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Summary Point

Why can’t we simply be ‘tolerant’ of the beliefs of other people?

Subpoints

Although we should respect everyone’s free will to choose what they believe about God, it is illogical and unloving to accept everyone’s belief as ‘true’.

  1. It is incorrect to simply accept each person’s belief as true because it violates logic.

    • It is logically impossible for all belief systems to be true because they have core beliefs that contradict – read the law of noncontradiction on the page about pluralism. 

  2. It is unloving to accept every person’s religion and belief as true because eternity is at stake.

    • If a person’s belief system is not reasonable and you have evidence for what you believe is the truth, it would be unloving not to share this information with them.

      • It is like knowing someone is sick and you withhold the cure – in the name of tolerance.

      • It is akin to knowing someone is lost and not trying to help them.

      • It is similar to knowing someone is headed for danger and you do not warn them.

Anchor 1

Links to external resources on this topic:

Context:

  • The key to answering this questions is how we define the word ‘tolerant’.

    • If by tolerant, we mean respecting every persons’ free will to choose their own belief, then we should absolutely be tolerant of each persons’ decision…

    • …however, if by tolerant, you mean accepting every persons’ belief as true for them, this is a problem.  This violates logic - the law of noncontradiction. It is not rationale. Moreover, it is not loving to ignore what someone believes, if we genuinely believe their soul is in danger.

Anchor 2

Sources (complete reference information provided on SOURCE PAGE):

  1. Mittelburg, Choosing Your Faith, p.30-31.

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