I would be quite content to go to their children's bar mitzvahs, to marvel at their Gothic cathedrals, to 'respect' their belief that the Koran was dictated, though exclusively in Arabic, to an illiterate merchant, or to interest myself in Wicca and Hindu and Jain consolations. And as it happens, I will continue to do this without insisting on the polite reciprocal condition - which is that they in turn leave me alone. But this, religion is ultimately incapable of doing.

Summary

This quote expresses the author's willingness to appreciate and respect various religious practices and beliefs, regardless of their differences. The author is open to attending different religious ceremonies, admiring architectural marvels, and acknowledging diverse religious texts. However, the quote suggests that while the author is willing to show this tolerance, they also express frustration that religion, inherently, lacks the ability to reciprocate this same degree of peaceful coexistence. The quote implies that religion often fails to respect personal boundaries and differences, leading to conflicts and the inability to simply agree to disagree.

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