Wow. A rather hostile response to what I thought was a reasonable, well considered article.

I suppose that at least you're 'tolerating' it, though I suspect some would rather have read an article that was along the lines of their own views.

For my two bob, I agree.
A pox on those who take their theistic attitudes too seriously. Whatever brand of god you adhere to, unless you recognise that others have made their choice and that works for them, you're going to either be a troublemaker or sympathetic to troublemakers.

A pox I say!

The word intolerance is thrown about like the word racist. They no longer hold their original value and in some kind of reverse logic point to the ineffectual reasoning of the accuser.
Anger, spite, narrow-mindedness, self-loathing bigotry, hatred, spiritual indifference, self-righteousness, are all expressions of the tyrant groping in the dank of human corruption proclaiming the one true path to the glory of God, and if you don't submit to his will, you will pay the price of mans terror, instead of gods grace.
There should be a hunting season for tyrants. Once a year the world should get together and kill four or five just for sport.
And please don't ask me to be tolerant and understanding. Enough is enough. Time for a little common sense to assert itself and the "everything is equal and all the same crowd" to take a nap.
Discernment needs to be exercised with out being belittled and suppressed by words like racism and intolerance.

I second TurnRightThenLeft's pox.

YOUR (anybodies) god is not welcome and has no place in my life and quite frankly I am sick of hearing about beliefs. To push beliefs is intolerant in itself. I cannot fathom on what grounds Christianity and Islam expect to be tolerated on. Superstitions as harmful and as intolerant as those two which have both given rise to a horrific history (up until 2006 and still counting) should not be tolerated. Before those who speak for and believe themselves to be god throw up their arms whinging keep in mind you worship prejudice and exclusion, you believe non-Christians or non-Muslims are punished for not worshipping your idols.
These days religion is the new pornography, and despite only a few who actually believe it - it is everywhere.
Children are being terrorised being told their life is almost over with the coming of Christ , or rapture or Armageddon , Others are being recruited as suicide bombers.
At some point we as a society have to say “Enough” to this lunacy.

A small digression - to those who believe in the end of days, where is your credibility? If you truly believe it is the end of time why do you make money and send kids to school?

I received an email as a response to a challenge I gave to anyone, concerning the political assassination of kaab bin al Ashraf by Mohammed and the general idea of Islamic piety. My challenge formed part of a published comment in the Daily Telegraph.

The response was as follows:

"My initial comment to you is that every person's view of history depends on the perspective from which he sees it.....

Hence while you might view the political assasinations of Kaab bin Al Ashraf at odds with the concept of Islamic piety, it could be argued that this was a strategic political necessity with justifiable cause ... The simple reason is to eliminate a threat to your society, whether it be 7th century Arabia or present day."

COMMENT
That is from a friendly, articulate polite Muslim in Sydney in 2006. Now clearly, if we actually adopted his reasoning. Hilali would be a headless corpse right now as he is perceived as a 'threat to our community' as also the 11 Sydney terrorism suspects and the 13 in Melbourne. The evidence would be about the same strength.(as for Kaab)

So, tolerance.... has to be intelligent, thoughtful and mindful of real threats. (rather than imaginary ones)

Of course.. if this friendly, polite obviously educated Muslim in Sydney in 2006 regards political assasination as quite reasonable when it is to protect the Muslim community...where does that leave our 'tolerance' ?

One of the points which came out in the media re the 13 in Melbourne, included reference to an alleged plot to Assasinate John Howard and his family !

*thinking caps on* people

Jennifer,

Good well thought article.

West,

Your comment had the effect of a wake up call.
Apart from a genuinely concerned secular posters, everyone else seem to be about militant christianity disguised wearing the 'secular freedom' mask (No offence intended Boazy!)
Interesting.

Sage,

There is merit to your comment.
I guess the question in my mind is if a person doesn't like the country why bother coming? Also, why letting him in if we know they don't like the country or its values anyway? It takes two to tango.

West writes 'To push beliefs is intolerant in itself. ' Do you really believe that West?