Tolerance is a good thing, but like everything else in life, it’s essential that it’s understood properly. There is a terrible misunderstanding going around that to be tolerant is to draw no distinctions between any beliefs. Any two opinions are just as valid, and everyone’s opinion is equal. Don’t say anything rude to anybody, because they have every bit as much right to their opinion as you do.

That’s bullshit. You don’t agree to disagree about the facts. The world is how it is, and if you can prove it, you should. If someone tells you wiccan healing magic is just as good as surgery and real medicine, you tell them that they’re bat shit crazy. That kind of belief will lead them to hurt themselves, or others, or the very least, waste money and fund quacks and lunatics.

The facts extend pretty far, they DO include some religious claims, especially claims about history. Intelligent design, creationism. These are false claims with some religious tinge. Go ahead and let people know they’re bullshit. These claims are also harmful to a person, believing falsehoods does usually lead to harm, sooner or later.

There are matters of pure preference, like favourite colour. Don’t argue with someone over which colour is best (except as a joke), because that’s completely personal preference. These instances, where the entire claim is about personal preference are the only circumstance where you can’t say someone is wrong.

HOWEVER, if someone’s opinion is based on a falsehood (for example, they believe America is the best country because it has the cheapest education system) you can certainly tell them their opinion is wrong, precisely be telling them that the fact that their opinion is based on is false.

So go ahead, call bullshit on liars and people who believe crazy things. It’s not intolerant. Lies and falsehoods don’t deserve to be treated the same as the truth, and it’s a bizarre misguided understanding of open-mindedness to think that.