I possess an interesting small book , purchased from a used-books' seller at a pavement near Delhi's Central Secratariat some 6-7 years ago. It is called A Dictionary of Saints. One of the saints listed is Polycarp, the second century Bishop of Smyrna in what is Turkey now. That was a time when the Christian doctrine was still fluid with each contenting group trying to get its version recognized as orthodoxy. Polycarp represented what eventually triumphed and became the official doctrine followed with minor variations by all major Christian denominations now. Their main enemies were the Gnostics who preached a radically different Christianity which rejected the books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and even treated the old testament God as some kind of evil spirit or anti-God. Marcion, the great leader of Gnosticism, was a contemporary of Polycarp.
The Dctionary of Saints has a very interesting story of a chance encounter of these two towering figures of early Church. On seeing Marcion, Polycarp took no notice.
Marcion said, "You probably have not recognized me".
Polycarp's response: "I recognize you only too well as the very son of the Devil!"
Now, that is some example of tolerance for you!!
It is easier and tempting to use abuse instead of arguments against ideological opponents even in religion. Athanasius, that great fourth century doctor of Church known for his dogged opposition to the later 'heresy' Arianism, is said to have called its followers devils, Antichrists, maniacs, Jews, polytheists, atheists, dogs, wolves, lions, hares, chameleons, hydras, eels, cuttlefish, gnats, beetles and leeches. (From Dr. Radhakrishnan's Eastern Religions & Western Thought, quoting AP Stanley's lectures on the History of the Eastern Church).
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