Why do churches not teach tolerance for others?

Question

I see soooo many churches saying they teach tolerance but in the end what they are really teaching is....
"this is what Jews believe... they are going to Hell. We should love them and do our best to change what they believe"

"this is what Muslims believe... they are going to hell. We should love them and do our best to change them!"

"this is what atheist "believe" They are going to hell.............

Is this tolerance and love?

Answer 1

I attended a puja (Hindu worship ceremoney) at a family home about six years ago and the pundit not only welcomed those who were not Hindu but praised all the other various faiths. He said that if you are Christian, be the best Christian you can be. He quoted Ghandi who said that he had no problem with Jesus Christ, in fact, quite the opposite. He admired the teachings of Christ. He just lamented the fact that Christians like to use Jesus when convenient yet fail to emulate him as they should. His point was that if you are truly involved in your faith and personal spiritual development, you would not have time nor need to be judging, condemning, oppressing or hating others.

I found it immensely refreshing to hear a non-Christian motivate Christians to be better at their own faith. I certainly never heard any such thing from a Christian.

No Christian I knew ever said, “If you are a Hindu, be the best Hindu you can be.” Instead it usually was, "If you are a Hindu you will BURN IN HELL if you do not accept Christ as your Lord and Saviour!"

I guess it all depends on whether you believe you have the monopoly on God or not. Certain Christians believe their bible translation, interpretation and exergisis defines God entirely and allows them to predict God’s every mood, action and opinion about everyone and everything. They are convinced they know exactly what God will do in every single instance and how God expects them to act in every single instance. The believe they have all the answers to the Creator’s intended purpose for everyone’s life and everyone’s future.

If you think you are exclusive, special and absolutely correct, you cannot have tolerance for anyone or anything different. Especially when you have an Almighty Deity all figured out and on your side only.

Answer 2

Yes it is, Channa.

Tolerance and love are perfectly consistent with the concepts of free will and free choice that every person has to believe what they want. The fact that people express their religious views (some of them VERY deeply held) and try to persuade others who feel not as strongly (or have no such views at all) doesn't mean they don't "tolerate" or "love" people. In fact, tolerance and love is what often motivates "religious" people to share their faith with others.

Obviously, Jews or Muslims or atheists don't have to change. If they don't, a "true believer" should keep practicing tolerance and love to them. (I think frankly THAT'S where the hang-up comes... if a person doesn't change their views, they get demonized or at least ignored... and THAT'S wrong.)

Answer 3

A Church is the House of God. In that House, what is to be taught is the emphatic Word of God, not what some Pastor thinks or what the pope says, or what some author says, but what GOD SAYS.
As far as tolerance goes, it depends on what the issue is: was Christ "tolerant" of those who were changing His House into
a den of thieves? Don't think so.
God does not have tolerance for crap being taught in His House that is against His Doctrine nor is He tolerant of those who would change His Doctrine so that it is more comfy to the sinner's ear.
That would be what God calls a "House of Nothing" and He states that you can forget looking for Him there, because you won't find Him, just alot of folks who like to "play church".
This is a very, very bad time for people to "play church".

Answer 4

I must say that in the 9yrs of being a Christian and belonging to three different Churches I have never heard anyone say that. I do not say that and I do not know where you are getting your information but what you say is not totally accurate. Some Christians do say those who don't believe will go to hell. But in Matthew 7:1 He said -- Judge not, that ye be not judged. Which means that we are not to judge others no matter what they believe. We are to preach the Gospel but if someone does not choose to listen we are not to sit there and tell them they are going to hell. At least I do not do that. I can not speak for all Christians but I feel if someone does not listen to what I have to say then they will be judged not by me but by God. Now it does say in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". However it does not say that someone who does not believe will get a direct pass to hell. THAT IS GOD'S CHOICE!

Answer 5

Well you can not coach any individual to be tolerant. You can simply be tolerant your self and desire he'll be taught some thing from you. But of direction, of any individual began criticizing you, you will have to safeguard your reviews and suggestions.

Answer 6

True, but what are the Jews, Muslims, and Athiest teaching? I had a Jewish guy tell me once I didn't have a soul because I am not Jewish. The Koran teaches annihilation of those they deem immoral. Most of the athiest I have met are the most instigating, angry, closed minded people I have ever met. Who really cares if someone has pitty on your soul?

Answer 7

Obviously you are not a parent or you would know the answer to this question. Parenting is much like God's true way. Kids need to learn to behave in an acceptable manner in life. Somethings are absolutely necessary for their survival to learn. Parents teach, correct and guide in those areas. Does that mean the parent doesn't love? Absolutely NOT. Because of love, parents teach, correct and guide. Parents set guidelines and boundaries and all of it is to protect their children because they LOVE them. God does the same with us. We in turn do this to others in hopes they will learn that God has a particular plan for salvation. On some level we are responsible to help others see that, but in the end, we are all individuals before God and have to answer for ourselves. At that time, using someone else as an excuse for our behavior will not be good enough.

Answer 8

If it wasn't tolerance then they would be saying...

"this is what Muslims believe... they are going to hell. Get the shotgun we'll speed up their trip!"

"this is what atheist believe They are going to hell. Get the shotgun we'll speed up their trip!"


That's not tolerance. We teach tolerance, which is just the opposite that... Unfoutunatly muslims strap bombs on themselves and blow us up... And we still preach tolerance and they still try to kill, us even though we want to give them eternal life...

Answer 9

Jews let you choose to go to hell if that is what you want.

Muslims will send you to hell by cutting off your head if you don't submit to allah.

Atheist don't believe in hell.

Love gives you the choice, choose life or choose death, the choice is yours.

Do you tolerate rape or murder, should you tolerate that which leads to death?

Answer 10

You should try the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, we don't teach those things.

We believe that all good people are going to heaven no matter what the religion. We also believe that there are seperate degrees of heaven based upon individual righteousness and obedience along with the receipt of necessary ordinances in this life such as baptism.

Hell is reserved for those who know better but choose not to accept Jesus Christ and his commandments. We believe that it is more a state of mind than a place.

We also believe in such a place as outter darkness where Satan and his angels will be cast. This place is also reserved for "sons of perdition" or those who have received the fullness of the gospel then turn against it and deny the Holy Ghost.