From the point of view of society, tolerance is the ability of a person or social group to accept another person or social group who has an attitude different from what is normal in their own group. Thus, based on tolerance, acceptance of social differences and freedom of expression are guaranteed. To tolerate something or someone is to allow something to go on, even if the person does not agree with such a value, since the respect of disagreeing is given.
The Christian principle of examining one's conscience over one's actions, realizing one's mistakes, and asking forgiveness for them is the ideological basis of modern “mental prisons”.
I was free to interview a friend from the Czech Republic, a country that lived intensely in scientific socialism, which persecuted the Christian religion, as well as others.
Below is the interview with the Czech writer and political/social activist Jana Karásková
Célio Azevedo: Can you tell me something about your path to faith? First I will ask you what is the situation in your country - Czech Republic. Which churches have the most believers?
Jana Karásková: Our country currently has a population of 10.5 million. In the census of 2021, almost half did not answer the question of religious beliefs and 1.4 million identified themselves as believers.
There is a constant decline - in 1991 after the Velvet Revolution there were 4.5 million of believers, in 2001 3.3 million and in 2011 only 1.5 million. Most are Catholics - about a million. There are already 74 churches registered, and even 21,000 people have joined the Jedi (Sith from StarWars). There are about 60,000 members of evangelical and Protestant churches. Other religions are not very represented.
But more and more people consider themselves believers without belonging to any church. After 1991, quite a lot of people became interested in esoterics, alternative medicine, various rituals, shamanism, introduction to the so-called "past lives. - the doctrine of reincarnation seems to be more and more popular.
The Czech state is secular, and is considered one of the most atheist nations in the world. In a European Commission Eurobarometer survey in 2005, only 19% of the Czech population said they believe God exists and 50% said they believe there is some kind of spirit or life force.
Historically, there have been tragic religious clashes between the Hussites and the Crusaders in our territory, and many Protestants have had to leave the country during re-Catholicization. The most known is famous „Tteacher of nations“ Jan Amos Komenský. Due to wars and plagues, the Czech lands lost about a third of their population at that time.
Célio Azevedo: Had the believers been persecuted during the 40 years of communist rule?
Jana Karásková: Yes, the Communist Party was in power since 1948, and was trying to suppress the faith. Priests were imprisoned, and some did not survive difficult conditions. The monastic orders were dissolved, their property taken by government. The current Cardinal Duka was one of the prisoners. The so-called "underground church" was established and the new priests were secretly ordained abroad, mostly in Poland. Some priests were persuaded to cooperate with the state security.
The state worked hard to keep young people from being subjected to the "unscientific opium of humanity." The curricula of schools, the content of films and books were subject to this. The Catholic Church was portrayed very critically.
Optional teaching of (Catholic) religion was allowed and common in 50ties, especially in villages, but later fewer and fewer children took part.
The Hussites' initial efforts to have everything in common and to live as an early church were portrayed as a model of communism. Tábor - the town where I live - was founded by the Hussites.
Emphasis was placed on teaching the evolutionary theory of the origin of life, and faith in Creation by God was described as something backward, medieval. That's how I took it - that only naive, stupid uneducated people can believe in "fairy tales" about God.
Célio Azevedo: Were your parents believers?
Jana Karásková: As a baby, I was baptized (Catholic ) - I think because of tradition, I didn't know it for a long time. My parents did not lead me to faith, they were unbelievers. Later they were not happy when I believed in God, my mother was ashamed of me when I enthusiastically told my neighbors about it.
My father thought I "threw away my brain." I was surprised at what my father had told me about his faith - his mother forced him to pray every day, and he feared that if he didn't, something terrible would happen. Once he had the courage not to pray, and nothing happened. This became proof to him of the non-existence of God.
As a child, I was told "Little Jesus wears presents" at Christmas, but I didn't know anything about Jesus . I once saw a large cross in a cemetery with a statue of Jesus and asked in amazement, "Who is this man"?
