Tolerance Gone Bad

Definitions are important. Words shape our understanding, and words used poorly distort our thoughts and actions. When intolerance of people who do not yet have faith becomes a virtue, we have left the gospel of Jesus far behind us. I have already written on this (Tolerance is not Approval). But when we make tolerance in matters of truth a virtue, then we have left productive thought behind. We can value pluralism in matters of opinion, but never in matters of truth.

Open-mindedness means that we are willing to explore and test new ideas. Open-mindedness is not the belief that everyone's grasp on truth is equally accurate. That is usually defined as gullibility (not one of the great virtues). Just because you believe something does not make it true.

Truth is something that conforms to reality and demonstrated or arguable facts. Truth does not allow for contradictions. The idea of a square circle is just as unacceptable as saying there is only one way to God (as Jesus did) and many roads lead to the same mountaintop. Either there is one way to God or many. While both could be wrong, they both could not be right. They contradict each other.

We should be tolerant of opinion where opinion is appropriate. Your taste in food, clothes, and music are matters of taste. While I may have different tastes, my tastes are not better or worse than yours. This same tolerance does not extend to matters of truth.

Intolerance to error does not mean we live a life with blinders on, hiding from new or different ideas. I am not God. I don't possess perfect knowledge. I need to continually challenge what I think I know. Truth exists outside of me. I am an explorer. I search out and expose myself to thoughtful people and new cultures in hopes of growing while at the same time I poke what I think I know with a stick to test its strength.

One of the great dangers here is that we combine an intolerance of error with an intolerance of people. We are to persuade and convince each other while still demonstrating God's love and service. "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." (1 Peter 3:15-17)

It is also important to remember that intolerance of error is a private matter. We should not be at work to suppress or censor false ideas. There is moral conduct that is harmful and should be suppressed (rape, for example), but we should not be involved in the suppression of ideas. Instead, we should discuss and argue false ideas and give people a reason to abandon them. As Christians we should be thinking, growing people; unafraid to test new ideas; while presenting the truth in love. We should be loving and tolerant of people while intolerant of error, beginning with ourselves.