Вестник Свято-Филаретовского института (May 2013)
Not Tolerance but Mutual Appreciation and Ability to Learn from Each Other
Abstract
The article addresses the problem of tolerance, so vital and urgent for today’s global world. In contrast with the commonplace understanding of tolerance as showing mutual respect and acceptance of different points of view in a dialogue (being tolerant and patient with others instead of conflicting or indifferent) the author proposes a different approach, which in his opinion is rooted in Christian tradition. Essentially this approach involves a common premise shared by all the parties in a dialogue: they all agree upon the existence of the one truth, which is the same for everyone. And it is this truth that they set out as their common goal at the same time fully acknowledging the incomplete character of their own knowledge, the possibility of different ways of attaining that truth, and showing a readiness to learn from each other. The author explores different examples of this type of dialogue in history (from Justin the Philosopher to Vatican II).
