Why is the "Religious Right" so intolerant of every one else?
451902
I just asked this question in different words and got some great answers. I think people are afraid of what they don't know, and these people have lived sheltered lives so there is A LOT they don't know and aren't familiar with. I guess they think it's easier to try and rid the world of the things that scare them than to learn to live with them.
231232
Why does the God you describe have the same "with us or against us" attitude that Bush does? It's this simple. You can practice any given religion, without interference. That is your right. However, your rights stop where the rights of others begin. As everyone else has the same right, to practice any or no religion, you have no right to force your religion on them. God was inserted into our culture at a time when 99% of the people in it were christian. That is simply no longer the case, and equal rights must be upheld. By "erasing" God from our culture, we are not denying his existence, we are simply not affirming it. THAT is the middle ground. We're not saying that we know God doesn't exist, we're saying that we don't know that he does. As a nation. That is, some of us believe, and some of us don't, and some of us aren't sure. You have every right to believe in God, and worship him in any way you choose, within reason. But you do not have the right to demand that our government and our culture support your views over anyone else's. This is equality. The only way you could perceive it as an attack on your beliefs is if you want those beliefs forced on others, or the nation as a whole.
263451
coz everyone thinks their religion is right and nobody else`s  is. Im a Hindu and i just experienced it today. I said "oh my God" and a Catholic classmate of mine said dont say "God" if u dont believe in Him. i was really mad, and i started saying how Hindus believe in God, and saying I blieve in Jesus's existence. It wasnt enough for them that i said i he "existed" they wanted the perfect tenses and all. I dont get why ppl think Hindus r pagans.  ppl just cant be tolerant,. i really hate it, and what's worse is that noone knows whats right except God, and everyone has a diff.intrepetation. we should be more tolerant though.  but i dont want to be a hypocrite.
870839
all relgion is bad to me because they restrict a person's right to be who they are. there are too many mixed messages which are unrealistic  for people to try to follow.
766550
There is controversy because no religion agrees with any other one, and everyone thinks only theirs is right. Religion is an intensely personal thing, so if you were to discover yours is wrong, then you are wrong to the core and everything you've believed in has been a waste of time. That's hard to take, so people defend their religions the best they can and try to make the OTHER religions look wrong, which translates to prejudice, quarreling, and becoming barbaric.
541124
Problem is everyone wants their truth to be the only truth so then they make remarks such as yours. Why not allow others to believe in what they choose and have faith in God that he is in control and everything is as it should be. People turn away from religion because of all the pushing and condemning that is thrown on them. Try living your life the way you want and just give love to everyone. Maybe they will see how happy you are and how content and come to you to find out why.\nLove and Light to you.
698198
that is a valid point. i do not tolerate intolerance. i hate hate. thats just how it is. some of us are born knowing right from wrong. some are born dumb rednecks.
269729
Thing is that are differences in all cultures and religions.  We are people with different ideas and different beliefs.  That shouldn't mean because I am different from some one else they have a right to hate the difference or me.  We are different, we should celebrate that not hate it.  The religious hatred has been going on as long as one can remember I am sure.  Why?  Does it make one better than the other? No.  Just makes you look like an ass when you scream hatred and have no valid reason for it.  \nAnd as far as on this forum goes.  Its sad, I am genuinely curious about other faiths.  Though I do not follow them I do enjoy learning about them and I am constantly bumping into people trying to convert some one.  This should be a place of education and nothing more.  If you are interested in converting people do it else where.. Thats my take on it.  and the VonJumbo character and Schneb, to me, fuel the fire for forced conversion and hatred on this forum.. But again this is only my opinion.
668142
You hit the nail on the head.\n\nMany people think that they have a chance of being wrong, so they defend with ideas that result in the destruction of their own beliefs.\n\nLikewise people dont want to admit they belong to a certain group so they pretend they are not religious, when in relaity they are.\n\nSo the cause?\nPRIDE\n\nPride will always bring down mankind, it is what causes problems in every aspect of our lives, religion being only one of them.
1124770
If my history lessons and further study of history are correct the US is a secular nation and its founders believed that no religion should be put above any other religion. Quite the foresight if I might say as they put this provision into the Constitution to protect the country from the various sects of christianity not the various religions in the world. The controversy you state is only a controversy in your head as I could care less about your religion. However, if any religion tries to usurp the US Constitution it is within the rights of any one to question and eventually put a halt to their actions. Christians have no more rights nor less rights than anyone else. So, if you see a problem with someone who doesn't share your religious views you have not read the first amendment properly. Get over it.
