How do would you interpret the following two Old Testament passages as well as the quotes by Richard Rorty, and G. K. Chesterton, do they have relevance in today’s society?
13 “Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you
will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 NRSV
“So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount
Carmel. 21 Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people did not answer him a word.” I Kings 18:20-21 NRSV
“I take religious toleration to mean the willingness of religious groups to take part in discussions without dragging religion into it.” Richard Rorty
“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions” G.K. Chestertonw
The assumption being that revisionist thinkers have changed religious freedom and religious tolerance concepts. “In today’s relativistic environment, pluralism no longer means tolerating competing ideas, but rather forced neutrality: no one should express any idea that could offend another.” 31 The point is made clearer by Dr. Paul Copan, when he asserts “as Christians, we believe that God’s revelation in Jesus is true and where other religions contradict the Christian revelation, then at that point they would be in error. This has been called particularism exclusivism.”52
How should Christians Respond to those who do not share the same belief? Colson states the following:
- First, we must remain Loving. We must avoid heavy-handed tactics that can give legitimate offense; we overcome evil with good.
- Second, we must stand firm in our convictions.
