Tolerance is allowing different viewpoints to exist and thrive without
causing them any harm. It comes from respect and love for the
different views. Tolerance is possible even if the opposite point of
view may hurt our views and may threaten the existence of ours. Often
times we mistake accommodation for tolerance ignoring the subtle
difference between the two. Accommodating is an outcome of tolerance
but need not always be. Usually we can accommodate what we can put up
with but it is difficult to accommodate anything that is not congenial.
The other day while watching the National Geographic channel I came
across a leopard and a young gazelle. The gazelle was just born and
has just been able to stand on its feet. The leopard had it between
its front legs; the young gazelle looked fearless, the leopard was
unconcerned and was looking elsewhere as if he was not interested in
the tender prey. It presented the picture of the peace that prophet
Isaiah had prophesied about when the lion and lamb will graze together.
However, the scenario changed as the young gazelle took to its feet
and ran! The leopard caught the gazelle after short chase and killed
it. As long as the gazelle was not challenging it and was submissive
the leopard was willing to accommodate it. The leopard is not willing
to tolerate a gazelle that will challenge it.
Persecution against Christians in India has to be understood within
this framework. Majority Hindus are tolerant, however, there was a few
were willing to accommodate it and still another smaller group who
were not willing to tolerate or even to accommodate it. Thus two
sections have now turned against Christians in India: those who were
willing to accommodate it have realized that Christian faith is
something to be wiped out and persecution is the best means to wipe it
out. The third group has always been against anything other than their
faith and opposed to it and Christians as a vibrant religious group
was always at the receiving end of their wrath.
Christian persecution has reached a new high these days since those
who were just accommodating Christian faith (the world thought they
were tolerant) and those who were eternally opposed to it has joined
forces against Christian faith. This new scenario makes all those
believe in the peaceful existence of different religious faiths worried.
causing them any harm. It comes from respect and love for the
different views. Tolerance is possible even if the opposite point of
view may hurt our views and may threaten the existence of ours. Often
times we mistake accommodation for tolerance ignoring the subtle
difference between the two. Accommodating is an outcome of tolerance
but need not always be. Usually we can accommodate what we can put up
with but it is difficult to accommodate anything that is not congenial.
The other day while watching the National Geographic channel I came
across a leopard and a young gazelle. The gazelle was just born and
has just been able to stand on its feet. The leopard had it between
its front legs; the young gazelle looked fearless, the leopard was
unconcerned and was looking elsewhere as if he was not interested in
the tender prey. It presented the picture of the peace that prophet
Isaiah had prophesied about when the lion and lamb will graze together.
However, the scenario changed as the young gazelle took to its feet
and ran! The leopard caught the gazelle after short chase and killed
it. As long as the gazelle was not challenging it and was submissive
the leopard was willing to accommodate it. The leopard is not willing
to tolerate a gazelle that will challenge it.
Persecution against Christians in India has to be understood within
this framework. Majority Hindus are tolerant, however, there was a few
were willing to accommodate it and still another smaller group who
were not willing to tolerate or even to accommodate it. Thus two
sections have now turned against Christians in India: those who were
willing to accommodate it have realized that Christian faith is
something to be wiped out and persecution is the best means to wipe it
out. The third group has always been against anything other than their
faith and opposed to it and Christians as a vibrant religious group
was always at the receiving end of their wrath.
Christian persecution has reached a new high these days since those
who were just accommodating Christian faith (the world thought they
were tolerant) and those who were eternally opposed to it has joined
forces against Christian faith. This new scenario makes all those
believe in the peaceful existence of different religious faiths worried.