Richard M. Waugaman ’70

3 Weeks Ago

Pluralism, Diversity, and the Danger of Intolerance

Excellent. Sad that Sigall’s important work is described as “antisemitic.” That’s like crying wolf. It dilutes the meaning of true antisemitism, which is a dangerous plague.

I’ve heard that one goal of ultra-Orthodox education is to immunize children against ever mixing with outsiders. The narrowness of their education means they are likely to restrict themselves to their own community.

We live in a pluralistic society. Diversity along with tolerance creates strength. But with intolerance, it produces the weakness of divisiveness. We desperately need to move in the direction of greater tolerance, and celebration of differences.

Religious diversity is healthy. But intolerance of other religions — and of others within our own religious tradition — is the Achilles heel of monotheism. Claiming the universe has only one true G-d and that he prefers us over all others is a self-centered recipe for unending conflict.

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