Tolerance vs. acceptance

[drlmg]

Will some of you share your thoughts on tolerance? The true definition and the perverted definition espoused by liberals. I feel that tolerance has been re-defined and what is actually meant by it now is acceptance. Whole hearted acceptance and admitted legitimacy (one must proclaim that the behavior in question is legitimate and not deviant)  without disagreement.

[Rubystars]

I think tolerance involves being able to work with people of different backgrounds toward common (righteous) goals.

Tolerance as espoused by the left wing invovles white people mating with negroes and allowing their culture to be destroyed completely and never complaining when they're raped or murdered by nonwhites and preferably being homosexual during their short, miserable little lives.

[Yonah]

Tolerance ought to equate to apathy.

[Rubystars]

Tolerance ought to equate to apathy.

You mean tolerance is not caring about anything? Or did you mean empathy?

[Ultra Requete]

Apathy and tolerance are the last virtues of dieng cultures; in my opinion west finaly died around 1968 on brain tumor after two hundred years of agony and two heavy heart strikes in 1914 and 1939. It's not about race or negroes, gays, feminazists, pals anyway but about gloryfication of evil and sin. That's what's not right about left. 

[Historical Truth]

Tolerance is putting up with someone who you disagree with or find annoying.

Acceptance is submitting to something you can't change or stop.

When tolerance starts to mean acceptance you know a country is in trouble.

[muman613]

Tolerance is a very good quality. One should not judge his fellow too harshly. Judaism is very clear about how we treat our neighbor. We are supposed to unload the donkey of our enemy if it is overloaded. We are to care for our neighbors lost belongings. Most importantly we are commanded to never hate our neighbor in our heart, nor to bear a grudge. Tolerance is very important in order to be able to satisfy these commands, between man and his neighbor. Baseless hatred is the quality which caused our Holy Temple to be destroyed. I fully understand tolerance and hope that others can find it in themselves to be tolerant of others who are not on the same high level as themselves. A holy person works hard on making himself better, but must not make others feel inadequate because of their lower levels. A righteous and holy Jew will be able to make the less observant desire to learn how to attain the higher levels of character traits. I am studying the Jewish Mussar called "Mesilat Yesharim" which teaches these ideas and how to tune into the higher levels.

It is important to remember that we are talking about our 'neighbors' or fellow Jews. This also extends to righteous non-Jews, proselytes and converts. But we must not accept evil and we must stand up against it. We must not hate an individual because he has an attraction for the same sex, but we must teach him that all of our desires are capable of being harnessed for the better good of humanity, and for the will of Hashem. Just as a Shabbat desecrator is condemned, so is a homosexual.

We must look for the good in all of creation, and find the spark of holiness which it contains. It is possible for the Chassid to raise up the sparks of holiness and bring about the rectification of all of mankinds sins.

Tolerance is wonderful, Acceptance can be a path leading to sin.

[syyuge]

Tolerance is putting up with someone who you disagree with or find annoying.

Acceptance is submitting to something you can't change or stop.

When tolerance starts to mean acceptance you know a country is in trouble.

Tolerance is a very good quality. One should not judge his fellow too harshly. Judaism is very clear about how we treat our neighbor. We are supposed to unload the donkey of our enemy if it is overloaded. We are to care for our neighbors lost belongings. Most importantly we are commanded to never hate our neighbor in our heart, nor to bear a grudge. Tolerance is very important in order to be able to satisfy these commands, between man and his neighbor. Baseless hatred is the quality which caused our Holy Temple to be destroyed. I fully understand tolerance and hope that others can find it in themselves to be tolerant of others who are not on the same high level as themselves. A holy person works hard on making himself better, but must not make others feel inadequate because of their lower levels. A righteous and holy Jew will be able to make the less observant desire to learn how to attain the higher levels of character traits. I am studying the Jewish Mussar called "Mesilat Yesharim" which teaches these ideas and how to tune into the higher levels.

It is important to remember that we are talking about our 'neighbors' or fellow Jews. This also extends to righteous non-Jews, proselytes and converts. But we must not accept evil and we must stand up against it. We must not hate an individual because he has an attraction for the same sex, but we must teach him that all of our desires are capable of being harnessed for the better good of humanity, and for the will of Hashem. Just as a Shabbat desecrator is condemned, so is a homosexual.

