Toleration facts for kids
Toleration is when you allow or accept something, an idea, or a person, even if you don't completely agree with it or like it. It's about letting others be different without causing problems. The opposite of tolerance is intolerance, which means not accepting differences.
Some people see tolerance as a key part of human rights, meaning everyone should have the freedom to think and believe what they want. When you tolerate something, you might think it's not the best, but you still believe it should be left alone.
Intolerance can lead to serious issues like hate crimes and hate speech. It has often been seen in dictatorships, where leaders don't allow different ideas. Tolerance is often important when it comes to religion (called religious toleration), political opinions, different nations, races, disabilities, or gender identity.
Contents
A Look Back: How Tolerance Grew
Early Ideas on Freedom of Thought
In 1859, a thinker named John Stuart Mill wrote a book called "On Liberty". He believed that people's opinions should never be stopped or silenced. He said that false beliefs are bad, but trying to stop them is even worse. He thought that everyone should be free to express their thoughts.
Later, in 1882, French historian and philosopher Ernest Renan wrote about what makes a nation. He suggested that a nation is built on shared memories and feelings, not just on having the same religion, race, or language. This meant that people of any religion could be a full part of their country. He famously said, "You can be French, English, German, yet Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, or practicing no religion."
Human Rights for Everyone
After World War II, in 1948, the United Nations created the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 18 of this important document says:
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This means you can change your religion or belief. You can also show your religion or belief, alone or with others, in public or private, through teaching, practice, worship, and traditions.
Even though this Declaration isn't a strict law, it has greatly influenced many countries' rules and laws since 1948. It helps protect and promote human rights, including the freedom of religion, all around the world.
Tolerance in Today's World
Sometimes, tolerance can be tricky because it might seem to go against other important ideas, like national laws or strong beliefs. For example, in France, there have been discussions about whether students should be allowed to wear religious head scarves in public schools. This is a conflict between religious practice and France's idea of a non-religious government. Another ongoing issue is how Romani people are treated in European countries, showing challenges with tolerance or intolerance.
Images for kids
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Sculpture Für Toleranz ("for tolerance") by Volkmar Kühn, Gera, Germany
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The cross of the war memorial and the Menorah for Jewish people coexist in Oxford.
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Minerva as a symbol of enlightened wisdom protects the believers of all religions (Daniel Chodowiecki, 1791)
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Original act of the Warsaw Confederation 1573. The beginning of religious freedom in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
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The Maryland Toleration Act, passed in 1649.
See also
In Spanish: Tolerancia social para niños
