The Truth About Tolerance - by Brad Stetson & Joseph G Conti (Paperback)

About the Book

Brad Stetson and Joseph G. Conti explore the use and misuse of the value of tolerance in academic circles and popular media, demonstrating that Christian conviction about religious truth provides the only secure basis for a tolerant society which promotes truth seeking.

Book Synopsis

Brad Stetson and Joseph G. Conti explore the use and misuse of the value of tolerance in academic circles and popular media, demonstrating that Christian conviction about religious truth provides the only secure basis for a tolerant society which promotes truth seeking.

Review Quotes

"Leftists would have us believe that a culture war is going on between tolerant secularists and intolerant Christians. Not so. As Stetson and Conti recognize, the conflict is really between two rival views of tolerance. One view is relativist--it says the best foundation for tolerance is not thinking you know anything. The other view is realist--it says you have to know something in order to judge what is tolerable. Guess who the real oppressors are. Not who you've been told; the relativist view of tolerance turns out to be authoritarianism in disguise. Great book; I hope it's read widely."

"Since the concept of tolerance is so abused and misunderstood today, this book is very pertinent. The authors wisely survey the social and political landscape and chart a Christian view of tolerance that is biblical and well informed. The book should make a significant contribution to the discourse and be of great help to many Christians desiring to make their voices heard in a winsome and genuinely tolerant manner."

"Stetson and Conti address, with rigor and clarity, the use and misuse of the term tolerance in our popular culture. Too often what goes by the name tolerance is just another dogma with a smiley face. Stetson and Conti take the mask off, and enlighten us in the process."

"The pursuit of tolerance has become today's highest virtue. But Stetson and Conti show that today's promoters of tolerance--using an Orwellian doublespeak--are cleverly advancing an ideology that is itself intolerant. This book will inform and edify every reader."

"We aren't as tolerant as we think we are--and genuine tolerance will emerge only when we no longer tolerate our many forms of pseudo-tolerance. Stetson and Conti demonstrate the need for a new culture of tolerance, where virtue governs our disagreements about the things that matter most. They've produced an astute commentary on contemporary culture, a rousing admonition to witness to truth with humility and respect, and an inspiring set of principles to guide the way."

The authors sound a call for their readers to engage in genuine tolerance, a tolerance that more accurately reflects the ideals of Jesus Christ. If the reader genuinely cares about other people, this is a must read.

About the Author

Joseph G. Conti (Ph.D., social ethics, University of Southern California) is a writer and lectures in the comparative religion department at California State University--Fullerton.

Brad Stetson (Ph.D., social ethics, University of Southern California) is a writer and teaches at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California.