Christianity Criticism: “Christians Are Intolerant” – Part 1
Are Christians as intolerant as people say they are? Are Christians trying to take away other peoples’ freedoms and make them live the way Christians want them to live?
Defining Tolerance
One of the things you will quickly realize after having discussions on important issues is this; many times we are not working with the same definitions. That’s why it is important to begin your conversations with questions. When someone makes an assertion like “Christians are intolerant”, the first thing you should do is ask “what do you mean by that [intolerant]?”. You will start to realize that what you thought they meant by that isn’t necessarily what they meant by that. So, establishing definitions is key.
This previous statement becomes obvious when we start talking about tolerance. The classic definition of tolerance is the act of respecting and recognizing the value of someone even though you may disagree with them.
My wife doesn’t like sports. She won’t watch with me. But, she tolerates my love of Ohio State football because she knows how much I love it. She doesn’t think it’s important, but I do. She loves me so she tolerates my love for Ohio State football.
On the other side of the coin, I don’t force her to sit with me and watch football. I tolerate her dislike of it. I value other things about her. And I don’t think she loves me any less because she doesn’t love college football as much as I do.
Notice something inherent in the definition of tolerance; we have to disagree on something. In this case, it’s the importance of Ohio State football. See, tolerance is reserved for people you disagree with. I can’t be tolerant of someone who I already agree with. That’s not being tolerant, that’s being in agreement. We are on the same side already.
The opposite of tolerance is, of course, intolerance. Being intolerant would be forcing someone to act in an opposing way to what they want, stopping them from doing a certain thing or stopping them from saying a certain thing. If my wife wouldn’t let me watch football, that would be intolerant. If I forced her to stop watching her favorite shows that I don’t like, that would be intolerant.
Christian Teachings On Tolerance
Our definition above had nothing to do with religious doctrine or perspective. Now that we have established a definition of tolerance, the next thing that we need to do is see what Christianity teaches about it. Does Christianity teach its followers to be tolerant or intolerant?
Let’s look at one of the verses most people will attempt to use against Christians in regards to them being intolerant. In all four Gospels, Jesus says we need to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, John 13:34). What Jesus means by “neighbor” here is people who are different than you. As in you don’t have to agree with everything they do or say and you can still love them. If we agreed on everything, loving them would be easy!
The hard thing to do – and the kind of love Jesus is talking about – is loving people who are different than you. I don’t have to agree with my neighbor’s choice of music. But, I still have to love him. And, I don’t have to like the same kind of music to still love him. I don’t have to approve of his musical selection. But, I still have to show that he has value.
What else does the Bible have to say about tolerance? Well, we are told to live at peace with one another (Hebrews 12:14), to show love and compassion for one another (1 Peter 3:8), and to forgive as Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). In fact, there is no other worldview which places as much value on a human person, because only in the Judaeo-Christian worldview do we believe every person is made in the very image of God Himself (Gen. 1:27)!
Is It Ever OK To Be Intolerant?
According to our definition of tolerance, and the teachings of Scripture we see that it’s OK to disagree on some stuff and still get along. But, is the opposite true? Is being intolerant ever OK? Well, the answer is it depends. Are you in a position of authority over this person? Bosses certainly do not tolerate certain behavior in the workplace. Also, does this activity in question affect anyone else other than the person doing it?
The law portrays this difference in many points. It is not illegal for you to get drunk in your house. As long as you are in your house, you are not affecting anyone else. The act of getting drunk is tolerated. Now, as soon as you get behind the wheel, your actions will now jeopardize the property and possibly the lives of others. The law is intolerant of your drunkenness in this situation.
Let’s use my sleepy son as another example. When my son was still in high school, he hated getting up in the morning. It was OK for me – as a parent – to be intolerant of my son wanting to sleep in on a school day. I was intolerant of this act because I love him and didn’t want his grades to suffer. It is OK for me to be intolerant of his oversleeping because I love him and want the best for him. Even though the only person affected was him, it was still OK for me to be intolerant of this activity as an authority figure in his life.
