I recently remembered the deep church conversation I entered into a few months ago, before coming here to Pine Ridge, SD to work on the Reservation, and although I did not think I would necessarily be tracking with ‘church thought’ here working in a high school, I have come to realize the necessity for me to think ‘church’ wherever I am (as I am entering seminary soon). So, I visited the site once again today, only to be pleasantly surprised by this article, which speaks wonders for how I feel endeavors to spread the Kingdom should be displayed- especially in an environment here where Christianity has done so much damage to the Lakota people and culture. I feel as if tolerance is a necessity in being true to the claim of who Jesus was and what he is calling us toward as we follow after him and love others… I guess that’s a general concept to say that it really means something to respect one another’s spiritual practices, and respect for me means not only ‘not condemning’ but entering into an experiential understanding of the spirituality underneath so much Lakota tradition and ceremony. Thus, I thank you for the article on tolerance, for if I have learned anything through my time here thus far, it is this: displaying tolerance in no way has diminished my personal faith…rather, I have come to a new and more appreciative understanding of my own Christian faith by interacting with those who do not currently understand what motivates my hope in life (Jesus). I leave their understanding in the hands of God, as I continue to display tolerance and love with the Lakota people.

Being intolerant is not accpeting anyone different to you, trying to force your religion or beliefs on others, and rejecting and condemning those who disagree with you, merely becuause they disagree with you.

I wouldn’t say not accepting a pluralistic viewpoint of God is intolerant. Not at all. Disageement is fine, as long as there is an acceptance of others right to disagree.

In regard to how tolerance applies to ‘personal beliefs’… I’ve often found that the classical understanding of tolerance is knowing there are differences and respectfully disagreeing. However, in the modern sense (or rather postmodern)… disagreement is sometimes viewed as a form of intolerance. So, if I, as a Christian do not accept a pluralistic viewpoint of God, I am thought to be intolerant. The tolerance twist is not about the action (respectful disagreement), but about the difference of belief. It’s a strange application of the word.

vapor