Two weeks ago, during the remembrance of the 9-11 attacks 10 years ago, a leader in my church gave a thoughtful talk on the interplay of truth and tolerance. It struck a nerve with me as it addressed a very difficult subject in a tactful way.
I encourage you to view or watch the full talk yourself, online.
Elder Oaks giving talk on 9-11-11
The backdrop for the discussion is how the western world increasingly drops its traditional moorings in absolute truth for less certain relative morality. Evidence is presented for this in the recent “widespread rioting and pillaging in Britain and the scandalous widespread cheating by teachers on state-mandated tests in elementary and middle schools in Atlanta, Georgia [which] have caused many to wonder whether we are losing the moral foundation western countries have received from their Judeo-Christian heritage.”
With this backdrop, we who believe in God and the absolute truth of right and wrong have increasing challenges in the growing godless and amoral world. As we stick to our moorings, some in the world cast our behavior as intolerant. This is especially disturbing to the vast majority of believers who have as their highest goal the emulation of a virtuous Christ-like life, turning the other cheek, sharing of their substance with the poor, and lifting up the downtrodden.
“The weaker one’s belief in God and the fewer one’s moral absolutes, the fewer the occasions when the ideas or practices of others will confront one with the challenge to be tolerant. For example, an atheist has no need to decide what kinds and occasions of profanity or blasphemy can be tolerated and what kinds should be confronted. Persons who don’t believe in God or in absolute truth in moral matters can see themselves as the most tolerant of persons. For them, almost anything goes. ‘You do your thing and I’ll do my thing’ is the popular description. This belief system can tolerate almost any behavior and almost any persons. Unfortunately, some who believe in moral relativism seem to have difficulty tolerating those who insist that there is a God who should be respected and certain moral absolutes that should be observed.”
And so, the situation comes full-circle, with conflict between absolute and relative systems of truth and the need for increased tolerance all round.
How do you see the interplay of truth and tolerance in your experiences?
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