Is the Christian god a tolerant god?

[TheNoNamedOne]

I sometimes hear Christians speak of tolerance, usually in hopes that their beliefs will be respected. One of our other members on another thread put it like this:

I believe everyone one has a right to their own belief and own opinion on how they precieve any religion. It's what is right for you.

A big problem with this is that Bible God does not share the same thought on the issue. In fact, he tells you specifically there will be no other gods before him. The 10 Commandments straight from Bible God makes that quite clear on the matter:


You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol.


First off, if no other gods exist, why even refer to them as if they are a threat or that they are there to be worshipped? Why not just say?:

"I am your Lord, the only God that exists for you to worship."

2nd of all, if tolerance were something acceptable to Christianity, then why does their god prohibit the practicing of it in the form of other styles of worship?

I think Christians do not realize that their use of the word tolerance is only out of convenience for them when they do not want their right to worship scrutinized or impinged upon, but feel that Bible God is correct in forbidding the worshipping of other Gods. I mean, who can argue with Bible God, and if that is his will, and Christians pray for His will be done "on Earth as it is in Heaven," then they know it is their duty to try and help make it so that his will is ushered in Earth (hence the active missionary work and proselytizing), and that would require that the 10 Commandments be pushed to their intolerant aim if Christians are given the opportunity to do so.

I therefore look with suspicion upon Christians who speak of wanting tolerance for their views. Their own God by his very nature is intolerant.

[devine]

See that is why I believe each person has an opinion of their own and a choice of religion. Just because I say this does not in any way make me less of a person in stating that we all have a right.
I am not a person who lives and dies by the laws of the Bible. But I do agree with most of how the morals and values are written. If you use the book as a guideline of how life is to be in sections of the book then it may make some sense. But to be honest I have not read the Bible or even opened one in many years. Your talking at least 17 years now since I have studied the bible as part of Sunday School or even when I was in private catholic school. I don't think any one person has a right to tell another how to live life. Just a guidence of how they should do it. I hope to raise my children with the right morals and values so they can choose for themselves what path to take. And no my youngest daughter has not been baptised and currently with child now. I am not sure what I want to do it's up to my husband and I how to raise our children with a belief or non belief.

[TheNoNamedOne]

devine, in light of the 10 Commandments, do you believe Bible God is tolerant?

[devine]

I have broken over half of his Commandements. Once I ask for his forgiveness I am supposed to go into Heaven. So in a matter he forgives which is a Yes Bible God is tolerant in the end.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I have broken over half of his Commandements. Once I ask for his forgiveness I am supposed to go into Heaven. So in a matter he forgives which is a Yes Bible God is tolerant in the end.

Sure, when you are standing before Him out of this world (had you asked for forgiveness before you got to Him), but what of THIS world in the HERE and NOW where Christians invoke the word for tolerance HERE. Remember, THIS world is where Bible God says we are not to have other gods or worship idols.

Would the U.N. be a tolerant organization if it pronounced, "Everyone is to have no other God than the Bible God and to worship no idols"?

I see what you are saying that he is tolerant in death and even possibly with issuing "Free will", but his laws are not tolerant. What if our laws mimiced his laws on the issue, we wouldn't be very tolerant would we?

[devine]

Sure, when you are standing before Him out of this world (had you asked for forgiveness before you got to Him), but what of THIS world in the HERE and NOW where Christians invoke the word for tolerance HERE. Remember, THIS world is where Bible God says we are not to have other gods or worship idols.

Would the U.N. be a tolerant organization if it pronounced, "Everyone is to have no other God than the Bible God and to worship no idols"?

I see what you are saying that he is tolerant in death and even possibly with issuing "Free will", but his laws are not tolerant. What if our laws mimiced his laws on the issue, we wouldn't be very tolerant would we?

In fact we do have tolerance in the courts. It's the laws that are to be obeyed by us as individuals but this is why we have attorneys that would argue what is right and what is wrong. In short a judge or jury of our peers will deciede if the act was tolerated with in the limits of the laws.

