"No peace among the nations without peace among the religions. No peace among religions without dialogue between the religions. No dialogue between the religions without investigation of the foundation of the religions."
Hans Kng
Hans Kng
"Religion contains ethics, and on pain of losing all sincerity it cannot but insist on its fulfillment. But beyond ethics, religion has a longer view. For by religion I mean a feeling of fellowship for all mankind and beyond mankind, a feeling of fellowship for all life and all the growing, struggling, evolving universe with all that there is in it pressing towards life and consciousness and harmony. "In the English-speaking countries... Ever since the days of Wyclif and Langland of Cromwell and Milton, of the Covenanters and the Abolitionists, of Jefferson and Lincoln, there has been a tradition close to the hopes and struggles of the people. If religion is to come into its share in the future, it will be in that tradition, in the measure in which we succeed in giving it reality today."
Karl W. Deutsch
Karl W. Deutsch
These words, written a half century ago, are as timeless now as they were then. Deutsch and Kng leave great wisdom for the moderates among us. Religion is not the enemy. Fundamentalism, born of Extremism, is.
While most of the individual worshipers of one God practice peaceful co-existence, extremists have historically hijacked one or another montheism to wage war or even genocide. Our times are no exception. See Montheism and Violence for more on that unhappy situation. The Eastern philosophies and religions along with atheism rate quite well with regard to peace.
The world has many religions, philosophies and beliefs that are not mainstream. And some have become passe, like the Ptolemy system for the heavens, with everything revolving around earth. When theocracy reigns supreme, abuses occur; remindful of the adage: "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."
"The basis of world peace is the teaching which runs through almost all the great religions of the world. "Love they neighbor as thyself."
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
Reformation
Christianity passed though several inquisitions before forces of moderation took up "arms." Christianity underwent a painful Reformation in the process of giving up its central role in the governance in society. That happened because secular governance proved to work better. Nevertheless, there are those who are trying to turn back the clock. And there are those born in Islam who would move it forward. One of the most eloquent is: Muslim Refusenik -- Irshad Manji who wrote " The Trouble With Islam." "As a long-time broadcaster and public affairs talk-show host on Canadian television, Ms. Manji, prominent, articulate and telegenic, with a rapid-fire delivery, has a ready platform for her ideas"--New York Times.
Websites For Research
Ancient Religions
Biblical Inconsistencies
Buddhism and Peace
Buddhism History
Bush's Religious Language
Catholic Reformation
Christianity and Peace
Confucianism and Peace
Confucianism
Cults
Eastern Religions
Enlightenment
Folk Lore and Mythology
Foundation for Human Rights
Great Religions in a Pluralistic Society
Hinduism History
History of Astrology
Inquisition
Islam and Peace
Judaism and Peace
Kofi Annan's lecture on Religion: Press Release
Mythology
Origins of the Bible
Origins of the Qur'an
Paganism
Reformation
Religion and Violence
Religious Teachings on Peace
Religions, Faith Groups and Ethical Systems
Religions of the World: Statistics
Religious Controversy
Religious Sects
Religious Tolerance
Renaissance
Superstition
Tolerance Origins
Posted by RoadToPeace on Saturday, August 20, 2005.
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