An Opinion on Thought in America

[YoungTradCath]

I just want to share a really good quote I found from Joseph Shaw. I got it from his blog. He is an Englishman but he is a deeply intelligent and articulate man so I will accept his opinion here as valid.

This quote is framed in the context of part 2 of a 4 part commentary on the recent Mozilla/Eich affair in which Eich was effectively forced to resign:

American (neo-)conservatives and Catholics, especially, have fallen into a trap which should have been obvious, by going along with the liberal / neutral state / free speech system. They thought that if they conceded the free speech of others, their own free speech, including the freedom to proclaim the Gospel, would be protected. Sorry, guys, you were fooled; it was never going to work. A system of ‘tolerance’ cannot tolerate intolerance. Because Christianity wants to change people, because it holds up a higher ideal than the impulses of the belly and the groin, it is intrinsically intolerant. It has no secure place in a system of tolerance, any more than fascism.

I think this, for me, sweetly and shortly sums up why I disagree with the American system, at least in part, on a very fundamental level. Sure, there are areas of basic American thought which are pure and which are good. I will not become rabid like some and say the entire philosophical fabric of the USA is corrupt. I genuinely do not believe that. But this major principle is, in fact, corrupt, and this is hugely important because this principle seems to be the particular jewel (?) of American thought upon which we are focusing in current events.

What implications do you think this has for evangelization?

link

lmschairman.org/search/label/Eich%20affair

 

[St_Francis]

I read an article today which described how some homosexual activists are planning to boycott an about-to-open grocery and all their suppliers because the owner criticized homosexual “marriage” in a psuedonymous FB post.

But they can Christians who simply do not want to participate in their “weddings.”

I think the quote puts the truth in a nutshell.

 

[oldburkes]

I agree.:sad_yes:
Tolerance, for its own sake, can be intolerant.
I like Mr. Shaw’s quote.

 

[ynotzap]

We must be intolerant when it comes to corruption which is a universal affliction. We are all sinners We must be intolerant towards evil and sin, but tolerant towards humanity or sinners because without the Salvation that comes from Christ we are helpless. We are held in spiritual bondage. This bondage is what Christ came to free us from. Some of us have been freed, but many of us have not, those that have been freed, must exercise tolerance and evangelize those that are still in bondage of sin. Hate the sin, love the sinner, thats’ what God expect from His children. Evangelizing is to bring Christ, the Good News into the life of our brother sinners We do not convert but we can point the way

 

[adawgj]

Absolute tolerance is impossible to achieve.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I can only add that this inherent intolerance you speak of isn’t a trait, a view, or philosophical weapon that can only be used in Christianity’s favor.

If that were the case, ancient conquerors would’ve had less territory in their empires.