became something that most people considered good rather than sinful.
Sad to say, the Bible NOWHERE teaches religious toleration. Neither does the Koran as far as I know. Not sure about the Book of Mormon; Chase Ricks could answer that one better than I can, as I've read the Book of Mormon only once and that was over 30 years ago whereas he's a practicing Mormon. Religious toleration really isn't a particular strength of ANY of the world's religions, though some claim more of it than is shown by history.
Some modern churches teach religious toleration, but for the most part the concept when considered at all was usually that others should tolerate *their* religion - but NOT the other way around. The pilgrims and Puritans are prime examples of this; fleeing religious persecution in Europe, they became every bit as intolerant as those they fled once they were on their own and were the majority rather than a disorganized minority.
Sorry Tufriend, but that's just the way it is. After all, equal rights (as we understand it today) is just as recent a concept as religious (or raciual) toleration.
Btw I feel toleration is still not enough, as it implies the one 'tolerated' is still in the wrong in some way. i prefer the term acceptance, which carries no overtones (or at least fewer overtones) of judgment.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
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### Re: Religious tolerance of other religions.

Post by xtc » Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:06 am

It is often overlooked that the ten commandments were written for a polytheistic people.
It certainly doesn't claim exclusivity for YHWH (or JHVH depending on the transliteration), it merely claims that he wants first place. Read the "Golden Calf" episode carefully and tink about that. Also in the ten commandments there is the bit: I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the ...
So much fpor toleration but, as has been said, that's OT writing. Does that invalidate the ten commandments in total?
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### Re: Religious tolerance of other religions.

Post by Jason Toddman » Sun Nov 11, 2012 9:33 am

All excellent points, xtc; I wish I'd thought to point those out myself.
On the subject, is religious toleration ever brought up in your own circles? From your group (I forgot exactly what you call your particular set of beliefs, sorry - you're not Wiccan i don't think, but I do know it's a nature religion you follow) to others that is, not just the inevitable other way around.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Religious tolerance of other religions.

Post by xtc » Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:00 pm

Some "Asatruers" (crap term but used, I believe, by Americans) could reasonably be described as knife-wielding Nazi thugs. Unfortunately Hitler's lot took a lot of the old Norse ideas and corrupted them. I tend to think that, whether or not I believe in the Gods, it doesn't affect them so why should I worry about whether anybody else believes or not?
What annoys me, though, is the ignorant who regard us as "Devil Worshippers" when we have no concept of the Devil, which is a Christian concept.
If you want to know the basis of my beliefs, look up the Nine Noble Virtues. Reading the Havamal is quite a good guide, here's a reasonable translation: http://www.ragweedforge.com/havamal.html.
I was only discussing with a good Wiccan friend earlier this week why I could not be Wiccan: too much bad poetry! It's the sort of thing one can only say to a good friend - or to a total pillock!
Boxer shorts are cool,
but little speedos rule!
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### Re: Religious tolerance of other religions.

Post by Jason Toddman » Sun Nov 11, 2012 2:59 pm

I DO know a Wiccan; unfortunately he IS a total pillock, but I think his religious beliefs have nothing to do with it. Maybe his being a Cajun does, however.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Religious tolerance of other religions.

Post by Rogeroo » Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:52 pm

I think my definition - Religions have to be intolerant of other religions.
"I am going to heaven and you are not." - Isn't this the message across the board.
But The government (at least in Europe and the Americas) is not a religious oligarchy or some kind.
In America if we don't support the constitution then we can say anything, if we do support, protect, and defend the Constitution then we are bound to tolerance. Religions (and individuals) can do anything they want except impinge on someone else's freedom.
But I would rather talk about TUG and TUG experiences. I am through here.

### Re: Religious tolerance of other religions.

Post by Jason Toddman » Tue Nov 13, 2012 8:54 am

> george1909 wrote:you would need to be a mental patient on L.S.D to even consider Islam and Christianity tolerant

Well, Islam anyway. Christianity has made some improvements lately (especially among churches not part of any major denomination) but clearly has a long way to go. In fact this intoleration is one of the major reasons I gave up on organized religion and essentially became a deist. I believe in God - but NOT the God as portrayed in the Bible.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Religious tolerance of other religions.

Post by trammel » Mon Dec 17, 2012 12:38 pm

Depends on how you define "intollerant." Christianity makes exclusive truth claims. Logically, Jesus cannot simultaneously be the way, truth, and life and not at the same time. However, Christianity does teach tolerance in that a Christ follower does not force his faith on others. The koran, on the other hand, teaches infidels should be killed. That is intollerant.

### Re: Religious tolerance of other religions.

Post by Kyle » Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:43 pm

Why can't Jesus "be the way, truth, and life...at the same time"?
Also, something has to be true, and every belief system assumes it is correct. Why would it exist otherwise?

### Re: Religious tolerance of other religions.

Post by Chris12 » Tue Dec 18, 2012 12:24 pm

> trammel wrote:Depends on how you define "intollerant." Christianity makes exclusive truth claims. Logically, Jesus cannot simultaneously be the way, truth, and life and not at the same time. However, Christianity does teach tolerance in that a Christ follower does not force his faith on others. The koran, on the other hand, teaches infidels should be killed. That is intollerant.

I assume that has to do with how they started out. The Islam started in a violent place where everyone who didn't have the same belief of your city was already an enemy to begin with and considering it spread by the Arabs counqering other lands it was ussefull to preach that way.
Cristianity on the other hand was (Officially) started by in the...well not peacefull but stable Roman world backed by the full power of the emperor. I guess the bible started in those times as well.
Cristianity didn't need the sword to convert much of Europe, Islam did to convert the middle east.

### Re: Religious tolerance of other religions.

Post by trammel » Thu Dec 20, 2012 12:40 pm

> Kyle wrote:Why can't Jesus "be the way, truth, and life...at the same time"?
> Also, something has to be true, and every belief system assumes it is correct. Why would it exist otherwise?

I'm sorry, He can but not simultaneous with other belief systems which deny the same. I phrased that poorly.