<I am sure it is source of constant irritation.>
Not in the least. The problem with you is that you assume too much. That is to say, you think you know when you don't know. Religious Tolerance for me is not a grudging acceptance of that which is fundamentally intolerable, as it appears to be for you.
I'm tolerant of Christianity because I view it as a viable option within a humane orientation. Why? Lots of people don't have the courage, intelligence or character to become spiritually self-reliant and truely independent. Everyone can't be a brain like you, Charters<g>. To be sure, Christianity is based on a premise that cannot be proven scientifically. But the humanistic position is likewise based on a premise that can not be scientifically proven to be true. I would refer you here to the paper I posted:
Message 16112760
<the only way to reconcile such fundamental differences is to outlaw religion as too dangerous to practice in a peaceful society>
I thought about this when I was a teenager. Sure, it's inhumane the way Muslims and Hindus, Catholics and Protestants have treated each other. But you can't outlaw religious faith. As a humanist, what I do is try to get people to realize that their faith just represents one of many viable ways to look at the world. There are a great majority of Christians on the East and West Coast who realize that their Faith may be wrong; but they still continue to believe. Christianity is the desire for an eternal happiness. In itself, I see nothing wrong with that. I think it is possible to be religious and humane towards others. The problem arises when Religious Faith becomes Absolute Knowledge and Certainty and it forms political and social coalitions like the "Moral Majority", which wants to transform others into its own image and values.
<are you saying minority opinions are unpopular and therefore wrong?>
No, not necessarily. That would depend on the opinion. There was a majority opinion in Nazi Germany, where Hitler was elected by Democratic means. So, a majority opinion here was clearly morally wrong and was fought against with lethal weapons. |
