Learn Intolerance

I enjoyed “Church and State” by Adam Minter. Especially because one of
his observations reveals a flaw in the progressive value of tolerance
and the point at which tolerance becomes irrelevant. “Johnson espouses
tolerance as a philosophy, but he has a difficult time extending it in
this instance,” Minter writes of Sen. Johnson’s dissatisfaction with
Chaplain Hall’s ministry. What Minter forgets to mention is that not
only are fundamentalist Christians intolerant, they openly mock the
ideal of tolerance even as they whine about liberals’ intolerance
toward them. To most liberals, the accusation of intolerance is
anathema and the only way to respond is to go on the defensive. Caught
in the trap of politically correct thinking, most liberals cannot bear
to define themselves as intolerant. But that has to change very soon if
there is to be any future for a progressive agenda. Tolerance is a
virtue that we should extend as far and wide as we possibly can. 
But the virtue of tolerance cannot be extended to groups of people who
are themselves intolerant, and liberals should stop making any further
pretense of doing so.  Fundamentalists of any creed are barbarians
who do not deserve the privilege of tolerance in a democratic, secular
society as long as they refuse to extend it to others. They shun
knowledge, promote ignorance, condone violence against women and
children and adhere to a social hierarchy that places a wealthy WASP
elite on the highest pedestal. Their concerns do not merit serious
consideration because they emanate not from a legitimate theological
context, but from a sense of self entitlement, false piety, and a
shameless will to power. Power is in fact, the only thing they worship.
Lest Minter give anyone the wrong idea: We have a duty to subvert and
dismantle intolerant groups in any legal way we can. Whatever hat he’s
wearing, Senator/Pastor/Brigadier General Johnson has my admiration and
respect for his ability to place the common good above his own personal
religious beliefs.
Justin Teerlinck
St. Paul