Is teaching tolerance more important than teaching religion?

Yes. In schools it is more important to teach tolerance towards other religions than the doctrines of individual faiths. Where intolerant people teach religion, no tolerance can grow at all.

In a society where people of many religions live together, children above all need to learn to respect one another. Whoever learns tolerance towards other religions can live peacefully with everyone. A child learns the doctrines of their own religion within the family anyway.

The problem begins when religion is taught by intolerant people. Then no tolerance can be taught at all, however good the state’s intentions may be. Whoever teaches children that everyone else is wrong and that their values must be fought sows the seeds of future conflict.

That is why it is dangerous for the state to fund religious schools without conditions. Two things would be sensible. First, communities that want their own religious teaching should provide the funds themselves. Second, the state should keep the right to look in and make sure that this teaching does not run counter to peace in the country.

Islam itself stands clearly on the side of tolerance. The first verse above says there is no compulsion in religion. The second explains that God made people different so that they may come to know one another. Whoever passes this attitude on to children is teaching religion in the best sense.