Editorial April 2, 1960 ISSUE

THE DANGERS OF TOLERANCE

Helen Wood Bauman

There are unquestionable dangers in tolerance. While the word "tolerance" is often used to indicate freedom from bigotry, "tolerate," according to one authority, means "to suffer to be, or to be done, without prohibition or hindrance; to allow or permit by not preventing."

Christian Science, allied with divine Principle, does not permit its adherents to wink at error, hidden or obvious, in order to maintain a false sense of peace; therefore tolerance cannot always be lauded as a virtue. Without bigotry or contempt for others, the Christian Scientist is never tempted "to allow or permit by not preventing" what is wrong in human affairs; but he supports what is nearest right in these affairs. He knows that a tolerant attitude toward any form of evil is not dealing with it honestly or causing it to be destroyed through the power of Christ, the spirit of Truth. Consequently he makes no compromise with anything unprincipled. He does not tolerate what he knows will be unsound or retrogressive in effect.

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