I don't 'tolerate' the religious beliefs of people. Generally speaking, I'm happily indifferent to them.
To paraphrase Jefferson ('paraphrase', because I don't recall the exact wording): It makes no difference to me whether my neighbour worships one god or many gods or no gods. It neither robs my purse nor breaks my leg.
Polaris is dead right when saying that more than 99% of believers' beliefs don't harm other people. These are the religionists to whom I am indifferent. The trouble comes from the <1% who want science textbooks amended with idiotic notions, who think there's a 'war' on Christmas, and who think that because they cannot do whatever the hell they want, whenever the hell they want, that their religious freedom is somehow being trampled. Sadly for religionists, it is this minority that tend to give ALL theists the reputation of being irritating spoiled brats (and I'll be the first to admit that they aren't - most of the believers of my acquaintance are perfectly lovely people). This also happens to be the group to whom I am NOT indifferent, but openly and consistently hostile. I don't anticipate a change.
Boru
To paraphrase Jefferson ('paraphrase', because I don't recall the exact wording): It makes no difference to me whether my neighbour worships one god or many gods or no gods. It neither robs my purse nor breaks my leg.
Polaris is dead right when saying that more than 99% of believers' beliefs don't harm other people. These are the religionists to whom I am indifferent. The trouble comes from the <1% who want science textbooks amended with idiotic notions, who think there's a 'war' on Christmas, and who think that because they cannot do whatever the hell they want, whenever the hell they want, that their religious freedom is somehow being trampled. Sadly for religionists, it is this minority that tend to give ALL theists the reputation of being irritating spoiled brats (and I'll be the first to admit that they aren't - most of the believers of my acquaintance are perfectly lovely people). This also happens to be the group to whom I am NOT indifferent, but openly and consistently hostile. I don't anticipate a change.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
