The popularity of the coexistence image skyrocketed after U2 used the image as part of their Vertigo concert tour. U2 used the coexist image as a backdrop to a portion of the concert, and Bono wore the coexist design on his headband.
Meaning of the Coexist Symbols
Piotr Mlodozeniec’s basic coexistence design is uncomplicated and easy to understand. The design uses three symbols that stand for Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Mlodozeniec modified the word “coexist” in the following ways:- for the letter “c,” a crescent moon representing Islam is substituted
- for the letter “x,” the Star of David representing Judaism is substituted
- for the letter “t,” a cross representing Christianity is substituted
- for the letter “o,” the peace symbol or pagan/Wiccan pentacle is substituted
- for the letter “e,” a male/female symbol or a scientific equation is substituted
- for the letter “i,” a pagan/Wiccan symbol is substituted
- for the letter “s,” a Chinese yin-yang symbol is substituted
Promoting Peace and Coexistence Among Different Religions
The coexist design used on many religious tolerance products promotes peace and reconciliation among people of different faiths, belief systems, and worldviews. The first coexist design focused on harmony between the three great monotheistic faiths – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.Newer coexist designs expand the tolerance message to also include earth-centered and Eastern religions as well as issues surrounding religion and science and gender, including homosexuality.
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This view of tolerance has invaded both religious and secular society. We see and hear it all the time. You ever hear the phrase, "You cannot judge me". When people say this what is really meant is that you cannot judge me because my world view is different than yours and since there is no absolute truth, both sides are correct. This new tolerance is a part of the post-modern though that there is no absolute truth. Truth is just a social construct. How and where you were raised is the deciding factor. Peoples in one part of the world have a different truth then those in a different region. It is all personal. An example may help:
A color blind person sees things in shades of gray. This is how they perceive the wold at large. It is truth to them. A person who is not color blind sees things in color and it is truth to them. They have two different perspectives when viewing the same object. Therefore the conclusion (at least to the post-modernist) is that both are correct since what they bring to the table is different.
I see at least two insurmountable problems with this view of tolerance.
1) It is self refuting.
This view is self refuting since the person stating that there is no absolute truth is making the claim that there is an absolute truth. It is absolutely true that there is no absolute truth. This view refutes itself logically. You cannot have your cake and eat it to. When a person makes the claim that we should be tolerant of all views, why are they not tolerant of my view that there is an absolute truth. To be true to the system, the person should state that it is perfectly okay for me to disagree with others and to promote the concept of absolute truth. Yet this is not what we see happening in the world. The view of Christianity has been the target of most of the attacks. Just look at what happens in the work place of in the public school system. Why are they not tolerant of the Christian view if we are to be tolerant of ALL views?
2) If absolute truth does exist, should I not inform others?
If there is an absolute truth (not trying to defend absolute truth in this article, will discuss at a later time), am I not required to tell others about it? If you see a person about to shoot themselves in the head, does not intuition tell you to stop them? But wait a minute, that persons view of truth may be that they sincerely believe that no harm will come to them. To keep with the tenants of post-modern tolerance, we should simply let them do it since that is what they believe. This would be not only anti-intuitive, but against the law perhaps? I believe we see the problem that the post-modern tolerance brings to the table.
3) Truth is NOT tolerant
This is the the answer to the $64,000.00 question. It matters not what I personal believe. The fact is truth is truth. Going back to the example of the person who is color blind. It matters not what color the person sees. What determines color? It is the pigmentation of the item. Remember what we learned in school (for some of us it may be a little hazy), color is determined by which light waves are absorbed and which are reflected. That is what determines the color and not the person's perception of it.
The Bible says that it is truth (John 17:17). It maintains that it is our ultimate standard for determining the truth about this physical world and the spiritual world. This claim of the Bible can be defended to the point that the only way to deny it is to be irrational and arbitrary. It is the one and only world view that can make sense of the world around us. From this the Bible based christian can and is required to proclaim that truth to others (1 Peter 3:15; Jude 3). Since the Bible proclaims all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and that their will be a judgement (Acts 17:31) and that those who are proclaimed to be unrighteous will suffer everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:46), it is every Biblical Christians duty to inform others of the truth. Just like it is our responsibility to inform someone who is about to shoot themselves in the head that it will do great harm to them.
So what exactly is tolerance? I believe the Bible gives us a clear understanding of it. In every account of the servants of God proclaiming the truth, what do we see? We see them proclaiming the truth and then we see if it is accepted or not. When it is, we see conversion (Acts 2), when it is not we see the servants of God going to someone else (Matt. 10:16-23). This is actual tolerance. You can believe what you want. God will not force anyone to believe. It is left up to us to accept the truth or to deny the truth and go about our lives.
The new post-modern tolerance is in fact not tolerant at all. As we look at court cases, the work environment, and our school system we see intolerance at the fore front. You are not allowed to express the truth to others.
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