RELIGION AND UTOPIZATION PART 2 OF 5 - ACHIEVING RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE Initially, this section was intended to address strategies for achieving religious harmony, but the chance of attaining this goal is slim indeed. The differences and mistrusts between the various religions in the world is considered to be insurmountable at this time, if the goal is harmony. But maybe, just maybe, a degree of tolerance can be achieved. The various religions are like different roads converging on the same point. What difference does it make if we follow different routes, provided we arrive at the same destination. - Mahatma Gandhi It can be said that if all of the religions of the world, each of which preach peace and goodwill, would stop denigrating and even killing believers in other religions who have a different version of peace and goodwill, the world would be a much better place. And this applies to most if not all religions and denominations. Christians and Muslims, Christians and Jews, Muslims and Jews, Protestant and Catholic Christians, and Sunni and Shia Muslims are examples of religious groups that have historic and on-going conflicts with each other, and seem to have little chance of achieving any degree of harmony in the near future. Religious tolerance, however, may be attainable if religious expansionism is curtailed. If each religion stops trying to convert other religions to their beliefs, and instead, feels free to practice their own version of religion without an external threat, a level of tolerance may be possible. And further to this, the possibility of attaining religious tolerance in the world will be enhanced if an awareness of other religions is promoted by all religions, and if a level of respect for beliefs of different faiths is achieved. Such awareness can only be attained through education, for without education, ignorance will prevail. Preparing a program that targets the goal of achieving religious tolerance is far beyond the scope of this book, but it is considered to be feasible. There are likely many approaches to this issue, but one that should be included is the recognition of World Religious Sites, much like the existing World Heritage Sites identified by the United Nations. These World Religious Sites would include the sacred sites of all of the recognized religions of the world, as well as those of sacred significance to pre-historic and aboriginal peoples. These sites, regardless of religious linkage, would (or should) be recognized as sacred sites by all of the peoples and religions of the world, and protected as such. The intent of this recognition would be to encourage an awareness of other religions, and to promote inter-religion tolerance. It would also serve to encourage tourism to nations that have sites of religious significance, and would instill an awareness of the religious implications of such sites in all visitors. Maybe some religious strife can be reduced by this simple act. Further to this, there is one religious site that warrants special mention - Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a holy city to three of the worlds major religions - Christianity, Islam and Judaism . Within Jerusalem, and specifically within the old walled city, there are several sites of key religious importance, including the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, and al-Aqsa Mosque. Jerusalem is important to the world because it is one of the oldest cities on the earth, and the old walled city with its religious sites is already recognized as a World Heritage Site. However, since there are so many sites of religious significance to several different religions in a very small area (0.9 square kilometres), religious conflicts are omnipresent. Because of religious intolerance, Jerusalem has a long history of religious strife. It has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times. Today, it remains one of the core issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and appears likely to continue in a state of unrest into the foreseeable future. Conflict in Jerusalem has also been associated with Armageddon and the end of the world. Because of this, the likelihood that Jerusalem and the surrounding region can attain a utopian status in the near future is doubtful, unless some attitudinal changes occur. If the world can evolve into a state of religious tolerance, it is possible that Jerusalem can also achieve a degree of inter-faith harmony. And the corollary of this is that if the various religions in Jerusalem can get along, so can the various religions throughout the world. This argues well for striving to achieve religious peace in Jerusalem, in spite of the obvious difficulties this will entail. However, if the peoples of the area can start to think beyond the religious implications of the current situation, and learn to appreciate and respect the beliefs of their neighbours, a new world may be possible. This will obviously be difficult but it is possible, and if it is achieved, Jerusalem would probably be recognized around the world as a site of elevated religious significance because of its value to several different faiths. Jerusalem and its immediate surroundings may even evolve into a new type of Theocratic nation with multiple religions at its core. Just think - Jerusalem, an Ultra-Significant World Religious Site/State, and at peace. Now that would be a good goal. One final point regarding religion. While some authors argue that the number of people with religious beliefs will likely decline in the future, it is doubtful that religion will ever completely disappear. As a species, humans have typically needed to believe in someone or something that explains the unknown (and unknowable), and that adds a degree of mental comfort to their lives. Humans have already recognized dozens and dozens of different religious beliefs that satisfy this need, as is exemplified by the reported 38,000 Christian denominations. In addition, many religions seem to be in an expansion mode, probably trying to increase the prominence, power and financial influence of their faith. However, what is needed now is a belief in religious tolerance, and not the striving for religious dominance. When any one religion assaults another religion because their concept of God and the goodness of man is different from another religions concept of God and the goodness of man, logic disappears. A Utopian World must correct this fault, and enable religious tolerance on a global scale. It is time for the peoples of the world to accept the fact that there are differences in religions, and to respect and practice the concept of freedom of religious beliefs with their neighbours. While there will likely always be extremists in every religion, the beliefs of these extremists should never be tolerated, either within a religion or between religions. Enough of the acceptance of killing and other abuses to our species that is done in the name of religion. It is time for tolerance.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 15:43:32 +0000
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