On the other hand, it was not OK for his sister to be intolerant of his sleeping in. She is his peer. Most of the time, his sleeping in had no effect on her. Because my son has both of his parents, she had no room to get involved. In fact, it just created hostility between them when she acted like his mom and told him what to do.
Now, there were some days his sleeping affected her. He drove her to school once a week. In that case, she did have the right to be intolerant of his sleeping in because his actions affected her. In this case, she had every right to do what she could to get him to wake up or else she would be late.
The Modern Definition of Tolerance
It doesn’t take long to see how the classic definition of tolerance has shifted. In modern times, if you simply say you disagree with something someone is doing, or that something someone said is wrong, you will quickly be labeled as intolerant. Ask someone today what they mean by tolerance, and somewhere in their definition will likely be the words “agree” or “approve”.
See the difference? According to the new definition, the simple act of disagreeing is labeled as intolerance. You might not do anything to stop a behavior you disagree with. You’ll still be labeled as intolerant if you simply voice your thoughts on the matter. In fact, the only “tolerant” people are people who are just like you; people who think the same thing you think. If they don’t think like you think then they are intolerant!
An Example Of How The Definition Has Changed
Let’s use the example of my love for college football to show how our interactions have changed with the movement of the definition of tolerance.
Me: “Hey, hun. You wanna watch football with me?”
My Wife: “No. I don’t like football. I don’t see the point. And besides, people get hurt a lot and I don’t like to see that.”
Me: “OK. I’m just gonna watch for a while and then we can go run our errands”
My Wife: “OK, no problem.”
In this regard, my wife showed the classic definition of tolerance towards me watching football. She didn’t like it, but she let me live my life the way I wanted to. Now, if she were to walk over and turn the TV off, that would be an act of intolerance.
Now, let’s look at our interaction according to the modern definition:
Me: “Hey, hun. You wanna watch football with me?”
My Wife: “No. I don’t like football. I don’t see the point. And besides, people get hurt a lot and I don’t like to see that.”
Me: “What?!? You don’t approve of college football?? You know how much I like it. You know, if you loved me, you would come and sit with me and watch. You’re so intolerant! I’m just going to keep watching by myself then!”
Yes, I’m being a bit silly here. But, this humorous example demonstrates the shift in interactions people have nowadays on things they disagree over. In the first example, my wife and I disagreed over something, but I still got to do what I wanted to do and she didn’t stop me. In the second example, we disagreed over something, but I labeled her as intolerant because she didn’t approve of something I liked – even though I still got to do what I wanted to do and she didn’t stop me.
So, why has the definition of tolerance changed? And does it really matter? In my next article, we try to answer these questions as well as why it has consequences and how the change is playing out in the cultural and political arena today.
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About the Author: David W. Gilmore
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As Christians, we are not intolerant because we defend our faith, but we have to do it in a loving way as God calls us to. We can be the only Bible someone reads or the only voice people here when it comes to Christianity so when we disagree or have a conversation about it, make sure you are a good representation of Christ and be loving.
Yes, exactly! Thanks for your comment.
I liked how this article explained that tolerance doesn’t mean you have to agree with or approve of everything someone believes. Christians can disagree with others while still treating them with love and respect, which is an important distinction to understand.
That’s right! A lot of time time, it’s harder for me to do things the way Jeus asks us to. But I know his ways are better than mine.
I think this does a good job explaining that Christianity calls people to love and respect others, even when there is disagreement. A belief isn’t truly tolerance if it only applies to people who already agree with you. Jesus’ teaching to love your neighbor shows that Christians are meant to treat others with kindness and dignity regardless of differences.
That’s right. It’s easy to love people we already agree with. Loving people who disagree with is harder. And that’s the example Jesus calls us to set.
This article is very insightful! I like how it emphasizes how we as Christians should always show love and respect for people even if they don’t share our views. It’s easy to just shut someone out when you disagree with them but as Christians we should be patient and understanding. We should always strive to be more like Jesus and love our neighbors as ourselves.
