Peace through Religion

[ClubMed]

I have been thinking about the possibility for Muslims, Christians and Jews, based upon our similarities and the undeniable shared roots of our religions, to become examples for politicians and those who subscribe to the opposing war-camps to follow, of how to bridge the political gaps.

Judgment Day will not come, until the three monotheistic faiths and their adherents realize that we need to come together, reach out to each other on common ground, based upon common and just interests above all with honesty and free from bias, misconceptions and prejudices.

We must realize that God did not intend for our faiths to fight each other, oppose each other and work against each other. We share belief in one God, we believe in this one God through three faiths. We will not be closer to God nor will we better believers while we are convinced that we must fight the other religions and embark on crusades.

These three monotheistic religions have more in common, and share more roots than many know or are willing to admit. These three faiths were delivered to humanity in the same part of the world and to the same communities.

Our belief in one God unites us, and so we must also unite our efforts and our commitments to building a better world. Improvement does not come from bombs and death, but from understanding, tolerance, honesty, mutual help, dialogue and above all education. These are currently a minority, we have today increased racism, intolerance, prejudice, blanket statements, bigotry, ignorance, and animosity under a sugar coated umbrella of pseudo modernism and advancement IMO.

We need to start living together and not just next to each other, and we need to do it soon, the future currently looks ugly.

Your thoughts? No worries if you disagree with all that I say or some of it, we cannot make a step forward if we all agree on all points.

And as a final note, war has been tried before, and many times. But peace through understanding is much harder to achieve for it is the right path to the world that our religions aim to create, and that has not been tried before.

Beautifully put, Club Med. I agree.

If peoples of varying faiths and cultures were truly to seek to understand rather than being understood, and to build upon shared similarities rather than focusing on the differences, I believe peace would have a better chance.

imho.

[quux]

but as per google ...

religion war -> 1,080,000
religion peace -> 903,000

or

religious war -> 2,440,000
religious peace -> 1,890,000

CC.

[Epidemic]

The few ruin it for the many.

I agree with the concept of trying to understand. However, you are trying to make all or even the vast majority understand. This is a tall order. I believe before you could hope to do that the majority of each religion would have to eradicate the fringe elements, either by force or by enlightenment. As long as these fringe elements exist I believe there can be no true understanding. Acceptance of the fringe into the fold implies agreement with them. That implied agreement fosters distrust among the other faithful.

what do those numbers represent quux?

[ClubMed]

quux, in the past people of different faiths quarreled over differences.

So what I am talking about is a new attitude of dealing with similarities for once, it is already starting, there are a number of websites with articles about interfaith dialogue in Europe, the Middle East and America. I attended one such even here in Austria at the start of winter when Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) held some lectures.

We have to be willing to give it a try and not say "Oh it's doomed".

[Epidemic]

I think that Radical Religion is the major cause of misunderstanding around the world. I speak of the radical fringe not Religion itself. The radicals who really do not seem to take on the wholesomeness of the religion. The type of Radical Religion that will not allow other faithful to speak their mind, the type of Radical Religion which does not allow people to convert, the type that forces all to dress the same, the kind of Radical Religion which promotes violence. Also the majority religion which empower or do not denounce the radical fringe. With out this type of Radical Religion I would venture to say that peace would be possible. Of course coupled with removal of evil, corrupt, maniacal dictators and kings. I do not believe the latter can be achieved with out bloodshed.

[ClubMed]

Radical religion is a political problem, at least concerning Islam and the Middle East, not sure about other religions.

So it does not stand in the path of understanding, it is as you said, a fringe problem.

[J-Excel]

This would be really nice. But unfortunately throughout history religion has been a cause of war rather than a reason for peace. The idea apparently being that if you kill everyone that doesn't believe like you then you must be right. We can’t even keep different sects within a religion from fighting. We would be more likely to achieve world peace if everyone abandoned religion altogether.

[ClubMed]

That is why I am talking about a new attitude that will start as a small movement but can become the norm. I think it is possible, perhaps because my belief is strong?

What I mean is that perhaps people who doubt their faith or who doubt faith in general cannot appreciate the beauty of interfaith understanding?

[quux]

Epidemic, results ...
... just to support my more pessimistic views.

ClubMed, I indeed wish that those ideas as forwarded by you came to a grip, but as (sadly) said I am pessimistic (and believe me, I am not fond of that).

CC.