Tolerance Between Differing Beliefs
Why do so many people have a tendency to force their views and beliefs onto others? Conflicts comes not so much from having a difference in thinking, but from a personal conviction that their beliefs are the only truths and that their practices are the only way. They then create conflict not so much because they discuss their views, but by trying to convert or coerce another to their beliefs.
Religion can be a source of enlightenment and spiritual support for many people. But, if you look at history, you will see how religion has also been used to coerce people who not only had their own beliefs, but was not interested in changing those beliefs. 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 pre-protestants called Waldensians, which are now known as Protestant and Evangelical churches, Jewish and Islamic religions. Followers of the church were told 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 the major 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 could be a little closer.
It’s every person’s right to choose what they believe and what they don’t believe. But it’s not anyone’s right to force personal beliefs onto another who has their own set of beliefs, whether you or I agree with them or not.
[...] Talking with Tim wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptTolerance Between People of Differing Beliefs Posted on February 25th, 2008 by Lea Why do so many people have a tendency to try to force their views and beliefs onto others? Conflicts comes not so much from having a difference in thinking, but from a personal conviction that their way is the only way or that their beliefs are the only truths. They then create conflict not so much because they discuss their views, but by trying to convert or coerce another to their beliefs. Religion can be a [...]
[...] be surprised by the amount of growth they all would experience, in members as well as spiritually. Tolerance Between Differing Beliefs | Ocean Of Perspectives __________________ Lea http://www.oceanofperspectives.com Doreo [...]