We must look for the good in all of creation, and find the spark of holiness which it contains. It is possible for the Chassid to raise up the sparks of holiness and bring about the rectification of all of mankinds sins.

Tolerance is wonderful, Acceptance can be a path leading to sin.

Excellent... 

[Rubystars]

Apathy and tolerance are the last virtues of dieng cultures; in my opinion west finaly died around 1968 on brain tumor after two hundred years of agony and two heavy heart strikes in 1914 and 1939. It's not about race or negroes, gays, feminazists, pals anyway but about gloryfication of evil and sin. That's what's not right about left. 

Apathy isn't a virtue.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/apathy

ap⋅a⋅thy  /ˈæpəθi/  Show Spelled Pronunciation [ap-uh-thee]  Show IPA
–noun, plural -thies. 1. absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.
2. lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.
3. Also, ap⋅a⋅thei⋅a, ap⋅a⋅thi⋅a  /ˌæpəˈθiə/  Show Spelled Pronunciation [ap-uh-thee-uh]  Show IPA . Stoicism. freedom from emotion of any kind.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Origin:
1595–1605; (< F) < L apathīa < Gk apátheia insensibility to suffering, equiv. to apathe- (s. of apaths) unfeeling (a- a- 6 + pathe-, var. s. of páthos pathos ) + -ia -ia


Synonyms:
1. coolness. 2. See indifference.


Antonyms:
1. ardor, fervor.

[Cato]

Tolerance as espoused by the left wing invovles white people mating with negroes and allowing their culture to be destroyed completely and never complaining when they're raped or murdered by nonwhites and preferably being homosexual during their short, miserable little lives.

That's what I said. I like your posts!

[zachor_ve_kavod]

Tolerance is a very good quality. One should not judge his fellow too harshly. Judaism is very clear about how we treat our neighbor. We are supposed to unload the donkey of our enemy if it is overloaded. We are to care for our neighbors lost belongings. Most importantly we are commanded to never hate our neighbor in our heart, nor to bear a grudge. Tolerance is very important in order to be able to satisfy these commands, between man and his neighbor. Baseless hatred is the quality which caused our Holy Temple to be destroyed. I fully understand tolerance and hope that others can find it in themselves to be tolerant of others who are not on the same high level as themselves. A holy person works hard on making himself better, but must not make others feel inadequate because of their lower levels. A righteous and holy Jew will be able to make the less observant desire to learn how to attain the higher levels of character traits. I am studying the Jewish Mussar called "Mesilat Yesharim" which teaches these ideas and how to tune into the higher levels.

It is important to remember that we are talking about our 'neighbors' or fellow Jews. This also extends to righteous non-Jews, proselytes and converts. But we must not accept evil and we must stand up against it. We must not hate an individual because he has an attraction for the same sex, but we must teach him that all of our desires are capable of being harnessed for the better good of humanity, and for the will of Hashem. Just as a Shabbat desecrator is condemned, so is a homosexual.

We must look for the good in all of creation, and find the spark of holiness which it contains. It is possible for the Chassid to raise up the sparks of holiness and bring about the rectification of all of mankinds sins.

Tolerance is wonderful, Acceptance can be a path leading to sin.

What Muman is saying is correct, but this only applies to the refutation of baseless hatred against one's neighbours.  This is an important issue, perhaps the most important issue.

What are we required to tolerate?  And what are we required to condemn?  To me, this is a complex issue which can be made simple through the analysis of one of the most important concepts in Judaism--the concept of havdalah (separation).  Much of Judaism is based on this concept.  Even the most cursory glance at a list of the 613 mitzvot reveals that havdalah is a central Jewish concept.

As in the Creation, G-d separated day from night, land from water, Heaven from Earth, so to are Jews commanded to separate wool from linen, good from evil, men from women, and most importantly, good from evil.  We must tolerate that which is good and rebuke that which is evil.  To tolerate that which is evil is a perversion of havdalah.

