I guess that's the problem with "tolerance" becoming such a catchword. What does tolerant mean? Does it mean, just living alongside? Or actively thinking, "that's okay" about whatever?

But if they're going to keep insisting on telling me stupid shit about astral projection

Tom Cruise is your neighbor?

My problem with the Secret and a number of religious people I know is that implication that if I was more positive or prayed more or led a better life, I could have avoided the ills in my life.

This caused a huge issue for my step-dad and his family. They are decended from this lady [link] and as far as I know, G is the only one who left.

Liese, I adore you. Just so you know.

Right backatcha, woman.

And Allyson, asking those questions is totally not being a jerk. Pursuing belief and digging through those questions is vital to growth.

Although I know probably what you're saying is lots of people believe in surface ways that haven't been thought through at all, and your probing can contribute to bringing down the house of cards. But IMO, that's important, too.

I rejected my faith completely for a while. Specifically because I felt it wasn't a genuinely held belief, just a default, and that if I were ever to believe it for reals, I would have to destroy it first.

Or actively thinking, "that's okay" about whatever?

And if it's not just thinking this, if it's thinking what you want in your cold dark judgmental heart, but acting as if everything were just whatever, then does that make you tolerant or just non-confrontational?

Oh, I approach it in a totally jerky way. I told one of my neighbors that if she could produce a study proving astral projection that was done/verified by an independent lab with real scientists I'd eat my own poop with a fork and knife.

She swore such studies existed and would provide them to me. I've been waiting for months.

The most devoutly Christian girl in class in high school told me once that she did believe I'd go to hell, but it was my choice, and she'd respect that and not interfere.

Which is all I want people to do, if they believe I'm eternally damned.

I guess that's the problem with "tolerance" becoming such a catchword. What does tolerant mean? Does it mean, just living alongside? Or actively thinking, "that's okay" about whatever?

I think of it as, "I may not necessarily approve of what you're doing. But I need a better reason than that to stop you from doing it. Or for that matter, even telling you that I disapprove."

It's kind of like like watching Hubs's brother and his wife raise their kids. If I had (human) kids, I'd probably bring them up very differently. But as long as nobody's likely to get hurt, I keep my mouth shut.

Right. Its not like everybody in Darfur is just whiny or all those folks shipped off to Auschwitz wouldn't have if they'd just said "I want to live free of Nazis" instead of "Don't let the Nazis slaughter me and everyone I know."

Seriously. Two words: Anne. Frank.

A beloved great uncle was the First Reader for his Christian Science congregation for many years, but he applied the teachings only to himself. He'd suggest to others that they go to the doctor, and I can't imagine him thinking that other people's illnesses were somehow their fault. His faith was something that guided him alone. He was also 100+ when he died, so it worked for him.