Truth Month - July 2024
Day 16 - True Tolerance allows for different viewpoints, and does not suppress others
What does it mean to be "tolerant"? Frequently there are claims that
You are just spreading hate speech.
You are unenlightened and uninformed if you don’t agree with us about gay rights.
You are denying people their rights by restricting marriage to 1 man + 1 woman.
You are intolerant of others' beliefs if you say Jesus is the only way to heaven.
Just because you believe that abortion is wrong, is no reason to deny my rights. Why are you so intolerant?
You just want to demean people and deny them dignity. You must be a bigot if you want to oppress someone who is just born that way.
Bigots should be punished and publicly exposed.
The relativist is quick to declare the other person intolerant or bigoted. But what they actually are saying is that you must agree or you will be labeled as intolerant, hateful, and bigoted. However, true tolerance requires differences of opinion or practice to be held, while respecting the person (but not necessarily the idea). You really can't tolerate people who share your views!
Classic tolerance means that the views of others should be permitted to be expressed, and thus we can allow for different beliefs without saying that the person is bad just because they hold them. On the other hand, it is expected that views and positions can be fairly challenged. Banning speech, shouting down college speakers, or canceling people over their beliefs is not tolerance, but is rather viewpoint discrimination.
TLDR Summary
Tolerate persons in all circumstances by giving them respect and courtesy even when their ideas are false, silly, or even offensive.
Tolerate (allow) behavior that is moral and consistent with the common good.
Tolerate (embrace/believe) ideas that are sound.
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves… Bless those who persecute you… Live in harmony with one another…” Romans 12:9-21
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