subject: The cunning of tolerance [print this page] The word 'tolerance' keeps popping up in modern times for no specific reason, except to gain acceptance for something not desired. Everybody seems to see it as acceptable, and many use it frequently just to bring up peace and quietness. It arises usually in situations where resistance is strong. It is often used in connection with religion, homosexuality and politics to appease the opponent of his resentment and bitterness, and to coerce him away from a preset conviction.
Request for toleranceis a way of changing or weakening the rival's feeling, belief and dogma and try to reverse his stand in a political or religious argument. This is actually deceitful, because it will undermine the truth, and allow an untruth or even a lie to triumph and prevail. Nowadays, many battles have succeeded to replace the truth with frivolous falsehoods, through the demand for tolerance.
But the truth is one, and should never be changed. It should not be influenced by concern or pity or political expediency. I understand that the majority of people do not accept this statement, but it has to be. The Lord himself stated it when he appeared to Pilate, who asked him:"Who are you?" And Jesus asnwered him:" I came to give witness to the truth, and any one who loves the truth will listen to me." And Pilate, like men of all ages, retorted: "The truth, what is that?" Yes, man still asks what is the truth. He refuses to believe in it, and most arguments are used to destroy it. The more someone deliberates about a fact, the more he tries to deform the truth, which by itself is self-evident. Yet, frequently, we even hear religious people use the word "tolerance" to modify the truth in view of gaining some human benefit, like appease, or pacify some aggressive, belligerent group of people and obtain temporary peace. They believe that this gain will be permanent, but nothing can be built on lies and even on partial truths. How can we understand God, without relying on his revelation, which is the only way to clarify our foggy perception; and God is truth itself. He is holly, exacting and no lie is acceptable to him. Dogmas and beliefs must be in accord with what he revealed, because lies come only from the evil one. We need to defend the truth, as Jesus said:" I am the truth, the way and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." We are responsible for our brothers' salvation, and not just make them comfortable with a little tolerance, for what is false or even just incompletely true.
Are we worried about souls and the spread of the truth, or just wish to have some peace around us? Did the first Christians accomodate their persecutors to appease them by agreeing with them, or did they persist in their beliefs at the cost of their life, torn in the arena by some ferocious animal? Peace without truth is only vanity of vanities. But, I ask you:"Who would prefer to be tolerated than to be praised, admired and loved? We should seek love and respect for our truthfulness, and not tolerance for our egoisme, failure and passions.
