Intolerance is Evil: Why it Must be Eradicated

[Dave Land]

Folks,

I'm sure that others in this august company* have already read this,  
perhaps discussed it, perhaps embraced or dismissed it, but I have  
only recently come across John Locke's 1689 treatise, "A Letter  
Concerning Toleration". It's lovely to know that what is now  
considered "liberal" theology has, in fact, been around informing (or,  
if you must, deforming) minds for more than 300 years.

Here's a link: http://www.constitution.org/jl/tolerati.htm

Here's a sample:

     I esteem that toleration to be the chief characteristic mark of
     the true Church. For whatsoever some people boast of the
     antiquity of places and names, or of the pomp of their outward
     worship; ... these things ... are much rather marks of men
     striving for power and empire over one another than of the
     Church of Christ. Let anyone have never so true a claim to all
     these things, yet if he be destitute of charity, meekness, and
     good-will in general towards all mankind, even to those that are
     not Christians, he is certainly yet short of being a true
     Christian himself.

Locke presumes that to be a true Christian is the highest aim,  
obviously, but goes on to argue for a flavor of Christianity that is  
the antithesis of the stuff against which our friend William so often  
rails.

Dave

* "August, already? It was only June a couple of weeks ago!"