A Lack of Tolerance

I wonder what would happen if you conducted a random survey in which you interviewed people about their feelings about others. The survey would ask basic questions about your impressions of different ethnic groups, religions and would involve class too.

My gut suggests that without including an element of anonymity you would find very sterile answers that suggest an immense tolerance and appreciation for others. My gut also suggests that if you made it anonymous the results would be much different and you would receive something far less enlightened.

I also suspect that very few of the less enlightened see themselves as being intolerant, if for no other reason then we tend to view ourselves in the most favorable light. We don’t like to look in the shadowy corners and see what is hiding in the darker places within. It is much easier to ignore those places.

Well, I try to look in those corners. Not because I think that I am better, I most certainly am not. I look because I have an infinite amount of curiosity about how I think and function. I like understanding myself. I may have to blog about that later. For now let me share this. There are some groups of people that I am simply intolerant of.

In this particular case I am thinking specifically about people who call themselves messianic Jews or Jews for Jesus.. As long time readers know you cannot be Jewish and believe that Jesus is anything other than a person who might have once lived.

But these poor souls are quite confused and under the misguided impression that you can. You simply cannot, it is like claiming that you are partially pregnant, an impossibility.

What I do not like about them is their missionary work. They engage in a very twisted and sick form of proselytization. I don’t like people who have a hidden agenda that is not in my best interest, but claim otherwise. I don’t like people who need to use deceptive tactics, who engage in chicanery and deceit. I don’t like duplicity. I don’t like missionaries who target children. I don’t like missionaries who try and take advantage of ignorance to promote their own form of idolatry.

I like to try and judge people based upon their actions. So to be fair I should say that I only dislike those members who are part of active evangelization efforts, but if I am truly honest then I have to admit that my perception colors my view of all of the members. It is not nice, but it is honest.

Long time readers know that I am not real friendly towards any missionary group, but if I had to choose I prefer those who come out and say that they are Christian as opposed to the confused few who claim to be messianic. Feh!