People on the internet can be really touchy. Like,
reeaaaaally touchy. I’m sure it has something to do with the anonymity the
internet provides or something else scientific, blah blah blah. So you, like
me, have probably learned to gloss over “trollers” and all others solemnly up
to no good. So this isn't a rant about that.
So a little while back, I found this YouTube video blog
channel about this family. They just document random times with their family,
and it’s really hilarious. They did this video at Easter time, and in the video
the blogger tells his viewers why he follows Christ and lives his religion. He
mentions not all believe this way, but he wanted to say why he did. Then they
just continued on with their Easter egg hunt.
“Hey, that was nice,” I thought, “It’s nice to hear things
like that.” Unfortunately, I scrolled through the comments afterward. Quite a
few people voiced their displeasure of this simple declaration he made (which
didn’t even take up a third of the video), and many even objected that he was “forcing
his religion” on them. Some of them even got quite nasty.
Now I’m not stupid, I've read all the memes that talk about
losing faith in humanity while reading through the comments, but all the same
the experience left me unsettled. Since then I've noticed more instances of
things like this, regarding any religious material as “pushy” or “intolerant.”
Let me pause for a moment to say I’m no scholar,
psychologist or scientist. I haven’t really read through any studies on this or
been educated on the matter. In fact, I know of a few videos or other things
that do the exact same thing to those who aren’t Christians. (I recall watching
a video bashing atheism. That really left a bad taste in my mouth). What I’m
doing here is just writing on a gut feeling. Cause it's bothering me. At the same time, I don’t want to
go overboard emotionally, I just want to put out what I think.
The thing is, I’m starting to feel tolerance is becoming a
very one way street. Time after time again I come across declarations that
demand tolerance of their beliefs, but then don’t give me the time of day for
mine. Why is it that the world wants me to comply with their standards but don’t
want to respect mine? There is such a loud voice for their cause, but my voice
is shushed because I’m intolerant.
Please note: I’m not
a perfect person. I’m not a saint. I make mistakes, I often judge people too
quickly. But I want to do the right thing. I want to be able to show other
people respect for what they believe in (heck, I’m even taking a world religion
class to learn more than what I know now). I want other people to have opinions.
I know our opinions often differ, but that’s ok, you’re still awesome. But I also want the same respect for me. This
isn't because I’m Mormon either; I speak as a Christian in general.
I think (don’t quote me or anything) that the USA has an
amendment that says something to the effect that we have the right of freedom
of speech and religion. That goes for religious AND non-religious.
So let me wrap this up with this: Don’t stop posting your
opinion. You have a right to it. And I think it’s healthy sometimes to dispute
a point. But please please please PLEASE be respectful. If you vehemently disagree
with someone, wait for about a week and write your own post about it, instead
as a direct retaliation. And expect disagreement to your opinion. That’s ok. It’s
normal. Let’s start making tolerance a two way street again.
And I promise my next post is going to be more cheerful. :)
John 13:34
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