For that reason, Judaism is not supposed to be as tolerant as many would like to believe.  Unlike Christianity, which holds that it is right to hate the sin but love the sinner, Judaism holds no such view.  As Jews were chosen to be a light unto the nations, one of the ways Jews must cast that light is to make it clear that we will tolerate that which is good or at least benign, and reject that which is evil or malignant.  We are all charged with this task.

[muman613]

Tolerance is a very good quality. One should not judge his fellow too harshly. Judaism is very clear about how we treat our neighbor. We are supposed to unload the donkey of our enemy if it is overloaded. We are to care for our neighbors lost belongings. Most importantly we are commanded to never hate our neighbor in our heart, nor to bear a grudge. Tolerance is very important in order to be able to satisfy these commands, between man and his neighbor. Baseless hatred is the quality which caused our Holy Temple to be destroyed. I fully understand tolerance and hope that others can find it in themselves to be tolerant of others who are not on the same high level as themselves. A holy person works hard on making himself better, but must not make others feel inadequate because of their lower levels. A righteous and holy Jew will be able to make the less observant desire to learn how to attain the higher levels of character traits. I am studying the Jewish Mussar called "Mesilat Yesharim" which teaches these ideas and how to tune into the higher levels.

It is important to remember that we are talking about our 'neighbors' or fellow Jews. This also extends to righteous non-Jews, proselytes and converts. But we must not accept evil and we must stand up against it. We must not hate an individual because he has an attraction for the same sex, but we must teach him that all of our desires are capable of being harnessed for the better good of humanity, and for the will of Hashem. Just as a Shabbat desecrator is condemned, so is a homosexual.

We must look for the good in all of creation, and find the spark of holiness which it contains. It is possible for the Chassid to raise up the sparks of holiness and bring about the rectification of all of mankinds sins.

Tolerance is wonderful, Acceptance can be a path leading to sin.

What Muman is saying is correct, but this only applies to the refutation of baseless hatred against one's neighbours.  This is an important issue, perhaps the most important issue.

What are we required to tolerate?  And what are we required to condemn?  To me, this is a complex issue which can be made simple through the analysis of one of the most important concepts in Judaism--the concept of havdalah (separation).  Much of Judaism is based on this concept.  Even the most cursory glance at a list of the 613 mitzvot reveals that havdalah is a central Jewish concept.

As in the Creation, G-d separated day from night, land from water, Heaven from Earth, so to are Jews commanded to separate wool from linen, good from evil, men from women, and most importantly, good from evil.  We must tolerate that which is good and rebuke that which is evil.  To tolerate that which is evil is a perversion of havdalah.

For that reason, Judaism is not supposed to be as tolerant as many would like to believe.  Unlike Christianity, which holds that it is right to hate the sin but love the sinner, Judaism holds no such view.  As Jews were chosen to be a light unto the nations, one of the ways Jews must cast that light is to make it clear that we will tolerate that which is good or at least benign, and reject that which is evil or malignant.  We are all charged with this task.

This same idea is expressed in the word Kadosh, or Holy. To be Holy is to be seperate from the mundane. The issue to me is what level of tolerance or acceptance is being discussed. It is not acceptable to accept things which are against the will of Hashem. Transgression is to be rebuked but we are not to take the law into our own hands. In the days of the Beit Din all punishment was meted out by the court. In this day, when their is no Beit Din or Sanhedrin, the capital punishments recomended by our Torah cannot be carried out.

When it comes to judging others we must be firm in rebuking the sinner. But we also must act like Hashem in his quality of Chessed and Rachaman {Kindness and Mercy}. This is why when the gentile asked Hillel to teach him Torah on one leg Hillel responded , "The entire of Torah is , do not do to your neighbor as you would not want to have done to yourself, the rest is commentary..." Hillel could have started with more strict laws of havdalah but Hillel knew that Torah wants to bring peace to this world.

http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/tubshvat/vol3no27.html

I agree with Zachor that Holiness is the most important thing for a religious Jew. In so many of the recent Shabbat Torah readings Hashem has repeated, "Be a Holy nation, as I Hashem am Holy!"

[muman613]

http://www.beingjewish.com/basics/beingjewish.html

The Mesillas Yesharim, a seminal work of Jewish thought, does an interesting treatment of these verses. He shows how these verses include all the aspects of perfect service of Hashem:

   1. Fear of Hashem.
   2. Walking in His ways
   3. Love of Hashem
   4. A complete heart
   5. Observance of the Commandments and Laws of each Commandment.

