Yesterday, Garry South (Democrat operative) worried about Mitt Romney becoming President of the United States.
Why? It appear Mr. South has discovered that Mitt Romney is a Mormon. (Mr. South has yet to discover that Harry Reid is a Mormon.) Despite the best efforts of the mainstream media to never mention the fact that Mitt “He Raises Money from Mormons” Romney is a Mormon . . . Garry South has done a brave man’s work and exposed the fact that Mitt “Son of a Mormon” Romney is a Mormon.
To his horror he has also made the remarkable discovery that Mormon’s think they are right . . . and that (having accepted the Law of Non-Contradiction) Mormons think those that disagree with them are wrong!
Has even the Law of Non-Contradiction become Mormon?
This stubborn refusal to believe two contradictory things at the same time (according to Mr. South) makes Mormons intolerant. He advises us to ask hard questions to Mr. Mormon, Romney, about this “issue.”
How meaningless is Mr. South’s use of “intolerant?”
It would make philosophy impossible.
South believes that if we have serious disagreements in one area, then we will be unable to work together in another. One good theological disagreement and . . . INTOLERANCE has come upon us!
Southern Baptists are iconoclasts. The Eastern Orthodox are iconodules. Both would happily (using reason) condemn the views of the other and eventually somebody may win this argument . . . but it will not be by becoming “tolerant” South-style. It will be because one side has persuaded the other. Meanwhile, people intolerant of falsehood can be quite tolerant of the people holding them . . . since one bad idea in not exhaustive of every quality a person holds.
Garry South should realize that I can get along with Al Mohler, even if I think he is wrong about a few things. I will probably vote for the same Presidential candidate as Al Mohler, even though I could not join Mr. Mohler’s Church and he would not want to join mine.
Let’s apply South’s definition of “intolerance” to politics. Mr. South is a Democrat. He thinks Republicans are wrong about some issues. He is, therefore, intolerant. We should ask hard questions of any Democrat (a party intolerant of Republicans).
In the world where real people live, we deal with religious conflict in a different manner than Mr. South. We agree to disagree and talk things out rationally. People who cannot do that end up being excluded from polite company. Some of my dearest friends think my beloved Church is not good, but I go on liking them . . . in fact, it gives us interesting and important things to argue about. They hope to change my mind, but are willing to go forward as friends.
They are intolerant of my error, but happy for my company. Exclusive truth claims cannot co-exist, but the people who hold them can.
A beloved teacher wanted me to become Roman Catholic and so join the true Church. I was not offended, but glad he cared. He did not accept my error, but accepted me as a student.
Mormons (and I have friends who are Mormons) think I am wrong. I think they are not Christians and are also wrong. We both cannot be right. Our claims are exclusive, but our earthly friendships are not. I do NOT tolerate their error, but them. They do not tolerate my error, but me.
We go on liking each other, doing our best to convert each other, and working together to keep people like Garry South far from power.