Thursday, December 21, 2006

Christmas and Toleration

Modern political and academic discourse emphasizes toleration. It might be good to remember that toleration is not always what it seems. One example of toleration, for example, is the attempt to take Christ out of Christmas. Recently in Chicago, the promoters of the movie "The Nativity" had to include Muslim and Jewish images in order to get approval for a public display to promote their movie. This is "toleration." "Toleration" is the argument that is used to justify gay marriage. We should be careful and aware, that often arguments for toleration are masks for other ends.

Its roots are deep in Western History. During the 18th Century, Voltaire developed a theory of toleration from the example of Julian the Apostate. Voltaire's doctrine of toleration was part of a plan to kick Catholics out of the French Academy and ultimately, French Intellectual and public life. It was a way for a minority to take contro and oppress a majority. This theory of toleration was the basis for the way in which the French Revolutionaries dealt with the Catholic Church during the 1790s in France.

Pius VI recognized toleration for what it was. He noted that since the earliest times of Christianity, "the mask called freedom of thought" and a "false system of toleration" were used to attack the Church. The first doctrine of separation of Church and State goes back to the Acts of the Apostles, when the Pharisees tell Peter that he cannot speak the name Christ in public.

The purpose of toleration is to use it as a mask "to covertly carry out injusticed against the Church." They are meant to "reverse the order of law ... and to put in its place revolution and anarchy." Usually, during or following a time of toleration, we will also see an increase in attacks made on the Church.

We will also see the state attempt to violate the freedom of speech and freedom of consciences of Catholics, by preventing them from speaking in public or even in Church according to the witness of a well-formed conscience.

This is widespread in Public and Private universities, where the dominant forces use toleration as a club to beat down or exclude from academic discussions any who do not accept the current paradigm as set by revolutionary academics.

3 Comments:

Blogger Tortoise(notHare) said...

Joe, in the spirit of today's blog entry please permit me to wish you "Happy Holidays."*

*Please note that the "Holidays" for which the wish is made that they shall be happy will include, but not be limited to, Christmas, New Year, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Festivus, and Boxing Day. Any omission of a "holiday" is unintentional and the management expresses grave concern for its unintended ignorance in advance. Void where prohibited by law. Reg. Pa. Dept. Ag. Patent pending.

Ouch, my tongue is really hurting my cheek!

3:43 PM  
Blogger Tortoise(notHare) said...

Seriously, your entry was most timely and helpful and enlightening (you should excuse the use of the word).

May God bless you and keep you and may His face shine upon you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

3:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the Christmas Greetings!

I hope that we can continue to dialogue in the future!

Joe P.

4:59 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home