Let's now examine each of these:

Fear of Hashem: This means fear of the awesome and elevated glory of Hashem. We cannot imagine the Essence of Hashem, but we can at least be in awe of the glory of Hashem. There is a lesser level, Fear of Punishment. That's a respectable level of worship as well (and a great many people don't have even that), but it is good as a starting point. It is not the goal. As the Mesillas Yesharim puts it: We should be humbled before the greatness of G-d whenever we undertake to do anything, especially when we pray and study Torah.

Walking in His ways: This refers to proper development of our character traits. The Rabbis teach that we should emulate the virtues that the Torah says or implies Hashem has. For example, Hashem is merciful, so we, too, should be merciful. Hashem is gracious, so we, too, should be gracious. Hashem is holy, so we, too, should be holy. Just as Hashem buried the dead (Moses), so we, too, should bury the dead. Just as Hashem clothed the naked (Adam and Eve) and fed the hungry, so we, too, should do the same. Just as Hashem visited the sick (Abraham) and comforted mourners (Isaac), so we, too, should do the same.7 These are, of course, just a few examples of admirable traits.

This is not to say that any human can ever reach the level of Hashem in anything. A person's objectives should always and only be to reach his own full potential.

An important thing to remember about character traits is the fact that even a good character trait is wrong when it's inappropriate. You always have to take in the bigger picture. It's wrong, for example, to have mercy on a rabid animal that's running wild, killing everyone in its path. If you don't stop it by any means necessary, many people will be killed.

The Rabbis of the Mishnah summed it up this way: "What is the best guideline by which to develop one's character traits? The answer is: A character trait should serve a person well and also serve everyone else well." In other words, working for the best true good for everyone. What is the best true good for everyone? The Mesillas Yesharim points out: When a person works to strengthen the study and observance of the Torah, all the world benefits. If everyone would do this, all the world would find peace.

Love of Hashem: When someone has a deep-rooted and firm love of Hashem, he is always eager to bring joy and satisfaction to Hashem (so to speak). To help us understand this concept, Hashem gave us a similar situation with family members, such as parents or a spouse. When you love someone, you want to give them joy and satisfaction. When that person is in pain, you are in pain. In fact, you get annoyed or angry at anyone who hurts someone you love. And of course, you like and are appreciative to anyone who brings happiness to someone you love. You should love Hashem the same way, at least to the same degree, if not more. The Torah speaks of loving Hashem "with all your heart and all your soul."8 That's pretty intense and long-lasting.

A complete heart: This has a few meanings: For one thing, it means that your only intention in performing the commandments should be to serve Hashem. You should have no ulterior motives, or additional desires. And you should not do it half-heartedly, or by rote. Your full concentration should be on performing the Commandment and obeying Hashem's will. It also means that when you do something in service to Hashem, do it fully and entirely, and don't omit anything if you can help it.

But Hashem knows that we are just human beings. Many of us have not yet reached that level of performance yet. So the Talmud teaches us, "If you are unable to have the proper intentions when studying Torah or performing the Commandments, do it anyway. The power of Torah and fulfilling the Commandments will raise you and improve you until as a result you will merit reaching the level of pure Service."9

Observance of the Commandments and Laws of each Commandment: This means attempting to fulfill all the Commandments precisely and with each detail. The only way to know the details involved is to study the Oral Torah, the basics of which the Rabbis eventually recorded in the Talmud and other Rabbinical Writings. The Written Torah does not have all the details. The Written Torah is like brief notes to long lectures. It cannot contain all the information in full, but it has it in brief.

[zachor_ve_kavod]

It is a question of context.  As Muman has pointed out, the goal is kiddushah.  I agree that our purpose is to sanctify G-d's Holy Name.  I think the key way in which we do this is havdalah.  After G-d created light, He separated it from the darkness.  This is in the first chapter of Genesis.  The primacy of this act by G-d is evidence of its importance.

Muman also correctly points out that we do not have mercy upon a rabid dog.  Tolerance is a manifestation (a mild form) of mercy.  As Rabbi Kahane pointed out, there is mercy which is good and there is the mercy of fools (rachmanut shel tipshim).  Mercy or tolerance in the wrong context is an abomination.

