Re: Is religion antithetical to democracy [formerly: Are Islam and Democracy Incompatible?]

AE wrote:
> Alan Wostenberg wrote:
>
>> You do not claim you yourself to be tolerant (for a truly tolerant
>> person would tolerate another's intolerance). And neither does your
>> opponent claim himself to be tolerant. Where is the disagreement?
>
> Well - in his initial posting he claimed Christianity would not be
> intolerant.
>
> The whole disagreement is about that point: I don't think Christianity
> is tolerant - it can't be due to it's premisses assumptions and I don't
> think it should try to be.

I agree with you: Christians are not called to tolerance. We are called 
to patience, but I don't think this precisely tolerance. What the 
difference is I'm not sure, though.

>> Patience is numbered among the classic virtues, but in what system is
>> tolerance a virtue?
>
>
> In no well defined system, I'd guess.
>
> Interestingly in our modern societies tolerance is seen as something
> very important.

They do see tolerance as an important good, to a point. It's a limited 
good, and at some point ceases to be good. Are not all peaceful 
democratic actions -- wether to legalize or criminalize some behavior -- 
motivated by intolerance?

> Maybe that's why religions like Christianity are not any more accepted
> as well as in the past?


>> ...
>> Granted, truth is intolerant. Of err. Is that a problem?
>
> The problem is not proven truth, but problems are occuring as soon as
> somebody that might or might not be right believes to be the sole owner
> of truth.
>
> I don't think we should do that step as far as religion is concerned or
> we will go the risk to start crusades once again.

Let's agree no religion should win coverts by the sword. It ought to be 
voluntary. But my understanding is that the Crusades were motivated by a 
zeal to take back the holy places conquered by the Muslims. Had they 
been victorious, much of the middle east today would be Christian, as it 
was before the Muslim conquest.


-- Alan Wostenberg
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