(Breaking my own rule about not discussing religion on forums).
Tolerance is important to me...all people need to learn tolerance...whether they're a catholic, pagan, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, atheist, or agnostic, etc. When one group of people is intolerant how do you respond? You respond with intolerance you not only feed into hate but you become a hypocrite of your own beliefs.
A few times Jesus has been mentioned in threads here and elsewhere. Let’s not get into the debate on whether he was a savior, supernatural, or the embodiment of god. Let’s actually look at his teachings and what he stood for…Tolerance of everyone…the man could be tolerant of prostitutes, sinners, and holy men. Jesus wanted a distribution of money…he didn’t want super wealthy people…he wanted people to help people and have a distribution of wealth. He was non-violent, he wouldn’t want war, and he told people to turn the other cheek.
Jesus if he were alive today wouldn’t support the catholic church, wouldn’t support the way most governments were run, he would probably be some poor philosopher as he was back in the day, preaching his message of love, tolerance, non-violence, and helping your fellow man.
Self-Education is a wonderful thing, you see things for what they are and not what someone spoon feeds you. People can go off on Jesus all they want, but they do it based on what his followers did to pervert his message, not what the man himself wanted or preached.
Jesus was the original radical and he makes most liberals today look conservative. I’m not a religious person...in fact not sure what I believe in. I don’t follow any religion but I do like his philosophical outlook…so I try to be tolerant of all people, even when they’re not tolerant of me or my beliefs.
Funny, I’m starting to sound like a hippie more and more each year, so peace, love, and tolerance…the world is a better place when you try to tolerate your fellow man even if you disagree with them.
The Pope is an old man about to die…I respect him even if I don’t agree with everything he’s done or said. A friend of mine is dying of aids…unprotected sex with multiple partners…I don’t agree with everything he did in his life, but I respect him and help him.
Respect is a two way street…don’t expect respect if you can’t give it…don’t expect tolerance if you can’t be tolerant.
Peace
