Wirt wrote:
*snip*  ...as what I interpret to be the above author's philosophical perspective to be, would find being "patient with the ideas or acts of others" unacceptable
under virtually any circumstance.
*end*

I need to apologize to everyone. That is the message I sent but not the point I wanted to get across. If I may elaborate a bit more... and possibly dig an even deeper hole.... maybe what I'm trying to say is that in one way or another we all have to be tolerant of everyone around us - to some degree - but not necessarily with acceptance of said lifestyle/belief/religion/etc.  I worked with a homosexual in a computer room for 6 months without ever confronting him with my religious convictions (thus creating a hostile work environment). So that meant I was tolerant, even though I did not accept it. Even at our church, which is non-denominational, we have to be tolerant of those who have chosen to worship with us even though they may all have different opinions on various topics. On the other hand, I would not allow (assuming I had authority to do so) a gay person to join the Boy Scouts or work for a religious employer who was absolutely opposed to said lifestyle. We can go deepe!
r on other sins, beliefs, etc. but I need to get some work done today!

>>> Wirt Atmar <[log in to unmask]> 11/02 1:52 PM >>>
Jim writes:

> Not wishing to fan the flames here, but this issue of tolerance is being
>  used to bludgeon a lot of people and institutions.  If we take the
>  dictionary definitions:
>
>  tolerance; noun.  Liberality toward the opinions of others; patience with
>  others.
>
>  tolerant; adjective.  Forbearing; patient with the ideas or acts of others.
>
>  I think we can agree that everyone should be tolerant of others (since no
>  two people are the same).

Actually, that is precisely the core of the issue. I don't believe that
everyone does agree that such tolerance should either be promoted or perhaps
even allowed. As one person wrote yesterday:

> Unfortunately, too many so-called Christians have decided to become
tolerant.

I suspect that the dismissed Boise employee, beginning from a similar point
as what I interpret to be the above author's philosophical perspective to be,
would find being "patient with the ideas or acts of others" unacceptable
under virtually any circumstance.

Wirt Atmar
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