[Rubystars]

Tolerance as espoused by the left wing invovles white people mating with negroes and allowing their culture to be destroyed completely and never complaining when they're raped or murdered by nonwhites and preferably being homosexual during their short, miserable little lives.

That's what I said. I like your posts!

Thank you

[freedomannie]

Tolerance??? i have none ofr islam the evil cult!

GITMO JIHAD FIASCO: THIS IS ISLAM 

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/05/protecting-islam.html

THIS VIDEO IS VERY ****GRAPHIC****. THIS VIDEO IS VERY ****GRAPHIC****. DO NOT WATCH IT IF YOU ARE EASILY SICKENED. This is Islam. 


Why is Obama betraying our soldiers? Why is Obama, President of these United States, betraying America and protecting Islamic jihad? 
Obama Administration to Release Bin Laden Associate from Gitmo

[AsheDina]

Will some of you share your thoughts on tolerance? The true definition and the perverted definition espoused by liberals. I feel that tolerance has been re-defined and what is actually meant by it now is acceptance. Whole hearted acceptance and admitted legitimacy (one must proclaim that the behavior in question is legitimate and not deviant)  without disagreement.

What I believe is this:
Tolerance is UNACCEPTABLE.  It is a LEFTIST MARXIST evil thing that is making people that LOVE God turn into a powder magazine.

[muman613]

Will some of you share your thoughts on tolerance? The true definition and the perverted definition espoused by liberals. I feel that tolerance has been re-defined and what is actually meant by it now is acceptance. Whole hearted acceptance and admitted legitimacy (one must proclaim that the behavior in question is legitimate and not deviant)  without disagreement.

What I believe is this:
Tolerance is UNACCEPTABLE.  It is a LEFTIST MARXIST evil thing that is making people that LOVE G-d turn into a powder magazine.

I certainly do not agree. Tolerance of unacceptable things is not acceptable. But Tolerance of things which bug you is certainly acceptable. We cannot expect everything in this world to be the way we want it to be. We must tolerate others or else we will go around hating everything in the world.

[muman613]

Here is an interesting Jewish insight into Tolerance...


http://www.kiruv.com/teachingMaterials/insights/Insight_1_Tolerance.asp

Insight #1: Tolerance
by Rabbi Chaim Sampson

In Judaism we evaluate ideas and behaviors. We don't judge other people.

The world recognizes that Judaism has brought morality and values to the world: the 10 commandments, brotherhood of man, education, the desire for peace, love your neighbor.

Another value we have introduced is "tolerance." Not judging another human being -- the equality of man.

The interesting paradox is that if you ask many non-religious Jews, they will say that they feel religious Jews look down at them, and feel very uncomfortable as a result.... Yet Judaism has taught "tolerance" to the world!

The Talmud says the following thing. Let's say someone would point a gun to your head (G-d forbid) and ask you to kill another person or else he would kill you. What do you think Judaism says?

You have to die rather than kill him or her.

Why?

The Talmud answers that you don't know whose blood is redder. This means that you don't know who is a better person in G-d's eyes.

The Greatest Rabbi

OK. Now what if someone held the greatest Rabbi in the generation at gunpoint and said to him: you kill this bum on the street, this good for nothing atheist, this parasite of society that never did a good day's work in his life, or else we'll kill you. What should he do? That's right - he has to give up his life. Why? Because we don't know whose blood is redder. But why? He's the greatest rabbi - doing all those mitzvos. This guy is just a bum on the street. How can we say that we don't know who the better person is in G-d's eyes?

Judaism teaches that we human beings don't judge people - only G-d does. We don't know what the person's background is - maybe he was raised by Jack the Ripper... and his mother was even worse! We also don't know his genetic / chemical make-up. Maybe he did some act of kindness that you and I just don't know about. Perhaps that benevolent act would have been simple for you or I, but presented an enormous moral challenge to our friend. We simply don't know that if we, whoever we are, were in the same position as him, we wouldn't be doing the same or even worse.

This is the Jewish definition of tolerance. Everyone is made in the image of G-d. I don't judge you as a person. You could really be a better person in G-d's eyes than me.

