Tolerance. Ground Zero. Rubber Meets Road. VIDEO
This video is a good reason why persons like myself who champion tolerance need to be brought up short by arguments which ask about the limits of tolerance. This video does just that by citing the text of the Quran and the exclusivity of Mecca and the general ambience of Saudi Arabia. But are these realities enough to place limits on tolerance of a Muslim institution near the Twin Towers site in Manhattan?
The gentleman who made this video correctly assumes that had our planes taken out the holiest place in Islam there would not be a very good chance of building a Christian institution nearby. He builds on this to essentially advocate no tolerance toward Islam.
Which means, when all is said and done, I will not agree with him.
I will go him one better. To the extent that his facts are correct, I do challenge Islam but I also acknowledge that worldwide Islam is filled with millions who do practice tolerance and who compare favorably in that respect with many Christians whose tolerance of others is distinctly limited..
Tolerance should draw limits but not wholesale limits. The Christian Bible contains passages just as intolerable as those found in the sacred texts of any of the three Abrahamic religions.
Finally, we should practice tolerance precisely as a means of weakening the claims of the more rigid forms of all religion.
Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Islam, Christianity) can be all challenged for their narrowness.
The video begins with a celebration of action over words. In that spirit, openness trumps being closed and intolerant. Extreme Islam is, I believe, doomed by history and that doom will only be delayed by efforts to conquer it with intolerance.
Extreme everything is trumped by a common sense that refuses to take sides in any heated dispute and affirms all those on all sides who practice tolerance, democracy and helpfulness and espouse non-idolatry. That is Abba's Way.
Tolerance. Ground Zero. Rubber Meets Road. VIDEO Extreme Islam is as unreasonable as extreme anything else. That does not preclude tolerance of things that are not violent and do not practice hatred.
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Published by Stephen C. Rose
Founder Editor Renewal Magazine, Chicago. World Council of Churches, Geneva Editor RISK. Albert Schweitzer Center, MA. UNICEF DOC NY, UNDP NY. Editor Choices. View profile
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