A bumper sticker, three videos promoting religious
tolerance/cooperation; some definitions as well.

Just a suggestion...

Three great must-see videos:

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Webmaster's comment: I have watched this video dozens of times and still cannot avoid tearing up.

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This video has received over 12 million views!

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Definitions:

• Religious freedom includes being able to freely hold different religious beliefs, assemble with fellow believers, proselytize others, engage in inter-faith and intra-faith cooperation, etc. It 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 rapidly growing definition of the term "religious freedom." It is often a direct contradiction of the Ethic of Reciprocity, a.k.a. Golden Rule.
  
  
• Religious tolerance: Unfortunately, the term "religious tolerance" has more than one meaning.
  1. On this site we define it means to allow followers of other religions to follow their spiritual beliefs and practices without being oppresssed or discriminated against. 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, harass, denigrate, or discriminate against others.
     
     
  2. Others, particularly conservatives in many religions, describe "religious tolerance" differently. Many define the term 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 regard their own faith as the only absolutely true belief system. Thus, many conservatives believe that religious tolerance -- using their definition of the term -- as a negative movement, perhaps even 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. Some examples:

• Favoring allowing women access to abortion is often called being "pro-abortion."
  
  
• Working to prevent same-sex couples from marrying is often called being "pro-marriage."
  
  
• The term "Witch" within Wicca and other Neo-pagan religions is simply a description for a female or male believer. Religious conservatives often use "Witch" to refer to a Satan worshiper and/or to a person who generates evil spells. In reality, Wiccans and other Neopagans do not include the existence of Satan among their beliefs, and are specifically prohibited from issuing evil spells, manipulative spells, or curses.
  
  
• The term "Theory" in popular usage means a simple hunch, that is not yet -- and may never be -- supported by hard evidence. "Theory" in science refers to an idea that starts out as a simple hunch, but which is then confirmed by careful research, is given more credibility by the research of others, and is finally accepted as valid by the general scientific community. Many religious conservatives refer to the word "theory" in the Theory of Evolution in its non-scientific as being a simply hunch. They do not acknowledge the consensus of scientists that it is valid.

More videos:

You Tube has a large number of additional videos about religious tolerance at: https://www.youtube.com/

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. "Soldier responds to anti Muslim comments The other guy just acted a part but the soldier had no idea," 2016-FEB-28, at: https://youtu.be/
3. Soap Box Queen, "Refuse to Stereotype," at: http://youtu.be/

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