Yep, you nailed it.
I liked this article because it explains that tolerance does not mean we have to agree with everyone. Christians can disagree with others but should still show love and respect. I think this is an important message.
Right. We are called to be different as a way to show the world who Jesus is.
I liked how the author explains that Christians can disagree with people’s beliefs without being intolerant. As a Christian, I believe tolerance means respecting and loving others even when we don’t agree with their choices.
You got it.
I think this article lines up with the Bible in saying that we should love everyone even who we disagree with. You don’t need to agree with everything, but we can still treat everyone with kindness and respect. The world always wants everyone to agree with them, but the Bible says how we should love everyone even in disagreement.
Great takeaway!
I liked how this article emphasized the importance of having tolerance. It highlights how using Christlike traits in our day to day conversations helps prevent unnecessary banter and leads to more positive and peaceful relationships.
Yes, they do!
I agree that disagreeing with someone doesn’t automatically make you intolerant. People can have different beliefs while still respecting each other and allowing others to make their own choices.
Good takeaway
I agree that Christians can disagree with people without being intolerant. Jesus teaches us to love our neighbors, even when we do not agree with them. I think it is important for Christians to share their beliefs in a respectful and loving way instead of judging or forcing others to believe the same things.
Our job is to speak the truth and let God do the rest. We can’t force people to believe anything they don’t want to.
I thought the distinction between tolerance and agreement was interesting. The article argues that people can disagree with someone’s beliefs or choices while still respecting them as a person. I also think it raises an important question about where the line is between expressing disagreement and actually trying to control someone else’s choices.
Great observation, Melanie!
I liked this article because it told the difference between intolerance and disagreement. You can disagree and still be respectful, but you can’t be intolerant and respectful. There is a difference between truth and love, and understanding that can help you understand God more.
Great takeaway on intolerance vs disagreement. Do you think all intolerance is disrespectful, though? If someone is beating on my wife, I’m going to stop him. I won’t tolerate that. I SHOULDN’T tolerate that. That is, by definition, intolerant.
I really liked the point that tolerance doesn’t mean we have to agree with or approve of everything someone believes. We can disagree with someone while still treating them with love, respect, and dignity. I think this is especially important for Christians because the way we respond to people who disagree with us can show them what Christ’s love looks like.
Yes!! You nailed it.
I liked the article because it provides multiple easy-to-understand examples of tolerance and intolerance. I also like how the article differentiates between disagreement and intolerance. I like how it explains that tolerance means respecting others even when your opinions don’t align.
You got all the major takeaways. Great job!
I enjoyed learning about tolerance and agreement. It shows that it is ok to disagree with people but there has to be a mutual respect and understanding that disagreement is allowed, you should not be intolerant. It is important to differentiate between disagreement and argumentation.
You got the idea. But, do you think all intolerance is bad? What if you saw someone beating up on your friend? Trying to stop that means you are intolerant of their actions towards your friend. But, in that scenario, isn’t being intolerant of that person’s actions a good thing?
I liked this article because it showed that disagreement and intolerance are not the same thing. You can disagree with someone’s beliefs while still respecting them and treating them with love and dignity. I think this is especially important for Christians because how we respond to people we disagree with can reflect God’s love and help us understand the balance between truth and love.
Your last sentence is the whole reason behind the article.
I like that this article shows the importance of tolerance. This articles highlights how disagreements does not automatically mean intolerance.
Yep, you got it.
Understanding Tolerance and intolerance as a christian is very important because when you come across somebody who is not a christian, you have to approach them with love and forgiveness (tolerance) instead of forcing your beliefs on them and not appreciating them as a person because of their choices (intolerance) Jesus was never forceful and was still able to shift the beliefs of many people, and we must approach evangelism in the same way.
Yes, 1 Peter 3:15 tells us we need to be able to give reaons for what we believe, and it also tells us we need to do it with gentleness and respect.
I think this article makes a good point that disagreement is not the same as intolerance. We can have different beliefs and still respect each other. As Christians, we should try to show love and kindness even when we disagree with someone.
