I preached a sermon last month critical of the modern understanding of tolerance. Tolerance once embraced the belief that honest people can and do disagree. Today, however, tolerance is the acceptance that "it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you believe something." I strongly disagree. Not all religions are equal...and a religion that encourages terrorism is evil.
 
So imagine my pleasant surprise to be browsing a book store and find a new release God is Not One: The Eight Religions That Run the World - and Why Their Differences Matter by Stephen Prothero. The Boston University religion professor argues that to believe that all religions are fundamentally the same is "dangerous, disrespectful, and untrue." Looking at the different core beliefs of the religions, Prothero notes that "tolerance and respect are empty virtues until we actually know something about whomever it is we are supposed to be tolerating or respecting."  
 
Well said.