Something to think about from soc.religion.unitarian-univ...
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Newsgroups: soc.religion.unitarian-univ
From: lusky@sol.hc.ti.com (Steve Lusky)
Subject: Re: Christ-o-phobia

kudut@ritz.mordor.com <Ken> writes:

   > ...  But we must tolerate
   > the non-intrusive celebrations of others.

   How about tolerating those who choose to be less tolerant?  Isn't that
   important as well?

Tolerate intolerance?!  Consider these quotes from "Equality, Tolerance
and Loyalty," Andrew R. Cecil, the University of Texas Press, 1990.
Cecil leads a yearly lecture series on morals at the Univ. of Texas at
Dallas.  These quotes are some that I prepared for a "salon", a
discussion group of about a dozen associated with DNUC, a local UU
church.  The topic a year ago was on Separation of Church and State:


 "The term 'tolerance' presupposes opposition or objection to a certain
idea, behavior, or thing, and its  ultimate acceptance.  It reflects a
self-restraint that permits us to reconcile our disapproval of certain 
opinions and practices with our acceptance of the right of others to pursue
them. Such acceptance is not a  sign of weakness.  It suggests an attitude
of putting up with people, not of giving in to them."

 "Tolerance should not be confused with indifference. ... Lack of concern,
for instance, whether a group  claiming to be a religious sect or its
leaders are engaged in fraudulent acitivites or are worshiping according to
the beliefs of its members, is not tolerance but a socially harmful
attitude."

 "Tolerance of intolerance aggravates intolerance."

 "Intolerance of intolerance safeguards tolerance."

 "The choice is not between tolerance and order.  It is  between tolerance
with order and anarchy without  order."

 "History demonstrates that tolerance of intolerance is suicidal for civil
liberties and human rights."

 According to Voltaire "discord is the great evil of the human species, and
toleration is the only remedy."

 "John Locke 'proclaimed toleration as the chief characteristic mark of the
Church.'  He, like Voltaire,  believed that freedom of religion is a natural
right that neither any single person, nor churches, nor  governments have
any just title to invade. ... Locke appealed to the conscience of those who
upon pretense  of religion persecute, destroy, starve, and maim men with
corporal punishment to make them Christians  and procure their salvation." 

  "The civil interests include life, liberty, and property.  The civil power
of the government is confined to the  care of promoting the 'civil
interests,' and it cannot and ought not in any manner be extended to the 
salvation of souls. ... Religious tolerance, stated Locke, does not permit
the government to prejudice any  man in the enjoyment of his civil rights
because of his religion."