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Religious tolerance & cooperation

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Two great must-see videos:

A very powerful one minute video by the Anti-Defamation League of what might have happened if there had been less hatred and more tolerance. This video has received about 1.2 million views by 2013-JUL. Only about 7 billion to go:

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A You Tube PSA video about religious tolerance by SoapBoxQueen:

Quotes promoting religious tolerance and intolerance:

	Anon: "Religious tolerance is not religious indifference. It consists of valuing the right of another person to hold beliefs that you know absolutely, and without a doubt, to be wrong."
	Anon: "Religious tolerance means to refrain from discriminating against others who follow a different religious path. Tolerance is more difficult to maintain when you know that your religion is true and their religion is wrong."
	Bumper sticker: "Truth, not tolerance." Published by Harbor House Gifts of Fullerton CA. The bumper sticker also shows a clenched fist on the left side and a cross on the right. An interesting combination. It seems to represent religious hatred, conflict, and perhaps even warfare.
	Snoopy: "Have you ever thought that you might be wrong?" Proposed title for a book being written by Charlie Brown's dog in the Peanuts comic strip.
	Paul Copan: "Contrary to popular definitions, true tolerance means ‘putting up with error’ - not ‘being accepting of all views’... It is because real differences exist between people that tolerance becomes necessary and virtuous." "True for You, But not for Me"
	Robert Fleishmann: "When it comes to fundamentally wrong behavior (called "sin" by the Word of God), there is no tolerance. Wrong is wrong!"
	Many more quotes are available about religious tolerance and about religious intolerance.

Definitions:

Religious freedom -- being able to hold different religious beliefs, assemble with fellow believers, proselytize others, etc. -- is an important attribute of democracies. However, demanding the right to apply one's religious beliefs in order to denigrate, oppress, harm, and discriminate against others is another matter entirely. Sadly, the latter is the new and growing definition of the term "religious freedom."

Unfortunately, the term "religious tolerance" has more than one meaning.

1. On this site we define it as allowing followers of other religions to follow their spiritual beliefs without oppression or discrimination. Religious tolerance is a fundamental right in a democracy. Most people believe that religious tolerance, using this definition, is a noble goal, and is vitally necessary for world peace.
   
   Of course, no right is absolute. Tolerance may not necessarily extend beyond religious beliefs to include some religious actions -- particularly those that harm or harrass others.
   
   
2. Others, particularly conservatives in many religions, describe "religious tolerance" differently. Many define it as accepting all religious faiths as being equally true. This is one meaning of the phrase "religious pluralism." Since religions teach different beliefs, this definition of tolerance implies that absolute truth doesn't exist. Most religious conservatives reject these beliefs, and regard their own faith as the only absolutely true belief system. Thus, many conservatives believe that religious tolerance -- using their definition of the term -- is evil.

We are continually amazed at the differences in definitions of religious terms as used by different faith groups. It makes religious debates and dialogue very difficult. It also makes our work in trying to objectively describe religious beliefs and practices quite challenging.

Topics covered in this section:

	More quotes, overview, and books < < < We suggest that you read this essay first
	Religious tolerance compared to anti-racism, etc; what it doesn't involve; what it does involve
	Background information: Causes of religious tolerance & intolerance. Opposition to religious tolerance.
	Additional information: Is religious tolerance enough? Examples of intolerance. Is religious criticism intolerant? Status of tolerance.
	Cooperation within and between religions: Cooperation & conflict motivated by religious diversity in North America Examples of religious dialogue, outreach, apology & cooperation Ecumenicalism: The urge to merge within Christianity
	Is religious tolerance really religious indifference?
	Is it moral to harm an individual in order to prevent a larger harm to society?
	About the Bible: Religious tolerance in the Bible Religious intolerance in the Bible Religious exclusivity in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament)
	How people react to religious diversity: Religious exclusivism, pluralism, and inclusivism   A vision of religious diversity and tolerance
	Other topics: Social networking with a religious tolerance theme on facebook; our facebook group Times and places of religious tolerance in the west An essay donated by Bilal Cleland "Is religious tolerance a passing phenomenon?" Religious tolerance in the West's past & future Test your religious tolerance Cathedral of the Pines from inclusiveness to intolerance and back Building a mosque a few blocks away from 9/11's "ground zero" in New York City Center for Religious Freedom's book on religious freedom, worldwide
	Books, videos, and web site links: Books dealing with religious tolerance A PBS program and some YouTube videos on religious tolerance Part 1 Part 2  Part 3 Internet sites that promote religious tolerance Internet sites that teach religious tolerance A "Religious Intolerance Test" has been prepared by Thomas J. Runquist. Read reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store "The Comparative Study of Religion" is a blog by Professor Arvind Sharma at McGill University that deals with comparative religion and religious tolerance. See: http://comparativestudyofreligion.wordpress.com/

Related topics on this web site:

You may be interested in viewing the following sections dealing with the opposite of religious tolerance:

	Religiously motivated hatred, animosity & intolerance
	Religiously motivated oppression, discrimination and conflict
	Religiously motivated violence, murder & genocide

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. "Imagine a world without hate," Anti-Defamation League, at: http://youtu.be/
2. Soap Box Queen, "Refuse to Setereotype," at: http://youtu.be/

Copyright © 1998 to 2012 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update and review: 2012-MAR-21
Author: B.A. Robinson

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