Yes, we should. Great takeaway.
I really like this article because it talks about the different examples of intolerance and tolerance. I also really liked how it talks about how in tolerance that you need to respect people and its also very easy to disagree with someone
The article establishes a distinct separation of tolerating a person and accepting a person. You do not need to support whatever they think or how they come to that decision. However, you still can display a sign of respect for them. Examples like, if you declare disagreement with someone “intolerant,” the definition shifts. Then, perhaps, even speaking politely to them becomes more complicated.
Interesting thought!
I liked this article because it explains how the definition of tolerance has changed and challenges readers to think about whether disagreement should be considered intolerance.
Great summary
I liked how the article showed that Jesus’s love extends to everyone not just the people that you want to love.
That it does
I think this article shines light on people’s ability to show tolerance whether they agree with a stated point or not. Whether you are a believer or otherwise, we all deserve to be understood and heard. But, as Christians, we are especially called to love one another regardless of each other’s points of view.
Great attitude!
In Christianity, we are called to love and show respect to those who share different views or religious beliefs. Matthew 22:39 – “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Yes, we are.
Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves even if we don’t agree with them. I think we should share what we think but not argue about it. Christianity teaches us to love, respect, and forgive others no matter what happens. I think Tolerance means loving everyone no matter their opinions.
Do you think we can love people while still giving reasons why Christianity is true (giving an argument)?
I feel like one of the biggest reasons the definition of tolerance has changed is that, rather than using it as a way to group people together based off what we know, rather than what is true. Like Matthew has said, we are to “love our neighbor as ourself,” teaching others to not be intolerant.
Do you think all intolerance is bad? Should I tolerate someone beating up my daughter? Of rouse not. What’s important is understanding what actually counts as being intolerante and when it is appropriate.
I liked how the article explained the difference between disagreeing with someone and actually being intolerant toward them. I like that the author mentions and believes that Christians can disagree with people while still respecting and loving them, and that tolerance does not always mean agreeing with someone.
Yep, you got it.
I liked how this article explained the difference between tolerance and agreeing with someone. It showed that Christians can disagree while still being respectful.
Yes, we can. We care called to do things differently.
I thought this article was interesting because it showed that having different beliefs does not mean you are intolerant. It also reminded me that Christians should be willing to listen to others and treat them with respect, even when they disagree.
This is the way
I liked how the article explained that Christians can disagree with others without being disrespectful. We should still show love, kindness, and respect even when we have different beliefs.
Right. Remembering that everyone has value is important as we engage with those who don’t agree with us.
It’s so important to remember that tolerance and total agreement are different things. We can hold to personal beliefs, but still need to treat others with love and respect for their decisions- like Christ did.
Yes, we can.
My main takeaway is that disagreement and intolerance are not the same thing. Christians can stand by their beliefs without being hateful or disrespectful toward others. Real tolerance allows people to have different opinions while still showing kindness and recognizing each person’s value.
Yep, you got it! Great summary.
I liked how you explained the differences between biblical slavery and New World slavery, especially the rules against kidnapping and abuse. I also liked how you connected the Bible’s teachings about equality to the abolition of slavery. Great stuff!
Thanks! When I learned this stuff it was really helpful for me. Hope it was for you, too.
I liked the author’s example of how he and his wife disagree about watching football, yet they are still tolerant of each other. Today, tolerance is often misunderstood to mean that people must agree with one another.
Glad you like that example :)
thought this reading was interesting because it showed that tolerance doesn’t mean you have to agree with everyone. You can disagree with someone and still respect them. I liked the examples because they showed how people can have different opinions but still get along. I think tolerance is about respecting people even when you don’t agree with them.
Yep. You got it!
you can disagree with someone without disrespecting them or controlling the way they live
Being respectful of others is important as you discuss things you may disagree on.
My biggest takeaway was that being tolerant doesn’t mean you have to agree with someone or approve of everything they do but you can still respect them and treat them with love even when you have different beliefs
That’s right!