What Are Your Beliefs?

[Feed the Monkey]

Heya

SP said

"it takes people like you (and even more important, Clytie and Chuckie) to have zero-tolerance policies about the intolerance of your churches."

Luckily my 'churches' are the most tolerent in the world. You've nothing to fear from us Buddhists! It's so much more about finding the wisdom that is inherrant within all life, and to create more fulfilling lives for us all that comes from our end of the spectrum.

You also said

"My sentiments apply however, to all organized religion. Believing in God is not the problem here. The need for any organized religion to demand adherence to a set of narrow-minded and irrational set of beliefs in order to ensure its own survival is."

I agree. No organisation should 'demand' anything. Religion should only exist for the people. This is the primary point. If one loses sight of this then it becomes religion for the sake of religion. Why do we have religion? One simple answer: To allow people to become happy. If any religion fans intolerances then it is not based on true wisdom. A true religion based on true wisdom, and not a narrow minded and irrational set of beliefs, that allows us to see the fundamental truths that underpin all life, and allows us to go out into society armed with those tools to create a better life for all people, whether they believe our religion or not. This is the true power of faith, and should be the true test for any individual who has faith in a perticular religion.

The tolerence/intolerence argument. I see your points, and of course one must be mindful of those who are intolerent. But it's a question of how far this intollerence goes. One must of course speak up. It is our duty and right to. But to what extent intolerence? For me intolerence blocks the possibility for dialogue which in my opinion holds the key for solution in every sense. How can one truly and sincerely hold a dialogue with someone if you are completely intollerent for them? Ganhi said: 'We must be the change we wish to see'. I'm not saying that total pacifism is the answer. i don't beleive that for a moment. One must of course have a deep fighting spirit when we see things that we believe are wrong, but it's how we channel that spirit that's important.