Post by Tigress on Sept 30, 2004 21:57:43 GMT -5
Since some people seem to be confused about the idea of religious tolerance, I have provided the following:
What Religious Tolerance IS:
- Accepting that followers of various religions consider their own beliefs to be true. Most people believe that their religious beliefs are true, perhaps even true on an absolute scale.
- Allowing others to hold religious beliefs that are different from yours. No society is truly free unless there is freedom of religious association, speech and belief for all.
- Allowing others to freely change their religion, or denomination or beliefs. Freedom of religion includes the right to change one's faith.
- Allowing others to practice their religious faith, within reasonable limits. Religion is more than belief; it involves practices as well.
- Refusing to discriminate in employment, accommodation etc. on religious grounds. People who follow minority religions have the right to be treated fairly in the workplace and society generally.
- Making a reasonable effort to accommodate other people's religious needs. For example: Allowing an employee to work overtime in order to take off a religious festival or holy day that is significant to them. Scheduling meetings so that they do not conflict with common holy days.
What Religious Tolerance IS NOT:
(or what it does not necessarily involve).
- Believing that all religions are the same. Infact, religions differ greatly in their beliefs and practices. So do divisions within a given religion.
- Believing that all sets of religious beliefs are equally true. Many people consider their beliefs to be true and others to be at least partly false.
- Believing that all faiths are equally beneficial and equally harmless to society. Some religions are less beneficial to society because they teach hatred, racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.
- Believing that all religious groups are equally beneficial and equally harmless to their followers. Some religions expect their members to follow practices that are hazardous to their health, and shorten their lives.
- Refraining from criticizing religious practices of others. Some religions teach their followers to actively discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, etc. Such practices should be freely criticized.
- Refraining from talking about your beliefs to others. One should feel free to discuss beliefs of all types. Of course, if the other person indicates that they don't want to talk about religion, then continued proselytizing is a form of harassment.
- Ignoring your own religious ideas. It is not necessary, nor is it desirable, for an individual to suppress their own religious beliefs, in order to accept the right of another person to follow a different religion. It is not necessary to accept others' beliefs as valid. A tolerant person merely extends to all people a fundamental human right: freedom of religious belief.
This and more found at ReligiousTolerance.org
What Religious Tolerance IS:
- Accepting that followers of various religions consider their own beliefs to be true. Most people believe that their religious beliefs are true, perhaps even true on an absolute scale.
- Allowing others to hold religious beliefs that are different from yours. No society is truly free unless there is freedom of religious association, speech and belief for all.
- Allowing others to freely change their religion, or denomination or beliefs. Freedom of religion includes the right to change one's faith.
- Allowing others to practice their religious faith, within reasonable limits. Religion is more than belief; it involves practices as well.
- Refusing to discriminate in employment, accommodation etc. on religious grounds. People who follow minority religions have the right to be treated fairly in the workplace and society generally.
- Making a reasonable effort to accommodate other people's religious needs. For example: Allowing an employee to work overtime in order to take off a religious festival or holy day that is significant to them. Scheduling meetings so that they do not conflict with common holy days.
What Religious Tolerance IS NOT:
(or what it does not necessarily involve).
- Believing that all religions are the same. Infact, religions differ greatly in their beliefs and practices. So do divisions within a given religion.
- Believing that all sets of religious beliefs are equally true. Many people consider their beliefs to be true and others to be at least partly false.
- Believing that all faiths are equally beneficial and equally harmless to society. Some religions are less beneficial to society because they teach hatred, racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.
- Believing that all religious groups are equally beneficial and equally harmless to their followers. Some religions expect their members to follow practices that are hazardous to their health, and shorten their lives.
- Refraining from criticizing religious practices of others. Some religions teach their followers to actively discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, etc. Such practices should be freely criticized.
- Refraining from talking about your beliefs to others. One should feel free to discuss beliefs of all types. Of course, if the other person indicates that they don't want to talk about religion, then continued proselytizing is a form of harassment.
- Ignoring your own religious ideas. It is not necessary, nor is it desirable, for an individual to suppress their own religious beliefs, in order to accept the right of another person to follow a different religion. It is not necessary to accept others' beliefs as valid. A tolerant person merely extends to all people a fundamental human right: freedom of religious belief.
This and more found at ReligiousTolerance.org
