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November 05, 2007
Let me just clear something up...
"Tolerance" is not defined as "accepting any and every foolish idea that comes into someone else's head." It means that we all should respect and protect the rights of other people to hold their own opinions and beliefs, whether or not we agree with them. Or as Voltaire is often mistakenly quoted as saying, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
In other words, you have the right to your own wrong opinion.
So, how does this play out in a way that gets a burr under my saddle? Easy -- I'm a conservative, fairly traditional Christian living in a culture that seems to "tolerate" everyone and everything except Christianity.
This means that if 1) I believe the Bible is true, and 2) I believe that Jesus meant it when he said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father [God] except through me." -- then I have a right to these beliefs and you, as a member of a free and tolerant society, have the responsibility to defend my beliefs -- whether or not you agree with me.
Or is "tolerance" really available to everyone except Christians?
Posted by david at November 5, 2007 11:38 AM
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