The difficult limit of Christian tolerance: deed and facetranslated

One of the most difficult issues in the Orthodox Christian tradition is the balance between truth and love, between the moral judgment of an act and respect for the person who chooses it. This boundary becomes particularly difficult in an age where many behaviors are no longer viewed only as personal choices, but as elements of identity, social acceptance and rights.

By Petros D. Damianos (Dr. of Philosophy – NTUA Teaching Staff)

The basic distinction of Christian thought is that man and his actions are not completely identical. A person has value not because he always behaves correctly, but because he is human, created in the image of God. Action, on the other hand, can be evaluated morally, considered beneficial or harmful, in accordance with or contrary to the purpose of human life.

This distinction is fundamental, but difficult to apply. When someone criticizes a behavior, the recipient of the criticism often does not just hear "this action is considered wrong", but feels like they are hearing "you are wrong". Criticism of a choice can easily turn into a feeling of rejection of the person himself. From…