30622
The state I live in was founded by a group of people (The Pilgrims) who wanted the right to have religious freedom. I knew a few Muslim families when I was growing up. They were a hard working, law abiding, kind and generous people. It is unfair to judge a religious group based on what a very small percent of them are doing. Having said that, I will say this about the controversy this past December in regards to Christmas. It comes across as not wanting to offend other peoples religious beliefs but, at the same time, it appears to be heading in the direction of denying Christians their rights. The controversy this past December about changing the name of the Christmas Tree to Holiday Tree is one example. Department stores who sell Christmas gifts, toys, and decorations telling their employees they can not say Merry Christmas only Happy Holidays is another example. As an example (no offense meant toward anyone): If one of my children's teachers said to my child Happy Hanakah or Happy Kwanza, I would interpret it as a sign of good will, not a reason to hire a lawyer and sue.
632718
Once again political correctness steps on the rights of the majority so as not to offend the minority. We have so many so called " Do-Gooders " who think everything should be fair and equal, that they don't stop to realize that instead of fair and equal they're biased in another direction. I'm not EVEN a smoker and it baffles me as to why someones "right " to not see someone smoking or possibly smell smoke in an open air facility, overides the smokers " right ' to smoke. Who determined this ? I'm not a Christian, Catholic or Jew...but why is it that these religions can openly be taken pot shots at...while we have apologists for fanatical Muslims ? Why does a homosexual couples " right " to expression of public affection override my " right " to NOT want to see expressions of homosexual public affection ?As far as I'm concerned when it comes to these Liberal " Let's make everything fair by taking away tradition " Jerks ...F*ck Em !!! They'll have to pry my Santa, Nativity scene, Easter Bunny, Kwaanzaa Candles, Star of David, American flag and .44 Magnum out of my cold,dead hands!!!!
777266
Elton John made a very valid point. However it is not only homosexuals who are singled out for hatred by religious groups. They attack other religions, they are unable to even stop killing people of the same religion who worship in a slightly different form and of course atheists are counted as fair game by everyone. Banning religion looks, on first glance, to be a solution but the history of attempting to ban things paints quite another picture. Look, for example, at America's try at banning alcohol in the Prohibition days - all it did was to force drinking underground and to create the still existent organized crime families. I think that proper education is the only way the yoke of religion will ever be lifted from man's shoulders - but don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen.
679480
people dont h8 on the ground of religion.  it is simply that certain individuals who enjoy hating others on the ground of difference use religion as a vehicle for their hate.  even if there were no religions, these individuals would find another vehicle to express their hate.\n\nconversely,there are a lot of religious/spiritual people who use their beliefs to promote love and tolerance of difference in others, and they remember that we are arl human, each of us with an equal right to an opinion.  truly religious folk make an effort to make life better for humanity and arl living things.  if there is a god of love, am sure he wants us to look after his creation, and not be divisive for the sake of it.
675516
I agree that many people feel that their belief system is the only correct one.  This is blind and absurd.  Regardless of what a person believes, or how he/she got to that point, it should be respected.  Many people accept Christianity, Judaism, etc. w/o going through the process of disecting it and searching one's soul.  Others study the bible, quaran, torah...study science, discuss ideas with others and come to the best conclusion that one can come to with our limited source of knowledge on earth.\n\nSo, as believer in God and His power - I would never tell you that you can't express your opinions simply b/c your belief system in a higher power is different than mine!!\n\nHowever, I dislike the "annoying atheists" as much as I dislike the "bible thumping Christians" - the ignorant, pushy, arrogant few in ANY group will always give the majority a bad name.  So just as I respect your beliefs, and you seem to respect mine, I will consistently hold everyone else to the same expectation and will do my best to fulfill this myself.
1063985
because there is always those attacking Christianity. no other religion, or way of life, pro-abortion, pro-gay etc., is attacked by the media, most groups, ACLU, people for the american way etc. and such. they deem anything straight from the bible is thinking closed minded, hate-full, or intolerant. although all these groups claim to be for tolerance, open minded and free speech. it is much quite the opposite.
799127
I think the appropriate way to have tolerance is to have tolerance for an individual but not always for that individual's opinion. For example, one should have tolerance for a member of the "flat earth society" (and for the right for that organization to exist to begin with) but to actually tolerate his or her opinion that the earth is flat based on all that we know would be foolish. In the same way, what we know as born-again believers leads us not to tolerate false teachings, but to always be respectful of others and allow them freedom of religion....though always followng the "great comission" to try to encourage them to know that there is one way to salvation and eternal life.