Comments on: Thinking about Tolerance http://blog.evangelicalrealism.com/2008/02/23/thinking-about-tolerance/ The theology of Reality Sun, 11 Sep 2011 22:49:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: mjrobbins http://blog.evangelicalrealism.com/2008/02/23/thinking-about-tolerance/comment-page-1/#comment-390 mjrobbins Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:41:41 +0000 http://realevang.wordpress.com/?p=275#comment-390 I think the problem for Christians is that because the definition of what is and isn't sin can vary so widely, and because in practice there is no central authority to decide, they risk looking as though they pick and choose the things that they want to regard as sinful based on their own pre-existing beliefs. For example, do people start declaring that homosexuality is wrong *because* of their religion, or simply because they don't like it? I'm reminded a little of conspiracy theorists who spend hours sifting the internet for little pieces of evidence to support their "theories", while disregarding all else. Anyway, the point I'm making is that (to me at least) Christians come across as using religion as a handy support for their own existing intolerances - which makes them seem all the more, well, intolerant. A second problem then is why they have to come out and be so aggressively opinionated. For example, if you believe that homosexuality is a sin, why should it bother you if some stranger sins? Why should it bother you if too gay people get married or live together? If your beliefs are right, they'll go to hell, and if not then it doesn't matter. Either way, you live your life regardless. This need that many Christians have to meddle in other people's affairs makes them seem just plain intolerant, or even vindictive. As for the suggestion that labeling someone as intolerant is, in itself, intolerant, that line of reasoning fall apart when you realize that it's the equivalent of saying that because I don't tolerate racism, I must be racist-ist. Anyway, great blog, and I enjoy your writing. Martin (LayScience.net) I think the problem for Christians is that because the definition of what is and isn’t sin can vary so widely, and because in practice there is no central authority to decide, they risk looking as though they pick and choose the things that they want to regard as sinful based on their own pre-existing beliefs.

For example, do people start declaring that homosexuality is wrong *because* of their religion, or simply because they don’t like it? I’m reminded a little of conspiracy theorists who spend hours sifting the internet for little pieces of evidence to support their “theories”, while disregarding all else.

Anyway, the point I’m making is that (to me at least) Christians come across as using religion as a handy support for their own existing intolerances – which makes them seem all the more, well, intolerant.

A second problem then is why they have to come out and be so aggressively opinionated. For example, if you believe that homosexuality is a sin, why should it bother you if some stranger sins? Why should it bother you if too gay people get married or live together? If your beliefs are right, they’ll go to hell, and if not then it doesn’t matter. Either way, you live your life regardless. This need that many Christians have to meddle in other people’s affairs makes them seem just plain intolerant, or even vindictive.

As for the suggestion that labeling someone as intolerant is, in itself, intolerant, that line of reasoning fall apart when you realize that it’s the equivalent of saying that because I don’t tolerate racism, I must be racist-ist.

Anyway, great blog, and I enjoy your writing.

Martin

(LayScience.net)

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