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Wednesday, May 02, 2012

The Intolerance of Tolerance by D. A. Carson


The Intolerance of Tolerance, 
D. A. Carson, Paperback 186p, IVP

Don Carson has been reflecting on the issue of tolerance for a number of years. He touched on the subject in The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism, Zondervan, 1996 and returned to it in Christ and Culture Revisited (reviewed here), Apollos/IVP, 2008. In fact, Carson sees this volume as a supplement to Christ and Culture Revisited. In this book-length treatment he has the space to develop thoughts that could only be hinted at in his earlier works. As promised, here is my review. 

Carson’s basic thesis is that the meaning of tolerance has changed in the last few decades. Tolerance used to mean putting up with views with which we might strongly disagree. More recently tolerance has taken on a new aspect, involving the acceptance of all views as equally valid.

The old tolerance involved a commitment to truth as well as a willingness to allow people with whom we disagree to say what they think. The new tolerance barely acknowledges that there is any such thing as truth.   Accordingly, it is regarded as the height of intolerance to suggest that one’s views are right and others are wrong. Such “intolerance” simply should not be tolerated.  

As a con-coercive faith, Christianity sits comfortably with the older understanding of tolerance. The new tolerance, however his highly problematic because we believe in truth, the truth of God’s word, revealed supremely in Jesus Christ.

Carson details the intolerance of the “new tolerance” when it comes to the worlds of government, education, the law, the media, “gay rights”, and the Christian faith. His examples are drawn from incidents in the USA and the UK. In an increasingly secular age faith-based values are being squeezed out of public life.

In a final chapter the writer suggests some ways ahead when it comes to responding to the “new tolerance” from a Christian standpoint. His “Ten Words” call for a robust confession of the truth and civility in public discourse.

This timely book is highly recommended.

* Reviewed for Protestant Truth

4 comments:

Phillip said...

Having only begun this read, stirring would be the word. One grieves for the Church having swallowed and disested the "new tolerance." Observed is the attitude, "both views are right, but to get along I will go with this one."

Monty Dicksion said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I really appreciate Carson's take on this; I think this book has a lot to offer church leaders (and laity of course) who are wrestling with the issue of being "relevant."

Additionally, if anyone is interested in learning better bible study, D. A. Carson provides a wonderful example in the 7 volumes included in this collection. You can pre-order it for a great price from Logos.

The Select Works of D. A. Carson (7 vols.)

Anonymous said...

I really appreciate Carson's take on this; I think this book has a lot to offer church leaders (and laity of course) who are wrestling with the issue of being "relevant."

Additionally, if anyone is interested in learning better bible study, D. A. Carson provides a wonderful example in the 7 volumes included in this collection. You can pre-order it for a great price from Logos.

The Select Works of D. A. Carson (7 vols.)