I don’t understand religious intolerance. I don’t understand non-religious intolerance.  If people are kind, compassionate and respectful to animals, the earth, the sky, the waters, other people, themselves, what harm is there if they choose to believe in a God, but do so in their own way – use different names, wear different types of clothing, worship in different structures, have different traditions, etc.?  If people are kind, compassionate and respectful to animals, the earth, the sky, the waters, other people, themselves, what harm is there if they don’t believe in a God, or don’t know if there is a God?

But, it happens – and it begins with judgement.  When judgement begins, intolerance isn’t far behind.  And where there is intolerance … hatred can flourish.

There are those who believe in a Deity who may not experience or understand the Divine in the same way as others, and they try to live loving, kind lives.  There are those who don’t believe in the existence of a Deity or don’t know if there is a Deity.  Atheist or agnostic, they try to live loving, kind lives.

In these difficult days of fear-mongering threats by world leaders, I find it is good to believe that, regardless of ascription or non-ascription to a religion, there are people who try to live loving, productive lives.  Why can’t the focus be on the way people live loving and kind lives of thoughtfulness, gentleness, self-control, patience, goodness, compassion, gratitude rather than their belief, or disbelief, in a Deity?  Why can’t the focus be more on the Good that unites, than that which divides?

I don’t understand intolerance of people who believe in a Deity.  I don’t understand intolerance of people who believe in a Deity, but believe differently. I don’t understand intolerance of people who don’t believe. And I don’t understand intolerance of people who don’t know if they believe.  I just don’t understand.