Religious Tolerance for Social Harmony: An Unmasking

Abstract

This study problematizes the concept of tolerance in relation to creating a sustainable and harmonious co-existence amidst a religiously pluralistic society. It highlights the conceptual flaws that underlie tolerance such as the absorption of difference to the same or identitarian thinking, and argues that such a tolerance is inadequate for social harmony.

The alternative conceptual basis for tolerance is explored within the Levinasian ethics of responsibility and the Lyotardian just-gaming. These provide a viable framework for tolerance at the socio-political level without having to reduce the difference to the same. They also present a more robust sense of justice and equality for authentic social harmony. Given the close relations between justice, equality, religious and social harmony, social justice becomes the litmus-test for religious tolerance in a pluralistic society. The quality of social justice then, reflects the quality of tolerance that a religiously pluralistic society is willing to adhere to create social harmony or otherwise.