What do you think of this quote characterizing tolerance?

Question

Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.
Gilbert K. Chesterton

Answer 1

Tolerating injustice: it would be true.

Tolerating the appearance of differences so that freedom may manifest: it could not be further from the truth, for tolerance in such a case is a mighty conviction for justice to serve all fairly.

Answer 2

"Tolerance" is a word that you 'think' should be a 'good word' for 'liking everyone' but it's actually not ... 'tolerance' means 'tolerating someone or something, not 'liking' them ... so if 'Tolerance is the virtue of a man without convictions' then 'next step' should be something like 'Liking is the virtue of a man with convictions.' with the 'of a good man' or of a 'man with no prejudices' at the end of both/either.

Answer 3

Tolerance is alright in some cases, but not always. In my convictions about God, it is not OK. God is very jealous, and very straightforward where righteousness is concerned. He will not accept slackness where matters of the spirit are concerned. People that think that all one has to do is to say 'I believe in Jesus being the Son of God' to have eternal life with God will find that they are sadly mistaken. Being a follower of Christ requires much effort from a Christian. Even the demons know and tremble. Knowing who He is just is not enough. Yes, you are saved by grace through faith, but faith without works is dead. We are not saved by works, but faith and works go hand in hand. If a Christian has faith, it will show through his works. Lazy, feel-good religion will not cut it with God. Jesus said straight is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

So you can see by this that tolerance is definitely NOT a virtue of a man WITH convictions. Thanks for your time in reading this. I try to speak only the truth.

Answer 4

Sure, A person that is without conviction for anything would be more tolerant towards things than a person that does have convictions towards certain things.

Matt

Answer 5

Well, tolerance is often used by people who say, yeah, it's ok to... (fill in your own blank.) It's OK to beat kids, it's "letting parents have authority." It's OK to engage in harmful sex practices because it's "consenting adults having fun." It's OK to do drugs because it's just "unwinding."

Part of being free means accepting personal responsibility. And if you know what's right, it's your responsibility to speak up when you see somebody doing something wrong.

People should be much more vocal about speaking out against actions that hurt us all. Like promiscuous sex--if it's just having fun, well, have fun. But what if somebody promiscuous is actually a miserable sex addict, looking for something nobody ever finds in sex, hurting him/herself and others in the process? What if "success" actually means being totally greedy and hurting the environment and other people to get what you want?

I believe in freedom, I really do. People are free to make their own choices, and I won't step on that right, because I expect the freedom to make my own choice.

But that doesn't mean I like it. And it doesn't mean I won't say something about it.

Answer 6

That's a great quote!

(Like many other things, there is a time for tolerance, and a proper time for intolerance....Love and truth should be our goals all the time, not tolerance. In fact, Christ Himself, who is love, said the intolerant words, "No one comes to the Father except through me.")

Answer 7

Some have a conviction to be tolerant.

Answer 8

Yuck. What a horrible sentiment. Very unchristlike too.

I like this one: Eleanor Holmes Norton:
The only way to make sure people you agree with can speak is to support the rights of people you don't agree with.

Answer 9

Darn convicts! So intolerant!

Answer 10

Beautiful and insightful.