And here's the bigger point - whether we agree with tarasan or not when it comes to his church affiliation or religious beliefs, doesn't the very definition of tolerance mean that we TOLERATE beliefs and lifestyles that differ from our own? The question of the OP was "Does too much tolerance cause more harm than good?" I'm trying to stick to the OP question and look at the big picture rather than get sidetracked by focusing simply on the topic of gay rights. There are many rights outside of just gay rights - believe it or not.
My point is that if we want to support true tolerance, I believe that we must support the right for people to believe and live differently from us - and that even though we may disagree with them, as long as they do not infringe on our personal rights, we don't infringe on theirs.
I would never attend a bible college personally. I have visited those campuses, and known people who have graduated from those schools, and frankly, most of them are sort of sickening to me.
But I also wouldn't attend a historically black college either. I've also visited those campuses and known people who have graduated from those schools, and frankly, most of them are sort of sickening to me.
Both types of colleges generally are breeding grounds of bigotry, racism and intolerance. But people have the right to go there and to allow themselves to be indoctrinated.
And they have the right to sit right next to me in a restaurant and look over at me and my biracial kids and think whatever the heck they want to think about us, unmolested or challenged by me while they're sitting there enjoying the meal they've paid for. I have no right to walk over there and challenge them on their personal beliefs, even if they are sitting there wearing a T shirt that says "Bob Jones University" on it.
The best challenge I can offer is my beautiful, well behaved children and my own responsible lifestyle.
They don't have the right to tell me which college I should attend, or who I should marry, or where I should work, or what church I should attend or not attend, or who I should sleep with (as long as they're a consenting adult).
I've made life choices that many people have not agreed with, and I've been exposed to bigotry and had to deal with it in my own life. But as long as bigots aren't impeding my right to pursue my own life, liberty and happiness, I'm not going to bother them, or even be rude to them.
Turn about's fair play.
