Tolerance: what's new?

Warning: long and wordy post ahead of you!..but please read it!!

Can you define "tolerance" for me? No really, in your mind, define the word "tolerance". AFTER you have defined it inside your cranium, noodle, or whatever you use to cogitate, go look it (the word "tolerance", not your brain...) up on Google, and dictionary.com. Yes, you 'read me' correctly, go to Google and dictionary.com and type in "define: tolerance".

Ahh, two definitions particularly catch my eye. One of them (near the top of the Google results) reads: "[the] willingness to recognize and respect the beliefs and practices of others." The second definition (near the top of the dictionary.com page) reads: "a fair, objective and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own." At first glance both of these definitions seem just about the same right? Both opinions advocate respect for other peoples' beliefs. Well, there IS a difference between these two definitions, and while it might seem small at first, it's actually pretty big and pretty important.

Let's take a closer look at these definitions. The first definition calls us to "recognize and respect" the beliefs of others; meaning exactly what it says: we have to acknowledge what others believe, and then allow them to believe it while we believe what we believe. Okie doke, fair enough. Now let's move on to the second definition.

The second definition says that we are to have "a fair, objective and permissive attitude" toward opinions or beliefs that are different than our own. That's a little harder to understand than the first definition. Hmm, let's define some terms. How do we define a fair attitude? Maybe...an unbiased attitude or opinion? Sounds good. How do we define an objective attitude? An attitude not influenced by personal interpretation. How do we define a permissive attitude? An attitude that allows something to happen without obstruction. So the second definition says that we should have an unbiased, attitude that is not influenced by personal interpretation, and allows things to happen without obstruction.

Besides the latter being more wordy and harder to understand, do you see any major difference between these two definitions? What's that now, do I see any differences? Why, yes I do! Sorry, say that again...? Oh, you'd like me to share the differences that I see with you? Well ok then! I'd be glad to :) Here we go:

While the first definition would have us simply respect and acknowledge other people's beliefs, the second definition goes a step further and tells us that we should treat all beliefs fairly and unbiased-ly. In doing this, the second definition is asking us to accept all beliefs as equal. If we accept all beliefs as equal, then they must all be true. So, let's see what this means. This means that if you believe that 2 + 2 = 4, but I believe 2 + 2 = 7328, we're both right, and both of our statements are true, and you cannot tell me I'm wrong and I cannot tell you you're because all beliefs are accepted as equal and true! This second definition of 'tolerance' is called the new tolerance.

What happens when this new tolerance is applied to religion? All religions are made equal, and the thoughts that they present are made equal too. Do you see what this means?! It means that Christianity is just as equal and right as Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Atheism, Pantheism, etc.! It is forcing the Christianity, which we as Christians know to be absolute truth, to be equated with the non-truths of all other religions. There is no right, there is no wrong; it's all the same.

Just think about that for a while. What happens when this new tolerance is applied to every area of life? Ethics, morals, government, personal life, businesses, sports, etc.? What happens?

Think about it, and comment with your thoughts.

Until next time,

Beloved