Disagreement is not hatred but part of seeking truth, and true tolerance is about how we treat people, not about accepting all ideas as true.
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Introduction: It is an undeniable fact that “right” and “wrong” exist. Your denial of this fact would itself be an affirmation. For the moment you attempt to refute this proposition, you are claiming that you are right. That is a clear validation of the above-mentioned argument. If there is right and wrong, there must be a law from which one draws the standard to distinguish between them. In other words, there must be “truth.” Truth must originate from a person because it contains ideas. There is no known evidence of non-living things producing words and ideas. Science tells us certain facts, but in matters of truth, it has limitations. For instance, it cannot tell us why we must be truthful. Science can explain how things work, but it cannot tell us how we ought to live.
It is important to clarify that while some truths may be subjective, such as personal preferences, feelings, or experiences, not all truth can be subjective. My argument in this article is that objective truth must exist. Without objective truth, we lose any meaningful way to distinguish between right and wrong.
Noteworthily, truth cannot be merely subjective; it must also be objective and absolute. If truth is only subjective, how can we differentiate between right and wrong? If everyone creates their own truth, then even injustice can be justified as “my truth.” Subjective truths may describe how individuals feel or perceive, but they cannot serve as the final authority for moral judgment or ultimate reality. In this article, I will argue that truth must be grounded in objective reality, even though subjective experiences exist, and that affirming truth does not make us intolerant.
Truth
L. T. Jeyachandran, a well-known Christian thinker, speaker, and writer, asked three important questions: Can truth avoid being absolute? Can truth be all-inclusive? Can truth be contradictory? In his book Since You Asked, he addresses these questions and concludes that truth must be absolute, exclusive, and non-contradictory. Let us examine them.
Can truth avoid being absolute?
Consider the statement, “all views are false.” If all views are false, then that statement itself must also be false. This leads to a contradiction. Now consider the opposite statement, “all views are true.” If all views are true, then the first statement (“all views are false”) must also be true, which again leads to contradiction. Therefore, we must accept that some views are truer than others. The moment comparison is made, it implies a standard by which the comparison is judged. This standard must be objective and outside the views being compared.
For example, when comparing the height of two persons, we use a standard that is independent of both. Likewise, if we speak of right and wrong, there must be a lawgiver. Without a lawgiver, how can anything be judged as good or evil? And if the lawgiver is imperfect, he cannot be the ultimate standard. According to Christian belief, Jesus said, “I am the truth” (John 14:6), and His word is truth (John 17:17). This means He is not merely true, but the ultimate standard of truth.
Today, many worldviews influence our thinking. One of the most prominent is relativism. Friedrich Nietzsche said, “There are no eternal facts, as there are no absolute truths.” Relativism claims that all views are equally true and that truth depends on context. However, no one can consistently live as a relativist. If someone says, “there is no absolute truth,” we must ask, “Is that absolutely true?” This statement contradicts itself. To deny absolute truth, one must secretly depend on it. Therefore, truth must be absolute. Peter Kreeft says, “It is reasonable to love the Absolute absolutely for the same reason it is reasonable to love the relative relatively.” In daily life—courts, education, and relationships—we already depend on absolute truth, whether we admit it or not.
Can truth be all-inclusive?
Some people believe that all religions are equally true and lead to the same God. This idea is often illustrated by saying that different religions are like different paths up the same mountain. However, can truth be all-inclusive? The answer is no. Truth is, by nature, exclusive. This is based on the “Law of Identity.” When we call something by its name, we refer to that thing alone and exclude everything else. A piece of chalk is a piece of chalk—it cannot be everything else at the same time.
Can we have different and opposing answers to the same question and still say all are correct? No. Only one non-contradictory answer can be true. Therefore, truth must be exclusive. Exclusivity is not pride; it is simply the nature of truth. Even in science and medicine, the correct answer excludes the wrong ones.
Can truth be contradictory?
The law of non-contradiction states that two opposite claims cannot both be true at the same time in the same sense. In simple terms, A cannot be equal to non-A. For example, one religion says Jesus died on the cross, while another says He did not. Both cannot be true. One must be wrong. Therefore, truth must be non-contradictory. Without this law, reasoning, communication, and even meaningful discussion would become impossible.
Tolerance
If we are truthful, are we intolerant? Is it intolerant to say that Jesus is the only way and that He is the truth? Some may say yes. Greg Koukl, a Christian apologist, writes that no concept is more popular today than tolerance. However, the idea that tolerance means neutrality is a myth. The modern idea of tolerance creates confusion. Each person believes their view is correct and that opposing views are wrong. No one is truly neutral. In reality, every person makes truth claims, whether openly or silently.
Christians are often criticised for saying Jesus is the only way. They are called narrow-minded and intolerant. But is it wrong to believe something is true? We believe what we believe because we think it is right. Even the person who says “all views are equal” is making a strong truth claim. Pluralists say Christians are intolerant. But they too believe their view is correct—that all religions are equally valid. So, are they neutral? No. So the real issue is not whether we exclude, but which belief is true.
If all religions are equally valid, then why reject the Christian claim? That becomes a contradiction. Truth cannot be relative, all-inclusive, and contradictory. Therefore, holding a belief does not make someone intolerant. We must understand that disagreement is not the same as disrespect. I can disagree with someone’s belief and still treat that person with love and dignity. Disagreement is not hatred; it is part of seeking truth. True tolerance is about how we treat people, not about accepting all ideas as true. If all ideas are accepted as true, then truth itself loses meaning.
Therefore, being truthful does not make us intolerant. It is possible to stand firm in truth and still be gentle, respectful, and loving toward others. True love does not ignore truth; it speaks it with grace.
Conclusion: Peter Kreeft said, “Be egalitarian regarding persons. Be elitist regarding ideas.” This means we must treat all people equally, but we must examine ideas carefully. We must understand the difference between disagreeing with ideas and mistreating people. I may reject a belief, but that does not mean I hate the person who holds it. Greg Koukl explains that we do not tolerate those who agree with us—we tolerate those we believe are wrong, yet treat them with respect.
Sadly, in today’s world, tolerance is often misunderstood. Those who demand tolerance are sometimes unwilling to listen to other views. Instead of engaging with ideas, many simply label others as “intolerant.” We must help people understand that truth is valuable. Holding a belief does not make someone intolerant. Choosing our God is not like choosing between food or preferences—it is fundamental. Don’t lie to yourself.
In our daily life, we must practice two things together: clarity in truth and kindness in conduct. We must speak what is true without fear, but also treat people with patience and humility. Truth without love becomes harsh, and love without truth becomes empty. We need both. In a confused world, let us not be silent about truth, and let us not be careless about people.
Liba Hopeson