The Journey From Intolerance to Tolerance to Affirmation

D.W. Griffith's classic 1916 film, Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages may not have caused the current "Age of Affirmation" for all the variations of love that we have discovered over the past one hundred years, but the silent film's theme certainly sounds like a modern day talking point for progressives when it comes to issues surrounding sexual identity and behavior.

It seems to me that there are five stops along the progressive highway. Four of them sound innocent enough,

1. Intolerance
2. Tolerance
3. Acceptance
4. Approval
5. Affirmation

Intolerance, at its extreme, leads to bloodshed, but we all have things that we will not tolerate that do not move us to violence. One personal example: When I was single, I would not tolerate a date who smoked anything. It was not a hateful intolerance mind you but one born out of love and concern for their health and mine. If the break up of those relationships appeared to be the result of a hateful intolerance, so be it.
What is it that you will not tolerate?
I will not tolerate same-sex activities under my roof. Is that hateful?
I will not tolerate a false teacher in the Church. Does that make me a bad person?

Tolerance, on the other hand, does not lead to violence, but it does not mean you have to like something. I might tolerate a date who chews gum, but I probably wouldn't consider them to be a prospective spouse. I might tolerate homosexuals being open and agree with their not being persecuted, but I become intolerant when they attempt to change the Church's definition of what is a sin, or upend the Church's traditional teachings on marriage. I am intolerant when they flaunt their sexuality parading about in revealing clothing (or lack there of) in "Pride" events in front of impressionable young children

Acceptance occurs when you shrug your shoulders and accept the fact that your date smokes or chews gum, and that there is nothing you can do or say that will change their ways. Once you agree that a behavior is acceptable for that person, it is likely that you will begin to accept the behavior in anyone. You have lost the ability to be intolerant in a loving way. An example for the Church would be the acceptance of homosexual priests as a fact and no longer being capable of defrocking them for same-sex activities.

Approval is the welcoming of what is now an acceptable behavior into your household, public library, public streets, or the Church. Once you approve of it, you will see more of it.

Affirmation is the final step in the process, and that is where you encourage others to engage in the behavior. When your church marches in a "Pride Parade", you have reached the end of the line.

We shall have the opportunity to see the process in action over the next decade or so as polyamory and polygamy follow the trail blazed by their LGBT predecessors.

Recently, an article at the Christian Post reported that,

"The American Psychological Association has established a task force on 'consensual non-monogamy,' an effort they say is necessary in order to reduce 'stigma' on persons who practice polyamory."

"'Finding love and/or sexual intimacy is a central part of most people’s life experience. However, the ability to engage in desired intimacy without social and medical stigmatization is not a liberty for all. This task force seeks to address the needs of people who practice consensual non-monogamy, including their intersecting marginalized identities,' the website for the task force of the APA's Division 44 explains."

"The work of the task force, which is led by psychology Ph.D.'s who are based in California universities, promotes 'awareness and inclusivity about consensual non-monogamy and diverse expressions of intimate relationships.'"

 "Since American mental health experts have largely given up on their job of investigating underlying factors that may be contributing to marginal sexual behavior, this is what we are left with, the cult of affirmation."

We will learn to tolerate "consensual non-monogamy" (note the more tolerable language), and then we will accept it. Eventually the law will approve of it. The natural progression to affirmation will result in the Church employing polyamorous or polygamous deacons, priests, and bishops who will be marching in the streets on some future "Poly Day" as the crowds cheer and the media celebrates what was once considered "intolerable".

You can rest assured that the "cult of affirmation" will attack anyone who does not complete the five step process from intolerance to affirmation.