Walking into McDonalds

So imagine the following scenario. You see a religious Jew, all dressed the part - black coat, hat, the works, walking into a McDonalds. He sits down and eats a Big Mac - no qualms. He's just having a grand old time! Now, let's say you really knew that he was a bona fide transgressor. He is indulging his appetite for Big Macs just because he loves Big Macs! We would all agree that there is something incongruent about this fellow's behavior.

Now imagine the same guy, all dressed up. He meets non-religious people and looks down on them. It's the same thing. His behavior is completely incongruent. It is a religious principle not to look down on people - just like you can't eat pork.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Addendum

At the same time, it works both ways. Religious Jews are not perfect either. So when we see them making a mistake, we shouldn't judge them either. They're human too.

Being able to withhold our judgment of people and walk around painting them black, especially if they're not doing what I'm doing, is what tolerance is all about, and what Judaism has taught the world.

PS: I am not arguing about tolerating Islams antagonism against the Jewish people. We don't tolerate our enemy...

[zachor_ve_kavod]

Here is an interesting Jewish insight into Tolerance...


http://www.kiruv.com/teachingMaterials/insights/Insight_1_Tolerance.asp

Insight #1: Tolerance
by Rabbi Chaim Sampson

In Judaism we evaluate ideas and behaviors. We don't judge other people.

The world recognizes that Judaism has brought morality and values to the world: the 10 commandments, brotherhood of man, education, the desire for peace, love your neighbor.

Another value we have introduced is "tolerance." Not judging another human being -- the equality of man.

The interesting paradox is that if you ask many non-religious Jews, they will say that they feel religious Jews look down at them, and feel very uncomfortable as a result.... Yet Judaism has taught "tolerance" to the world!

The Talmud says the following thing. Let's say someone would point a gun to your head (G-d forbid) and ask you to kill another person or else he would kill you. What do you think Judaism says?

You have to die rather than kill him or her.

Why?

The Talmud answers that you don't know whose blood is redder. This means that you don't know who is a better person in G-d's eyes.

The Greatest Rabbi

OK. Now what if someone held the greatest Rabbi in the generation at gunpoint and said to him: you kill this bum on the street, this good for nothing atheist, this parasite of society that never did a good day's work in his life, or else we'll kill you. What should he do? That's right - he has to give up his life. Why? Because we don't know whose blood is redder. But why? He's the greatest rabbi - doing all those mitzvos. This guy is just a bum on the street. How can we say that we don't know who the better person is in G-d's eyes?

Judaism teaches that we human beings don't judge people - only G-d does. We don't know what the person's background is - maybe he was raised by Jack the Ripper... and his mother was even worse! We also don't know his genetic / chemical make-up. Maybe he did some act of kindness that you and I just don't know about. Perhaps that benevolent act would have been simple for you or I, but presented an enormous moral challenge to our friend. We simply don't know that if we, whoever we are, were in the same position as him, we wouldn't be doing the same or even worse.

This is the Jewish definition of tolerance. Everyone is made in the image of G-d. I don't judge you as a person. You could really be a better person in G-d's eyes than me.

Walking into McDonalds

So imagine the following scenario. You see a religious Jew, all dressed the part - black coat, hat, the works, walking into a McDonalds. He sits down and eats a Big Mac - no qualms. He's just having a grand old time! Now, let's say you really knew that he was a bona fide transgressor. He is indulging his appetite for Big Macs just because he loves Big Macs! We would all agree that there is something incongruent about this fellow's behavior.

Now imagine the same guy, all dressed up. He meets non-religious people and looks down on them. It's the same thing. His behavior is completely incongruent. It is a religious principle not to look down on people - just like you can't eat pork.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Addendum

At the same time, it works both ways. Religious Jews are not perfect either. So when we see them making a mistake, we shouldn't judge them either. They're human too.

Being able to withhold our judgment of people and walk around painting them black, especially if they're not doing what I'm doing, is what tolerance is all about, and what Judaism has taught the world.

PS: I am not arguing about tolerating Islams antagonism against the Jewish people. We don't tolerate our enemy...

This is in line with one of the basic premises of Judaism, that it is your actions and not ancestry or ethnicity that is important.