Beliefs Cause Wars
by Lea
Despite all the advances we have made, there are still far too many people that feel their views and beliefs are the only truth and should be followed by everyone. This thinking process creates conflicts that sometimes lead to wars even today. People really need to realize that their beliefs are simply that, their beliefs. If people would simply accept that truth can be interpreted and acted upon differently from one person to another, then there would be more discussions to ease conflict and division.
Religion for example, can be a source of support for many people. But, if you look at history, you will see how religion has also been used to coerce people who where satisfied with their own set beliefs and was not interested in blindly accepting another belief.
In the past, we had the Christian Crusades and the Medieval Inquisition, which were carried out against various groups whose views opposed that of the Pope. Persecution in the name of God included political adversaries, non Abrahamic religions, as well as Christian Waldensians, (which are now known as Protestant and Evangelical churches), Jewish and Islamic religions. The church stated that anyone who didn’t follow the Christian beliefs were evil, heretics, demonic and so forth. Recently, a few leaders of the Muslim faith have called for a Holy war against the infidels. Sounds like history trying to repeat itself, just a different group using different words.
If people were to study the texts from other religions, they would find that other than some wording, stories and practices, these religions really aren’t all that different. They all refer to the need for unconditional love, acceptance, truth, charity, selflessness and so on.
Teachers know that there are more than one way to teach a subject and more than one way to reach the correct answer. If we all accepted that, perhaps world peace would be a little closer.
Religious beliefs, of course, are not the only fixed thinking process that causes conflicts and wars. Countries are repeatedly lead into wars by their government leaders. They too will use terms like ” for the higher good,” and so forth. Speaking only in the interests of their own government.
What right does someone have to tell another what they should or should not believe? If “one size fits all” was a reality, then no one would have the need for freewill, or freedom of choice.
The reality is that each of us has our own journey and path to walk, unique in many ways from anyone else. By interfering with another person’s lessons and journey is to bring resistance and hardship to yourself and your way of life. This been stated in many ways such as in the Bible, the Hindu Vedas and Buddhist teachings.
If you want to be accepted for the person you are, have freedom to follow your beliefs whatever they might be, then acceptance of other people and that they have their own beliefs would be a good place to start. Acceptance of differences is what will bring world peace.
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