On the increasing need for religious pluralism

[clemenceau]

All religions must compel the faithful to seek, explore, understand and embrace the common threads binding them to each other.  The encouragement of sectarianism without the establishment of a fundamental partnership amongst religions must stop if religion in any recognizable form is to survive the ongoing Westernisation of the globe--or if the

Comments

[danielbgoo]

I think that is a very well-said statement, and I applaud it.

This...

[publius_aelius]

...is the only type of Christian "missionary" who is appropriate for the modern age:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bede_Griffiths

Skype

[publius_aelius]

John, you used Skype when you lived in England. Will you please go here:

http://publius-aelius.livejournal.com/539804.html

and join this conversation, to give me some advice about it.

Skype

[publius_aelius]

John:

You used Skype when you were in England. Will you please go here and join this conversation, to give me some advice about using it:

http://publius-aelius.livejournal.com/539804.html

[rengal]

The thing is, people think that the way to do this is find commonality and then say, "Look! We're alike" or "Look! It's the same!". That is a failing approach. Really, the only valid approach is to say, "Ah ha! We are different, and this is how, and I can respect that".

[clemenceau]

Most religions are alike, though. They primarily differ in execution, in realisation, and these are the points where one can remark that we are different and how. However, the most popular religions do not radically vary in spirit or goal, and share an equivalence that the different rituals and details and histories obscure.

[rengal]

Even so; It doesn't matter -- start the dialog that way and it wil hit a dead end. Ya' know?

[clemenceau]

What's the dead end? The purpose is to battle sectarian violence and promote peace. It's a fundamental belief that, if embraced, changes the way people see followers of other religions. It promotes not only tolerance, but respect, and is the foundation for any fruitful conversation about the vast differences amongst religions.