Pr. Stoffregen: "Tolerating opinions other than my own makes my own opinions worthless."
I say: This need not be. Your opinion is your own. I tolerate that. I know my opinion is my own and equally as valid as yours. Opinions are never worthless by any account. They do not stand before God however in His final court. But before the "court" of your own fellow human being your opinion is just as worthy as valid as anyone elses.
Technically legal opinions were/are necessary in litigation process. Opinions give credence to valid and invalid points of view sort of like the peer group in scientific fields. Opinions do not make the judgment of the court but only inform the court so as for the judge or jury to render the final verdict.
To tolerate means: "to allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of (something that one does not necessarily like or agree with) without interference"
When tolerances means: "You cam believe whatever you want and I won't say anything about it, because that would be interfering," it makes my opinions worthless. Or rendered insignificant if I'm not willing to defend them.
We have had many discussions over the years - some even face-to-face. Respectfully disagreeing is not the same thing is tolerating. For a number of years I disagreed with some relatives who didn't believe in infant baptism. Eventually, they came to understand God's grace in a way that support infant baptism. A granddaughter was baptized as an infant. If I had not interfered, i.e., speaking the truth (as I, and my church see it,) in love. They would probably never have come to this more gracious understanding of God. We still disagree about many things - and continue to share meals together as one family.