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Tolerance
Tolerance. What does this word convey to you? Traditionally tolerance has meant putting up with people in spite of their belief, gender, race, culture, and sexual orientation – in short, we give people respect, even though we may not agree with their lifestyle or belief choices. However, over the past twenty or so years, tolerance has taken on new meaning. No longer does it mean to respect people in spite of their beliefs – it now refers to “a fair, objective, and (even) permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one’s own.” Dictionary.com If this definition is correct then, we are to have “a fair, objective, and permissive attitude” towards what others feel is right for them even though it may contradict what we ourselves believe to be true.
The postmodern mindset, which we should first try and understand to get to the crux of the matter, is that any and all notions of absolute, objective truth are to be dismissed in favor of many truths – you truth may not be my truth, but it’s truth none-the-less. Therefore, as the argument goes, there cannot, and should not, be one definitive truth. This means that any and every truth is truth, and just as valid as any other truth. In fact, the tolerance we speak of today no longer speaks of respecting the person, but of respecting, and even giving credence, to their religious ideals, sexual orientation, lifestyle choices, moral standards, and so on, irregardless of one’s own beliefs.
Therefore, if we are to believe this way of thinking then all truth is truth, and all truth is equal, no matter what you or I say.
Okay, let’s run with this thinking for a few moments (that’s all it will take to show that this line of thinking doesn’t work). What of the beliefs of Adolph Hitler and his followers? Their belief system included the fact that there were people who were considered lesser beings – Jews, homosexuals, Gypsy’s, and anyone else who didn’t fit their model of what it was to be a “pure blood human being.” What about the KKK or other white supremacist movements? According to our new definition of tolerance, we must respect their beliefs and moral ideals, even though they breath out a doctrine of hate toward anyone who is not white.
Okay these are some extreme examples, but this is exactly what today’s tolerance stands for; not only tolerating anyone, as is biblically correct, but tolerating anything they believe, no matter how far out and morally evil their beliefs may be. Not only that, but if this is true, then why is such intolerance shown by those who supposedly support this “new” tolerance? For example, I know of several cases where pastors and church leaders have spoken up against the practice of homosexuality and have been chastised, or worse, because of it.
One pastor I personally know, was speaking one time about homosexuality. He first made it very clear that he was not preaching a message of hate and that we are to love anyone and everyone as Jesus loves them. During his sermon he was challenged by a group of men who declared they were gay and told him they would not stand for his intolerance. A few days after my friend was the victim of a hate crime, as he was beaten by the very men who had made a stand for tolerance.
Obviously their idea of “tolerance” is a double standard. If anyone demands of another person that they must give validation and blessing towards their lifestyle choices, then they must likewise give the same amount of respect and tolerance to those who hold differing views to theirs.
For me personally, I tolerate all people in spite of their lifestyle and beliefs. However, I draw the line there and will not tolerate practices that contradict my beliefs or moral standards, which are informed by my faith. If someone has a problem with this, then I say take it up with the one who declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
April, 2009
Picture by Raphael Castello
