Why do some people believe Christians who have morals and standards are being intolerant?

Question

Why should we be tolerant of people who do not have morals or standards?

"Those who hold tolerance as their highest virtue do so because they have no others."
G.K. Chesterson

Answer 1

Like the meaning of "hate," the meaning of "tolerance" has become altered by political correctness. "Tolerance" now means never saying anything to anyone that will hurt their feelings. It's an irrational concept since I guarantee with 100% accuracy that sometime, somewhere, someone will say something that will hurt you. It would be much wiser to teach people how to handle hurt responsibly than try to prevent all hurt to begin with.

That said, someone who has a standard that does not include the political correct ideology of never hurting anyone else is then considered intolerant. Insane isn't it?

Answer 2

You are one of those "Christians" that follows the teachings of Jesus, right? Then I'm figuring you're aware that Jesus hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors, and helped criminals for a reason. To model the behavior he expected from his followers: TOLERANCE

Not just tolerance of the people you approve of (that wouldn't really count as tolerance anyway) but of the people who really offend your sensibilities. If people with morals refuse to tolerate or have anything to do with people without morals, then how do you think those people lacking morals are going to learn a better way? Jesus wasn't afraid to do this, because he knew he was strong enough to resist temptation and he also didn't care if being with these people would ruin his reputation. He understood that trying to force his morals down people's throats did not work as well as modeling the correct behavior and allowing people to CHOOSE to follow this behavior so that they may live a better life.

I must say that I am surprised that a follower of Jesus Christ would put up a quote that slams HIM so thoroughly. Has it been a while since you've read your Bible?

Answer 3

G.K. who? There was this thing called the Enlightenment a few hundred years ago, and then women were allowed to vote, finally, in the last century, and there was this thing called the Civil Rights movement back in the 60's. If it weren't for normal human beings showing Christians the right way to act, we'd still be living in the dark ages. How's that for tolerance?

Answer 4

Everyone has morals. We are born with an understanding of right from wrong. and have you read some of the things people say to each other on here? There is very little tolerance.

Answer 5

Are you inferring that non-believers do not have morals and standards?

There are very few people I have met that do not have any morals or standards. I have met numerous non-believers that have morals and standards far above some of the believers I know, and are steadfast in their practice of them.

Now, if you are referring to people that don't know any better, e.g., the mentally challenged, why wouldn't you be tolerant of these people?

Or are you grouping the mentally challenged and non-believers in the same group and assuming / inferring neither of them have any morals or standards?

Answer 6

The only ones that are intolerant are the ones who don't realize that people who aren't Christian can have morals and standards as well... and just becuse a person's morals or standards aren't the same as a Christian's doesn't mean that they are less of a good person.

Answer 7

As an atheist I always find it funny how people who supposedly follow the Bible seem to conveniently skip the parts they don't like:-

"let he who is without sin cast the first stone" - surely this translates as "your not perfect, so show a bit of tolerance and mind your own business".

Good Samaritan story - Isn't this supposed to be a lesson in tolerance of other peoples faiths and beliefs?

I guess a lot of people ignore the few intelligent statements in the Bible, and prefer to concentrate on the hate and hypocrisy.

Answer 8

I think the morals and standards of some Christians conflict occasionally with the rights of some other folks.

Answer 9

Depends what you mean by morals or standards.

A few Christians like to read out the passage in the Bible about (for example) homosexuality being an abomination while gay people are walking past. Whatever their opinion is of gay people, that's just stirring up sh*t and they should suffer the consequences for it.

Answer 10

Because christians, believe it or not, do not have a lock on "moral and standards," no matter what you've been told.
How intolerant is it to assume that you are the only moral people on earth...