Would there be more tolerance without any religion? Examples of ethnic and classic religions show that the tolerance potentials of religions vary. In theory and practice the concept of tolerance is conditioned by sociocultural factors. Monotheism alone cannot be blamed. Religions are not without theological and non-theological factors which can motivate intolerance (such as self-isolation, social rivalry, differences of mentality, lack of profile, exaggerated claims of power or truth) but also show impulses in favour of tolerance (such as strong consciousness of identity, high intellectual formation, ethos oriented along the Golden Rule, and negative theology). Christianity, indeed responsible for much intolerance, can improve its tolerance potential by its faith in God the Creator of all humankind, in Jesus Christ addressed to all as the redeemer, and in the universal working of the Holy Spirit.. This way it can find criteria for the legitimacy of intolerance. It does not pitch truth and love against each other, but is conscious of its eschatological limitation. The more a religion is able to transcend its outer form and to look forward into a last horizon, the more opportunities for tolerance can grow.

Enthalten in:
Kerygma und Dogma; 2014/2 Zeitschrift für theologische Forschung und kirchliche Lehre (2014)

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Serie / Reihe: Kerygma und Dogma

Personen: Barth, Hans-Martin

Schlagwörter: Religion Christentum Toleranz Monotheismus