BeginWithMe.org- A Search for Peace

Religious Tolerance

In searching for a universal peace, the term religious tolerance is often used as a means of tolerating another's beliefs, thus simulating a peaceful atmosphere. I think religious tolerance is a starting point, but it may only be a bandage on a wound that needs more compassionate healing.

The definitions of the root word tolerate are:
     1. to allow without prohibiting or opposing; permit
     2. to recognize and respect (the rights, beliefs or practices of others)
     3. to put up with; endure

While definition #2 to me is the ideal meaning, I believe that #1 and #3 are more often practiced. To allow without prohibiting or opposing is cold and insensitive. To put up with is downright condescending. In attempting peace, we must do much better than 'put up with' other people. Putting up with is a way of keeping ourselves separated, while creating an illusion of peace.

"They have not wanted peace at all; they have wanted to be spared war - as though the absence of war was the same as peace." Dorothy Thompson

To me the point of this quote is made clearly. The absence of war or conflict is not peace, though it is obviously preferred to violence. Living in constant fear or question about how someone is going to act is not peaceful. Tiptoeing around as to not bother an intoxicated spouse to avoid a violent confrontation is not peaceful. But it is a choice many people make, and grows into a time bomb waiting to go off. Merely tolerating those different than us is not a healthy relationship. It is an illusion that needs revealing. We need to find a more compassionate method of acceptance.

To accept someone's beliefs is obviously not the answer, as acceptance can mean 'to regard as true; believe in'. We are not going to create peace by converting everyone to a specific belief, other than the belief that we all have the right to choose what we believe. We can learn to accept people. We can believe in a person. We are not supposed to love someone because of their religion, but because they are individuals making their own decisions based of what they have learned and their life's experiences, just like you and I. We can simply accept that they are too on a journey, and we can try to grow in our understanding of why they believe as they do.

We cannot love fully if we are only capable of tolerating that which is different or alien to us. We must open our arms and hearts to all those who strive for peace, and embrace those who do not.

Let us accept our brothers and sisters around the world and believe that they are doing what they believe is right. If you do not understand why they think the way they do then ask, or educate yourself to their plight . . connect. We all have a certain desire to influence others to believe as we do. It seems like it would be easier, but diversity is what makes people beautiful. It is what makes the world around us beautiful. But let's not push our beliefs beyond the sharing of our beliefs with each other. They can take it or leave it, and still respect us for our courage to be honest.

Take some time to go back into your past and think about how your beliefs were shaped over the years. People, financial circumstances, loss of loved ones, stress and love have all contributed to the belief system that you now have. Do you think that someone else's is not as real for them? Did they not have experiences that shaped what they represent?

We need to start making this connection and star seeing ourselves in all people.

Jason Gianfriddo - 2006

		"I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent." Mohandas K. Gandhi
Our Thoughts The Search Religious Tolerance Loving-Kindness Words of Wisdom Share Your Thoughts Links Gandhi Institute Department of Peace Sharon Salzberg Insight Meditation Society Google Search Yahoo Search Support BeginWithMe.org Peace begins with you. Show the world you're trying! Add to favorites Tell a friend:	Religious Tolerance In searching for a universal peace, the term *religious tolerance* is often used as a means of tolerating another's beliefs, thus simulating a peaceful atmosphere. I think religious tolerance is a starting point, but it may only be a bandage on a wound that needs more compassionate healing. The definitions of the root word tolerate are: 1. to allow without prohibiting or opposing; permit 2. to recognize and respect (the rights, beliefs or practices of others) 3. to put up with; endure While definition #2 to me is the ideal meaning, I believe that #1 and #3 are more often practiced. To allow without prohibiting or opposing is cold and insensitive. To put up with is downright condescending. In attempting peace, we must do much better than 'put up with' other people. Putting up with is a way of keeping ourselves separated, while creating an illusion of peace. "They have not wanted peace at all; they have wanted to be spared war - as though the absence of war was the same as peace." Dorothy Thompson To me the point of this quote is made clearly. The absence of war or conflict is not peace, though it is obviously preferred to violence. Living in constant fear or question about how someone is going to act is not peaceful. Tiptoeing around as to not bother an intoxicated spouse to avoid a violent confrontation is not peaceful. But it is a choice many people make, and grows into a time bomb waiting to go off. Merely tolerating those different than us is not a healthy relationship. It is an illusion that needs revealing. We need to find a more compassionate method of acceptance. To accept someone's beliefs is obviously not the answer, as acceptance can mean 'to regard as true; believe in'. We are not going to create peace by converting everyone to a specific belief, other than the belief that we all have the right to choose what we believe. We can learn to accept people. We can believe in a person. We are not supposed to love someone because of their religion, but because they are individuals making their own decisions based of what they have learned and their life's experiences, just like you and I. We can simply accept that they are too on a journey, and we can try to grow in our understanding of why they believe as they do. We cannot love fully if we are only capable of tolerating that which is different or alien to us. We must open our arms and hearts to all those who strive for peace, and embrace those who do not. Let us accept our brothers and sisters around the world and believe that they are doing what they believe is right. If you do not understand why they think the way they do then ask, or educate yourself to their plight . . connect. We all have a certain desire to influence others to believe as we do. It seems like it would be easier, but diversity is what makes people beautiful. It is what makes the world around us beautiful. But let's not push our beliefs beyond the sharing of our beliefs with each other. They can take it or leave it, and still respect us for our courage to be honest. Take some time to go back into your past and think about how your beliefs were shaped over the years. People, financial circumstances, loss of loved ones, stress and love have all contributed to the belief system that you now have. Do you think that someone else's is not as real for them? Did they not have experiences that shaped what they represent? We need to start making this connection and star seeing ourselves in all people. Jason Gianfriddo - 2006	Suggested Reading Peace is the Way Deepak Chopra Peace Begins With You Katherine Scholes Children's Book The Power of Intention Dr. Wayne Dyer Guided Mindfulness Meditation John Kabat-Zinn Audio CD Lovingkindness Meditation CD by Sharon Salzberg Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg