Today tolerance is equal to indifference and has become an idol of civilized society - Vladimir Legoyda

Moscow, October 19, 2010

Tolerance in the modern world is equal to indifference, has become an idol of civilized society, the head of the Synodal Information Department, Vladimir Legoyda, said.

"Tolerance is one of modern society's idols. More and more often, tolerance means an indifferent attitude to others," Legoyda said on the air at the Komsomolskaya Pravda radio station.

According to him, accusation of intolerance is one of the most terrible accusations in the modern world. Meanwhile, Legoyda recalled something the Polish film director, Krzysztof Zanussi, once said: "tolerance without love is indifference."

Legoyda believes that problems of the multicultural European society arise because Europe "is gradually denying its Christian roots."

"Points of tension emerge not among believers of various religions, but rather between secular, non-religious society and representatives of various religions," the head of the Information Department said.

He pointed to the unique character of Russian experience that demonstrates how Orthodoxy and Islam has peacefully coexisted for centuries.

Legoyda said that when at a session of the working group the Council of Europe in Macedonia he suggested they exclude from life, as far as it is possible, insults of religious feelings, he received an answer that this is very difficult to do. They said, "You should tolerate it and get used to it!"

According to the Church official, writers of modern provisions on human rights and freedoms do not even think that "every (individual) personality is not just a creature, without traditions and feelings."

Interfax-Religion

10/19/2010

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×