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RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE 4i
4i
for the unparalleled success she has achieved in her mission
for the cause of civilisation and culture in both hemispheres.
The case of religious tolerance, which, as already
mentioned, has also been proclaimed by the Russian Provisional
Government, is more complex than that of racial tolerance,
as the interests of the " Orthodox " religion and of the
State were hitherto deemed to be identical in Russia.
Religious tolerance is often confused with indifference
owing to the fact that the protagonists of tolerance have
often been men who were indifferent to religion. To them
intolerance in matters of religion could have no meaning,
and that was the reason why they were all for tolerance.
Voltaire, for example, in his defence of the brother Calas,
pleaded for tolerance in matters of religion ; and his friend
Frederick the Great of Prussia, who shared his religious
convictions, made it a rule that in his dominions every one
should be at liberty " to gain bliss in his own fashion."
As a matter of fact, tolerance is not necessarily the
outcome of indifference. It is based on a recognition of the
right of every human being to freedom of thought and
conscience, and on a broad appreciation of any honest
religious conviction, provided that such a conviction is not
contrary to recognised ethical principles. Thus tolerance
has in its essence nothing in common with indifference, but
exists independently as a principle of the highest order.
Christian religion unmistakably embodies this principle.
The writers of the New Testament laid down the rule,
" Judge not, that ye be not judged," and this denotes the
essence of tolerance, which involves not only a laissez-faire,
but also the avoidance of even mentally passing judgment
on other religious creeds and thus taking upon ourselves the
right of judging those to be wrong who do not concur in our
own belief. If the Christian Church has in the course of
history proved to be intolerant, this has been due to causes
absolutely foreign to its first conception, brought about as
a result of the lust for power and riches. Especially
pernicious was its identification with State rule and temporal
power. It was a fatal blow to the Christian religion when
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