Toleration’s Church

 

The cultural doctrine of “tolerance” first demands “understanding,” then “acceptance,” then “allegiance,” then “obeisance,” then “conformity,” and ultimately “evangelism.” The ordered steps down the cathedral aisle do not matter as much as the baptismal outcome.

Hollywood’s hymnal sings both obvious and subtle references to accepted and rejected points of view. Glitterati must genuflect before the altar of agreed speech codes. News outlets cry from the pulpit concern for or consternation against the latest outrage. The plight of those suffering worldwide is reported only if their death reinforces the common book of party prayer.

Catechismal teaching reinforces the moment-by-moment commitment to ecclesiastical membership. Excommunication is swift for any who would sin against pontifical authority. Examples are made of anyone daring to transgress the received Ten Commandments: economic ruin follows reputational execution. Heaven beckons the culturally righteous, saints donning the white robes of social purity. Hell awaits anyone who has rejected salvation offered by the cultural gods of the day.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Published in Religion & Philosophy
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There are 11 comments.

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  1. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    There is no redemption in their faith. Since I’m already a heretic, I’ll stay right here, thanks.

    • #1
  2. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    Mark Eckel: Hell awaits anyone who has rejected salvation offered by the cultural gods of the day.

    I will quibble with the word “rejected,” as that implies conscious choice. But the church condemns to hell anyone who now or ever in the past has strayed from the dogma of the moment. As noted by @percival above, there is no redemption from sin in the Church of Toleration. 

    • #2
  3. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Their apostles are monsters and their saints are idiots. They aim for heaven on earth and hit hell every time.

    That’s why they pull down statues. Keeping the children as ignorant of history as possible is how they recruit.

    • #3
  4. Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler Member
    Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler
    @Muleskinner

    Percival (View Comment):

    There is no redemption in their faith. Since I’m already a heretic, I’ll stay right here, thanks.

    And certainly there is no grace. 

    • #4
  5. Mark Eckel Coolidge
    Mark Eckel
    @MarkEckel

    Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    There is no redemption in their faith. Since I’m already a heretic, I’ll stay right here, thanks.

    And certainly there is no grace.

    Indeed. https://youtu.be/GPv-PshnSV4

    • #5
  6. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Mark Eckel (View Comment):

    Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    There is no redemption in their faith. Since I’m already a heretic, I’ll stay right here, thanks.

    And certainly there is no grace.

    Indeed. https://youtu.be/GPv-PshnSV4

    Well, hello there Mark. That was really very, very good.

    Everybody go watch that.

    • #6
  7. Scott Wilmot Member
    Scott Wilmot
    @ScottWilmot

    Most people today have no understanding of tolerance.

    Archbishop Chaput gives the best explanation I have come across:

    Tolerance is a working principle that enables us to live in peace with other people and their ideas. Most of the time, it’s a very good thing. But it is not an end in itself, and tolerating or excusing grave evil in a society is itself a grave evil. The roots of this word are revealing. Tolerance comes from the Latin tolerare, “to bear or sustain,” and tollere, which means, “to lift up.” It implies bearing other persons and their beliefs the way we carry a burden or endure a headache. It’s actually a negative idea. And it is not a Christian virtue.

    Catholics have the duty not to “tolerate” other people but to love them, which is a much more demanding task. Justice, charity, mercy, courage, wisdom – these are Christian virtues; but not tolerance. Real Christian virtues flow from an understanding of truth, unchanging and rooted in God, that exists and obligates us whether we like it or not. The pragmatic social truce we call “tolerance” has no such grounding.

    • #7
  8. Mark Eckel Coolidge
    Mark Eckel
    @MarkEckel

    Scott Wilmot (View Comment):

    Most people today have no understanding of tolerance.

    Archbishop Chaput gives the best explanation I have come across:

    Tolerance is a working principle that enables us to live in peace with other people and their ideas. Most of the time, it’s a very good thing. But it is not an end in itself, and tolerating or excusing grave evil in a society is itself a grave evil. The roots of this word are revealing. Tolerance comes from the Latin tolerare, “to bear or sustain,” and tollere, which means, “to lift up.” It implies bearing other persons and their beliefs the way we carry a burden or endure a headache. It’s actually a negative idea. And it is not a Christian virtue.

    Catholics have the duty not to “tolerate” other people but to love them, which is a much more demanding task. Justice, charity, mercy, courage, wisdom – these are Christian virtues; but not tolerance. Real Christian virtues flow from an understanding of truth, unchanging and rooted in God, that exists and obligates us whether we like it or not. The pragmatic social truce we call “tolerance” has no such grounding.

    Chaput has been one of the great Christian cultural apologists of our day, or any other. Thank you for citing his definition and explanation.

    • #8
  9. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    I think you forgot “judgment” and “punishment” in the end of the progression.

    • #9
  10. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    Mark Eckel: saints donning the white robes of social purity.

    Say what?

    • #10
  11. DaveSchmidt Coolidge
    DaveSchmidt
    @DaveSchmidt

    Percival (View Comment):

    Mark Eckel (View Comment):

    Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    There is no redemption in their faith. Since I’m already a heretic, I’ll stay right here, thanks.

    And certainly there is no grace.

    Indeed. https://youtu.be/GPv-PshnSV4

    Well, hello there Mark. That was really very, very good.

    Everybody go watch that.

    Agree. It is good and certainly worth watching.  Short and gets to the point.

    • #11
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