Ever since I have been focused more on not judging other people’s beliefs or lifestyles, I have developed a habit of judging those who judge others. That is, I criticize and tear down those who criticize and tear down others.

This, I feel, is not consistent. If I am truly focused on being less judgmental, this needs to also apply to those who are judgmental. This is similar to the principle of tolerance. If you want to really practice tolerance, you must also be tolerant of the intolerant, even those who don’t tolerate your position to be tolerant!

This requires a great deal of humility. However, it also brings the most true freedom from being affected by what other people do and believe. Here are some things I’ve learned in attempting to integrate this attitude of acceptance and understanding into my life:

1. Stop trying to solve the world’s problems, and just focus on fixing your own. When I run out of things to work on in my life, then I might try to help the world out some more. Until then, it is probably better for me to focus on getting my own house together.
2. Realize that love is stronger than argument for the intolerant. Instead of mimicking the intolerance of others, be different. Allow them to speak their minds. Don’t correct them. Remember, you have been there before yourself, when you just needed someone to let you rant. Sometimes the best way to fight people’s intolerance, if that is your goal, is to just accept their intolerance, that their opinions matter, that they are important. Once they realize this, they might have the motivation to focus on something more productive than tearing down the beliefs and lifestyles of others.
3. Seek to learn from those who are judgmental. First, realize the tendencies you have to be the same way, and let these people be a reminder of what you don’t want to be like. Second, realize that these people have a lot of knowledge and truth; they just choose to apply it destructively rather than productively. Acquire the wisdom they have without picking up their attitude of intolerance.

Ultimately, judging other people’s beliefs and lifestyles is not wrong. In fact, it is almost impossible to avoid in a lot of cases. However, what I want is to be able to judge rationally and justly, and this requires purposely withholding judgment for the time being to discover how to do this.

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” ~ John 7:24