Information Related to "The Intolerance of the Tolerant"
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The Intolerance of the TolerantTraditional tolerance is a godly virtue, but subtly the concept has been redefined today. When respectfully standing up for godly values is branded "intolerance"—which is seen as the worst of evils today—then something has gone sorely wrong.by Rick ShabiA college student questions American involvement in Iraq, asking, "Who are we to decide they would be happier living under our form of government?" In response to a survey concerning beliefs about God, a 16-year-old girl replies, "In my mind, the only people who are wrong are the people who will not accept different beliefs as being, well, acceptable." Many state legislatures are debating the question, "Why shouldn't couples of the same sex have the same right to marry that a man and woman have?" While the majority of Americans may not ask those questions, there is a growing trend in our nation to question the value of long-held beliefs and morals. It's not that the people asking the questions are always concerned with discrimination or even political correctness. Their cause is "tolerance." But this new kind of tolerance is not the traditional quality, from common courtesy, of respecting people and their differences. Rather, they advocate a wholesale acceptance of every conceivable belief, lifestyle and moral standard. According to those groups seeking change in the way the nation thinks, the majority of Americans do not yet practice "tolerance." In our centers of education, in the arts and through the media, there is a consistent message of "tolerance" being touted as one of the most important attributes a person can develop. What is tolerance, anyway? The American Heritage Dictionary defines "tolerance" as "the capacity for or practice of recognizing and respecting the options, practices, or behavior of others." By that definition, most of us would consider ourselves and most of our friends and acquaintances to be tolerant people. Traditional tolerance is primarily comprised of three behaviors. First, we must respect the right of others to choose their own lifestyles, even if we disagree with them on moral or biblical grounds. God allows us to be free moral agents. He doesn't force us to choose His way, even though He encourages us to live according to His decrees. Read the full article at www.wnponline.org/wnp/wnp0402/intolerance.htmRelated Information on UCG Sites:
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