Tolerance in the psycho-cultural and social-religious view and the current actuality

Abstract

Everywhere: in media, schools, community, family and social milieus, institutions, and administration or while settling disputes and conflicts, communicating among friends, we were faced with the words: tolerance, tolerant, more tolerance, be more tolerant while discussing, moreover while taking decisions, you are tolerant or not, thinks, behave or act with tolerance, etc. Not only in the expression, but mostly in the content of the word: in its connotation and interpretation, there are noticed some equivoques, misunderstandings, biases, and why not, confusions as well.

In the everyday live, it often happens that the concept and meaning of tolerance are confused with similar concepts, but which are not the same be it in the social meaning or in psycho-cultural and religious ones.

The everyday life provides numerous examples full of confusions, conflicts, rebellions, affective emotional states, impulsiveness, self-judgments, and disputes, which give the impression of tolerant stands and behaviors or tolerantly treated and solved issues, but in reality, it's quite the opposite.

Some months ago, in a meeting held in a rural area with the object revenge and vengeance and participation of representatives of various professions, ages, cultures, and sub-cultures, the number of those who answered positively and without hesitating to the question: "Should we be tolerant?" was dominant.
All participants shared a common opinion: Man should respect and love others and leave room for their activities; he should be able to understand everybody's behaviors, stands and interests, making the best to put them into life. Also, he has to evaluate religious traditions, beliefs and rites carried by individuals and social groups of all religions and religious sects when they behave and act in conformity with the civil ethics, society's moral and legislation as a whole.
In brief: people are for tolerance.

The Islamic religion and its fundamental documents, starting from the Holy Book, the Koran, deals with disputes and conflicts, quarrels and rows as complicated phenomena, but which should be treated and settled down with quietness and wisdom, with words and well-understanding.

By Allah's order, it (the Islamic religion) calls upon its believers: ". with sound wisdom and fair admonition. And as to all people argue gently with them in the fairest manner. Indeed, it is your Lord alone who knows best all those who have strayed from His straight path; and He knows best all those who are guided aright." (Koran, Surah 16, Ayat 125). Every other interpretation is malicious and blows the fire for religious dissention, a thing that all people have declined.

They live with the hope that tomorrow will be much better, that the centers of tension caused and incited by world's politics will be prevented one day.

The Islamic religion, like the other religions, has as a mission the inter-religious co-existence in peace, understanding and harmony. "God commands the execution of justice among you and the doing of good to others and giving of charity to close relatives. He forbids all obscenity and shameful deeds and aggression. He admonishes you with this so that you may become mindful to His commandments." (Koran, Surah 16, Ayat 90)

By carrying out this analysis and call for peace and understanding, the religion emphasizes in its documents that Allah has control over our acts and behaviors and judges for our tolerant or intolerant stands in the solution of disputes, conflicts, and other problems. He will judge us in the Hereafter for everything wrong we do in this temporary world.

School, family, state, civil society, community, and other institutions, hold the responsibility for the alleviation of the intolerant, aggressive, and violent situations in the current Albanian environment as well as for the true democratic and civil formation of people in general and youngsters in particular. This is their functional task in carrying out such a mission. Regarding this, religion and its institutions and mechanisms play a big role.