I used to suffer from severe annihilation anxiety (awareness of nothingness after death) from time to time. I did not understand how people can rejoice and try to achieve anything when nothing awaits us in future, and often illness, pain . That awareness spoiled my feeling of life, even while I was young, intelligent, beautiful I used to feel that my life or that of my loved ones could end at any time.
Célio Azevedo: When has that changed? Do you consider yourself a believer today?
Jana Karásková: My path to faith surprisingly led through science - molecular genetics. When I was about 30 years old, I taught programming languages at university, I could see how intelligent students think, how thoughtful and complex their programs and projects were. At that time, I was interested in a new field of science - molecular genetics. And I was shocked to see similarities - encoded information using DNA and RNA, transcription, "editors", translators, etc. I saw Intelligent Design in it.
My worldview has completely changed. I began to believe that there was a Creator and that perhaps more could be learned about him. I became interested in different religions, spirituality, churches. And I started praying to get an answer. I began to seek the truth about the world, the creation of life, people, soul / psyche / t, about God. I read many books, listened and read testimonies, and started attending various Christian churches. I wondered why they have different translations of the Bible, different interpretations.
Célio Azevedo: Which churches did you meet personally?
Jana Karásková: At first (with a friend who also studied programming and Intelligent Design) I met Jehovah's Witnesses, later others - Protestants, Adventists, Baptists, Unitarians, Mormons, I even went to see Reverend Moon when he arrived in Prague. I did not understand how people who did not know each other could marry according to his choice. I am very critical, so I have the opposite problem than obeying - problem to believe teachings of any church.
About 20 years ago, I started going to the neocatechumenate community of the Catholic Church.
I am glad that our priest understands my problems with texts more, and brothers and sisters have patience with me and my critical attitude.
Célio Azevedo: What contradictions do you see in biblical texts?
Jana Karásková: I see the biggest contradiction in the texts of Old Testament with JHWH's orders for genocides - the extermination of the 7 nations of Canaan - orders to kill everything that breathes, including toddlers - and New Testament texts where Jesus teaches his disciples to love enemies, even sacrificing his life for murderers and criminals. Jesus says My Father loves enemies and He never changes.
Jesus' teaching on loving enemies seems to be more like the teachings of the Buddha than Old Ttestament teachings for me. Jesus did not hesitate to use harsh words to the Pharisees - "Your Father is the Devil, the Father of lies," I am not surprised that they wanted to crucify him.
Today, genocide is considered the worst crime, and I perceive such violence as Evil. I can hardly understand the defense of genocide as a higher good of a merciful God (whose thoughts we cannot understand as ordinary people)
Moreover, such an attitude seems dangerous to me because it can be abused. I believe that Hitler could have been inspired by biblical texts (which he knew) about the chosen nation, the millennial empire, the elimination of other inferior and sinful nations. Unfortunately, many Germans were also enthusiastic about his vision. It led to the war and the Holocaust.
On the other hand, some Israeli rabbis are advocating the "cleansing" of God's promised territory from the Palestinians ("Pelistians") by the Israeli army.
I have met few believers who perceive the texts as much as I did. Billions of Christians and Muslims (who also know the "Book") consider the eliminating 7 sinful nations was the right protection of the chosen nation of Israel.
For many years I prayed for having peace of mind about this, but I cannot perceive the massacres as merciful actions. Maybe because I have children myself, and that I can imagine such cruel battlefield scenes. This way of occupying "houses they didn't build, vineyards they didn't plant" seems to me to be terrible.
I can't sing celebratory songs about it, I almost couldn't listen to the celebratory sermon on such theme. Later (after I studied psychology) I understood that I have a sharp division of Good and Evil probably due to my personality structure.
Perhaps the Hussites perceived it similarly when they sang the mighty chant "Who are God's warriors and his Law" while preparing to kill the Crusaders. Or Crusaders going to protect Jerusalem. "God is on our side" attitude… Jihadists going to the "holy fight", Russian pop consecrating nuclear weapons.
I hope to remain a Christian. I have several personal experiences of hearing prayers, and Jesus' sacrifice of Love is the most.
Célio Azevedo: Thank you for the interview, Jana