Is Tolerance A Virtue?

[Cure of Ars]

I hear people talk as if it is a virtue. Is it a virtue?

[Don John of Austria]

No.

[Don John of Austria]

Christ was not tolerant, why should we be.

[Dave]

If it means being tolerant of sinful behavior, absolutely not!

If it means being tolerant of people as individuals, yes!

Love the sinner, hate the sin!

[Cure of Ars]

Christ was not tolerant, why should we be.

God allows evil to exist, is this not tolerance? I agree with you but I would like to see if there is an aspect of tolerance that can be a virtue.

[ironmonk]

Saint Josemaria Escriva - The Way

198 These are the ripe fruits of the mortified soul: tolerance and understanding for the defects of others; intolerance for one's own.

Christ was very tolerant for the person.

Not tolerant for the sin itself.

God Bless, Your Servant in Christ,

ironmonk

[Don John of Austria]

Christ was completly intolerant---are you reading the same bible. I would love to get into this right now but I have been up to late already, goodnight.

[Cure of Ars]

Right when is starts to get good. :D

[Cure of Ars]

Saint Josemaria Escriva - The Way

198  These are the ripe fruits of the mortified soul: tolerance and understanding for the defects of others; intolerance for one's own.

Christ was very tolerant for the person.

Not tolerant for the sin itself.

God Bless, Your Servant in Christ,

ironmonk

My old man has this book. I looked through it really fast. It looked cool.

[Schmandi]

Christ was completly intolerant

I'm not sure I agree with the word completely. He was intolerant of sin, yes. But if Christ had been completely intolerant would he have spoken to the woman at the well? Would he have called Matthew? Would he have entrusted Peter with the keys of His Church? Would he have chosen Judas to be one of His disciples?

[ironmonk]

Christ was completly intolerant---are you reading the same bible. I would love to get into this right now but I have been up to late already, goodnight.

How could Christ be intolerant of people, since He came for the sinners?

St. John 8:4

They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.

5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?"

7 But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11 She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more."

God Bless, Your Servant in Christ,

ironmonk

[ironmonk]

Mark 9:38

9 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."

39 Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.

40 For whoever is not against us is for us.

41 Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

9 [38-41] Jesus warns against jealousy and intolerance toward others, such as exorcists who do not follow us. The saying in Mark 9:40 is a broad principle of the divine tolerance. Even the smallest courtesies shown to those who teach in Jesus' name do not go unrewarded.

God Bless, Your Servant in Christ,

ironmonk

Edited October 15, 2003 by ironmonk

[jasJis]

In the context of tolerance in this case, I agree with Don John that Jesus was tolerant of nothing. Tolerance for us allowing evil to exist because we can do nothing about it and because we may be mistaken. We should be tolerant to the extent of our knowledge. In our case, tolerance should be tempered by patience, charity on one side, and knowledge and zeal on the other.

In Jesus' case, he knows the heart. There is no guess work. Jesus is God, the Perfect Judge. He also has Perfect Mercy and Wisdom. What we may see as 'tolerance' by Jesus is Divine Patience and Love with Perfect Justice as only an omniscient God can be.

[thessalonian]

Chesterton said "A man who is tolerant is a man without conviction". I agree. In saying that however I also agree with 1 Pet 3:15 and

1 Peter 3:15

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Intolerance does not always have to be associated with anger. There is a righteous anger also as when Jesus showed anger with the money changers in the temple. So there are times to be angry also. But I have to believe that we are never to be tolerant of error in that we are always to make some attempt to shed light on the darkness. We are the "light of the world" not to be hidden under a basket but to be put upon a hill for all to see. By the worlds standards and definition this is intolerant. Oh well. People feel that you are being intolerant of them in preaching the truth to them. Why? Because as last sunday's second reading says, the Word of God is a two edged sword that convicts the conscience.

Thus when we speak the truth (the Word of God) we are seen as intolerant by those who hear the words and have their consciences seared.

Blessings

Edited October 15, 2003 by thessalonian

[thessalonian]

There is another quote I like out of John Vianny's autobiography. I can only paraphrase it hear becase I don't have it with me.

It says that Mr. Vianny when he first got to his first parish found that the people came to Mass and were quite comfortable about it. But he must not ask for more from them. Yet Fr. Vianny felt it was his duty to not only pray and fast for them but to speak and act. To convict their conscience and root out the sin.

Of course we must speak in prudence according to where the person is at. We do not break the bruised reed.

[cmotherofpirl]

Define tolerance.

[Don John of Austria]

Jesus loved all, He forgave all who asked for it, but he was not tolerant of people he constantly chastised and critisied and demanded that people seek forgiveness through repentance He did not tolerate sin he condemned it, he did not tolerat sinners he chastised them and if the y repented as He loved them He forgave them. He did not tolerate their behavior.

[Cure of Ars]

I have been thinking about this question. I think that we are called to love one another, even our enemies. This is a lot more than just being tolerant. In fact you can be tolerant towards someone and not love them.

I also think at times the loving thing to do is to be intolerant. For example, if a family member has an addiction there may be times when you have to tell him to leave the family until he decides to get help and stop. Or another example would be the saying, “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

I define virtue as a habit that is directed towards the good. Being tolerant is not always directed towards the good so it is not a virtue. I do not think you can always separate the sinner from the sin in regards to tolerance.

I guess I would define tolerance as accepting/ignoring a behavior, lifestyle, or person that does not fit ones tradition, culture, values, and/or morals.

[Chrysologus]

It's almost unbelievable. Don John actually makes ironmonk look LIBERAL!

Christ goes way beyond being tolerant! He's loving! It's true, though, he doesn't tolerate sin. No one should tolerate sin, but St. Augustine said to "Love the sinner, hate the sin." Is that not tolerance?

[M.SIGGA]

Everyone believes in some degree of tolerance or everyone would constantly be on a rampage. It is a virtue b/c a civilized society could not function w/o some degree of tolerance. All of you believe tolerance is a virtue if you like it or not. The Iraquis who are doing everything possible to get the US out of Bagdad, or the Jews and Palestinians on the West Bank or the Catholics and Protestants in N. Ireland who don't take a second glance at blown up buildings/people of the opposite faith - that's life w/o tolerance.

God Bless :D