Article May 21, 1921 Issue

Intolerance

JOHN M. DEAN

ALL reasonable thinking people will agree that intolerance is a blighting evil, yet there is a wide divergence of opinion as to just what constitutes intolerance. A comprehensive definition of the word would run the whole scale of error from mere impatience with the views of another to that superlative quality of bigoted persecution which inspired the crucifixion of Jesus the Christ, and has always followed with vindictive malevolence all those who dare to break away from "the tradition of the elders." Thus it is likely that many people are intolerant without knowing it, and it is no doubt true that few are entirely free from this evil in some one of its varied forms.

It is entirely possible for one to differ radically with an honest man, however wrong he may seem to be, and yet differ kindly and peaceably. Indeed, this is a plain Christian duty. It should be remembered that a man may be ever so wrong in one direction and at the same time right in other directions. It has been well said that no one can really know another and at the same time hate him. Some gem of character, however small, ofttimes sparkles in the life of the most degraded like the gleam of a tiny diamond in the mud. The pure metaphysics of Christian Science affords a safe guide in the forming of right estimates of our fellow man. When inclined to indulge in harsh criticism of others it is well to reflect if we ourselves would have done any better under all the circumstances of environment with which they have been surrounded. Charity and bigotry have nothing in common, and many who pride themselves on being "plain spoken" are merely unkind.

To be charitable in considering the faults of others does not mean that the faults themselves should be condoned, but the fact remains that unless we separate the error from the individual we are helping to fasten it upon him, and to that extent we become parties to his sin. True reform and forgiveness do not imply condonation of evil, and can only come with the destruction of evil. But in spite of any mortal seeming, however real and vivid it may appear, it must still be seen that man, made in God's image, is perfect in his nature, and to see imperfection as a part of this man, or to confuse him with the mortal counterfeit of man which is evolved through universal wrong thinking, is to assist in the perpetuation of a lie and thus to sin against both God and man.

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