Greg
Very well thought out. I think the definition of tolerance should be someone who reads my posts, but is compassionate enought to not point out the many grammatical errors! :-)
Tolerance is a very tricky subject. It is so very subjective in nature, that it cant possibly be legislated because ti wil never mean the same thing to different people. So, in a sense you are right, tolerance does lie completely in the laws of the realm, with compassion being within the province of the individual.
The problem with that however, is that it is impossible to legislate everything(although many of my fellow Democrats would like to:-) )
therefore in any areas, tolerance defaults to the responsibility of the individual once again. Since religion is one of those areas that are not legislated, and we are free to choose our own spiritual path in life, religious tolerance becomes a necessity of we, as a people, are ever going to get along and work together as opposed to against each other.
It is this working together, uniting in love, compassion, and tolerance, that is truly god's work and message. IMO, god cares far more how we relate and treat one another than he cares what we ritual we follow or what name we call him. I think our souls are closer to reuniting with god when we extend a loving compassionate hand to our neighbor, than weather we eat fish on Friday, wear a Yamulke, observe the Sabbath, or call god by the name Jesus, Yeshua, Allah or Buddha.
I can not see god being so insecure that he worries about what name you say when you pray. I can see him bestowing unconditional love on ALL people, regardless of race, creed, geographical background, sexual orientation, or even religious preference.
Mark
I will be out of town until tuesday. Let the flaming begin:-) |
