COMBATING BIGOTRY & HATE | APRIL 13, 2017

I Will Not Tolerate Hatred

I have been a Scientologist for over 15 years, and very publicly so. In working with my church and its members I am surrounded by some of the most decent, friendly, intelligent, helpful, caring, hardworking (and did I mention funny and charming?), incredible people I have ever known. I have had fellow Scientologists bend over backward to help me in life and I have had the opportunity to apply Scientology to help countless people change and improve their lives.

Scene from the L. Ron Hubbard book on film “The Way To Happiness” with the message we should not tolerate someone’s beliefs being the butt of another’s jokes.

As I have always been very overt about my beliefs, I have experienced my fair share of discrimination and religious intolerance. I have been laughed at, I have been spit on, I have had people tell their children not to talk to me. I once attended a birthday party where a girl was literally scared to be around me based on the slander and hate speech she had received about my belief system. I could write about a number of such experiences, but the point is: We are beautiful and discrimination is not. We are strong and discrimination is weak.

This is not something I talk about often. I have always chosen to shine light on the beauty in this world and all of the good people in it. I choose not to spread the hatred and lies of a small percentage of individuals who are too damaged and afraid to allow others to be themselves. I have seen the horrible discrimination and violence that others have suffered because of their skin tone or that their religious choice is made visible by the way they dress, and always known that what they endured—and the bravery they displayed in boldly being and believing despite discrimination and hatred—was something I would always honor and never personally experience to the degree that they did.

Whoever you are and whatever you believe, I love you, I respect you, I want you to live the most beautiful life that you can possibly create. I want you to survive well and be loved. Whoever you are and whatever you believe, I will stand up for your right to believe it. I support you and I love you and I want to live in a world that is tolerant and kind.

Religious discrimination is ugly. It’s hurtful, destructive and unacceptable. Everyone of every faith has the right to practice and believe. This is a fundamental human right. Religion and faith is a powerful, beautiful, wonderful thing. It brings communities together, it provides refuge, it connects you to God and to your own soul. Whatever your faith, whatever your belief—even if what you believe is entirely unique, even if you believe nothing at all—you have a right to your own spirituality. You have a right to your own soul. You have a right to practice your religion with dignity, respect and love from others.

Whoever you are and whatever you believe, I love you, I respect you, I want you to live the most beautiful life that you can possibly create. I want you to survive well and be loved. Whoever you are and whatever you believe, I will stand up for your right to believe it. I support you and I love you and I want to live in a world that is tolerant and kind.

I will not tolerate hatred, I will not tolerate discrimination and hate speech. I will not tolerate someone’s beliefs being the butt of another’s jokes. I will not tolerate rumors and slander that minimize the spiritual experience of another.

I am Elizabeth. I am a Scientologist. This is my religion. I am proud to claim it. I will continue to work hard to create a world where every individual can proudly claim their beliefs with respect and dignity. I invite every one of you to join me.

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AUTHOR

Elisabeth Donaldson

Actress, artist, freelance creative, style blogger, lover of humans.

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