Let's Talk Religion

Why do people of different religions seem to hate each other so much? Perhaps because they are simply ignorant of how much they really have in common! I generally find that intolerance is a result of ignorance, and such ignorance and intolerance is often passed down to the next generation when people in positions of authority (parents, teachers, etc.) remain ignorant. Ignorance often leads to fear, fear can lead to hate, and hate can lead to violence. Knowledge is the key to avoid going down this path. Conflict between people of different religions may begin with simple ignorance. People who do not really know anything about other religions just assume the others are very different. They are not aware that many religions share the same basic ideas. Thus these people assume that the other religions must be wrong. Some people have the idea that "if my religion is right then you and yours must be wrong (and we can't let people go around thinking they know the truth when they do...

Tolerance is not enough. I would say it is a neutral "live and let live" attitude. It neither supports nor acts to prevent what others say or do or how others live (so long as it does not impact negatively on the life of others). It is certainly better than intolerance that can lead to worse things - hateful words and violent actions. But better than tolerance is respect for differences; and better than that is appreciation for the richness that diversity can bring to our own being. Respect the rights of people, even when we disagree with their beliefs and actions. That seems like a good description of tolerance (as a positive thing): tolerate (the existence of) the beliefs and practices while respecting the right of others to hold them. A neutral position: no need to support those beliefs and actions we disagree with but we don't try to block them either = tolerance. Not all religious practices affect others. Those we can tolerate. But I agree, they can beco...

I have been involved in interfaith activities for decades. I have found that the people who most need to hear the message of interfaith cooperation are the ones most closed to (fearful of) it. I figure that those who are against interfaith activities fear that it can lead one astray from commitment to one's own faith. It might lead them astray, or lead them to question their faith, perhaps because, on a sub-conscious level, they fear they are weak in their faith. As a practical response to criticism of involvement in interfaith activities, I might say: "well, no one is forcing you to be involved but I find it personally enriching and no threat to my faith." More typically, I find that people involved in interfaith dialogue are "preaching to the choir." A disdain for religion in general from anti-religion atheists. And a fear of interfaith cooperation by religious exclusivists. "Why are they against this?" may also be a call for us to...

I personally started out an agnostic. By high school, my frustration over the unanswered question about the existence of God led me to a complete distaste for religion in general. Had I been a more outgoing person, I might have spoken out against religion. But I just rejected it for myself. Then, in college, I had a mystical experience that convinced me that god is real and I fell into fully embracing the religion I had been raised in, assuming without question that my religion was the one and only right one, and all other religions were wrong. I started preaching (in writing) such a message against beliefs of others that I felt were wrong, an insult to God, as well as leading others astray from the Truth (as I saw it). But after about a year of such exclusivist thinking, I took a step back and realized I did not really know what other religions had to say. I just assumed they were wrong simply because they were not my religion, assumed that different religions were ent...

I was also anti-religion. In hindsight, I can now say it was because religion frustrated me. To be specific, it was the question of God’s existence that frustrated me. Or, more precisely, not being able to find an answer to the question is what frustrated me. I was in high school when it came to a head, when I gave up trying to find that elusive answer.   It followed me into college. Religion was not just something I “would not touch with a ten foot pole.” It was something I consciously and intentionally ran from, went out of my way to avoid. But I do feel that secretly – even hiding if from myself – I wanted to be religious; I wanted to believe. Now, when I come across an anti-religion atheist – you know, those outspoken “evangelical” atheist types who argue the “evils” of religion and the “childish silliness” of God belief – I believe that they do are as I was – a frustrated “want to” believer. All their anti-religion, anti-God talk is their way of reinforcing their...