Also, St. Constintine was a peganist before he announced his christianity and became christian on his death bed asking the lord "Bible God" to accept his forgiveness. (sorry for any missspellings) And then he was accepted into Bible God's Heaven.

[TheNoNamedOne]

In fact we do have tolerance in the courts. ...In short a judge or jury of our peers will deciede if the act was tolerated with in the limits of the laws.

Yes, we do have tolerance in the secular system we have set up for ourselves, but God did not set that system up for us. Again, what would you say if the U.N. issued a decree, or even the U.S. government in all its branches issued a decree saying those things in the Ten Commandments referring to Bible God? Would that be tolerant?

Why is God issuing them any more or less tolerant?

Also, St. Constintine was a peganist before he announced his christianity and became christian on his death bed asking the lord "Bible God" to accept his forgiveness. (sorry for any missspellings) And then he was accepted into Bible God's Heaven.

I am always suspicious about deathbed conversions -- particularly when they are reported by and witnessed only by Christians. Why wouldn't you be?

[devine]

Ok, Ok, you have me so stumped right now. I don't have a response. Which is really unlike me. I suppose I shall return another day to try and come back with an answer. I personally try not to be political or religious person. I always seem to find myself in both conversations.
In our world today it's so hard to say what people will do or say but as for the Ten Commandments they are not set up to be tolerated. But indeed the under lying factor is just need to ask for forgiveness for the sins you have done. As far as our society ... it's not that simple.


I am always suspicious about deathbed conversions -- particularly when they are reported by and witnessed only by Christians. Why wouldn't you be?

I agree, but again. I was not there. Just because I still say I am Christian but I do not practice the faith at all. Doesn't mean I would lie on something like that. Someone else made a good point, I suppose I could simply research on my own. Most peganist holidays or celebrations are around the same time of the Christian holidays/celebrations. That would take some effort on my part to go that deep into it.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Fair enough, devine. Good reading your replies.

[okisteve]

A big problem with this is that Bible God does not share the same thought on the issue. In fact, he tells you specifically there will be no other gods before him. The 10 Commandments straight from Bible God makes that quite clear on the matter:

* You shall have no other gods before me.
* You shall not make for yourself an idol.


First off, if no other gods exist, why even refer to them as if they are a threat or that they are there to be worshipped? Why not just say?:

"I am your Lord, the only God that exists for you to worship."

Simple answer - because the big guy did not have a team of lawyers, only a few speechwriters. There were no Hebrew lawyers because the law schools were 'restricted' until 1912.

So only the goyim (non-Jews) had smart answers that held up in court like, "I didn't inhale", and "it depends what 'it' is", and "it is 100% sure that Ramses has weapons of mass destruction".

Otherwise we would have had Bible stories like about the tribe that got a pass for their idol because they told Him , "we don't use it before you, we use it only after you", and "We didn't make that idol for ourselves Your Magnificence sir, we made it for the tribe of Simon the Sandalmaker and they never came by for it."

[DougP]

Or saying something like. We are not worshiping it, we are merely admiring it ever so slightly as a great centerpiece for our secular ceremony.:D

[P_chan]

Speaking of tolerance:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/12/27/clashing.clergy.ap/index.html

I guess they don't believe in tolerating other sects of chrisitianity.

[okisteve]

Right - lot's of talk about brotherhood, but when it comes down to realie stuff like being co-guardians of a holy place, there's no room for other beliefs or practices. These are Armenians and Greeks, both Orthodox sects.

It's not the first time it's happened there by the way, that church has been infamous for the same kind of squabble practically forever .

And it's not like there aren't 2 million Muslims literally on the doorstep of the church to worry about. I guess there's always time for broom hockey and pull-the-beard.

[Mad Hatter]

I have tolerance for you TP :D

[TheNoNamedOne]

I have tolerance for you TP :D

Thanks, MH. I can tolerate you, too.