Larry King asked a very good question to one of his panelists tonight:
"If you believe that your religion is the "right" religion, then is it not logical that you consider all other religions as "wrong"?"
The person (an American Christian authority) who was being asked that question, fudged around for a few seconds and was mercifully put out of his misery as Larry invited the next panelist to speak.
Pacifists will always try to take the path of least offence. If that means trying to reconcile irreconcilible beliefs (such as religion), then so be it. But just because this particular person couldn't answer this question, does that mean that no acceptable answer exists?
Islam, Christianity, Judaism - all preach co-existence. They all advocate tolerance; Christianity asks Christians to "turn the other cheek" when an enemy slaps him. Islam tells Muslims to be fair to those other religions, "there shall be no compulsion in religion". And yet, the underlying message of these "major" religions is one of contradictory intolerance. Paul of the Gospels says that those who follow other than the "One True Christ" will be "cursed". The Quran repeatedly warns those who do not follow the path of Islam that they will be punished in the Hereafter.
The message is: love thy non-Muslim/Christian/Jew neighbour, but believe that you are safe in Heaven and he will burn in Hell. This on its own is not that bad; it only gets bad when everyone begins to think the same way about their own personal positions after death.
Religion inherently divides us, yet it asks us to live together. I believe that God has His reasons; but for the life of me, I wish it made more sense.
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