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An accusation that is repeatedly levied against Christians is that we want to force our beliefs on everyone else. We are intolerant and narrow minded because we claim to know the truth and believe that others are wrong in some of their beliefs. We even have the audacity to try and convince others that they should change their beliefs.
Some of this is true. We do claim to know the truth and we do believe others are wrong in some of their beliefs. How could it be otherwise? If I believe A to be true and you believe A to be false, then one of us has to be wrong.
Does this make us intolerant? To see if we are intolerant, let’s evaluate the following statements.
1) I’m right, but I could be mistaken.
2) I’m right.
3) I’m right, you’re wrong.
4) I’m right, you’re wrong, and here’s why you should change your mind.
5) I’m right, you’re wrong, and you’re stupid.
6) I’m right, you’re wrong, change your mind or be killed. [1]
Rank each of these statements using the following scale. A ten is the most intolerant rank and a zero means the statement is not intolerant at all. Rank each statement independent of the others, that is, any statement could have the same ranking as any other statement.
Comments are welcome (and desired) to explain your rankings.
Steve J.
1 Adapted from Dacey, Austin. The Secular Conscience. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books, 2008.
