Why Tolerance is Condescending

Penn Jillette is a very talented magician, the more statuesque half of Penn and Teller. He is also an outspoken atheist. Yet he remains one of the, if not nicest, then honest, ones and often has good things to say about sincere believers, even if he believes them sincerely wrong. Here's an example:

"One of the reasons I get along so much better with fundamentalist Christians than I do with liberal Christians, is that fundamentalist Christians, I can look them in the eye and say, 'You are wrong.' They also know that I will always fight for their right to say that. And I will celebrate their right to say that. But I will look them in the eye and say, "You're wrong." And the fundamentalist will look me in the eye and say, 'You're wrong.'  And that, to me, is respect.

"The more liberal religious people who go, 'There are many paths to truth, you just go on, and maybe you'll find your way' --[this] is the way you talk to a child, and I bristle at that."

Here is the video which includes the comment. Warning: Not all of it is as polite.

Tolerance vs. Patience and Empathy.

I think “tolerance” is a much-abused word when applied to the church. A true church would not be tolerant as much as patient and empathetic. Patient because we know from experience that maturity in faith is a long process, much like a slog through an endless muddy field with a full backpack. And empathetic for the same reason—we are all more alike than we think. Everyone struggles. Everyone fails. Tolerance implies a turning of the head and a wink, as if to excuse mere human nature. That’s the point God is always trying to make—it IS mere human nature, but as His child you are no mere human. -- W. S. 



Illustration: "Empathy" by Lora Shelley