tolerance
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Ken Chitwood: A Voice for Religious Literacy
As I dug deeper into his website I discovered a 28-minute video clip of a talk he gave several years ago at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Weldon Spring, MO. The talk was on Christian-Muslim relations. He was speaking passionately about increasing understanding between these two religious traditions. Turns out this is what he does. He says his calling is to increase the level of religious literacy in the world. Greater understanding paves the way to greater tolerance. He goes on to say that for him it’s more than work—it’s a divine inspiration.
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It’s Easy to Knock Religion
I recently came across this piece and found it to be a beautiful, uplifting and timely response by Rabbi Marc Gellman to a bigoted question about religion.
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A Primer on Hatred and Intolerance
What hatred and intolerance look like: The charred remains of 4-year old Melissa Morrison, recovered from the ashes of the Branch Davidian complex in Waco, Texas, after the inferno of April 19, 1993 ended the FBI’s 51-day siege.
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A Simple, Easy Policy on Politics and Religion
I have a friend on social media who is a practicing Baptist minister. He’s an old friend from high school. He has the usual family/nature/”funny stuff” posts, but his favorite subject matter seems to be politics.
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An Egyptian and an Israeli—What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Egyptian media, live and online, pounced on the show of fellowship as inappropriate, seditious and treasonous, calling for the Egyptian star to be punished for associating with an Israeli.
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Beyond Labels And Exclusion: Multifaith Roundtable Explores Paths to Understanding
“How do we see each other? Through the lens of curiosity, of wonder, or of exclusion?”
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Can Plastic Reindeer Ensure Separation of Church and State?
In my last post, I made the point that the Founders’ purpose in providing for free exercise of religion and prohibiting religious establishments was not so much about building a wall of separation as it was about freedom.
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Desensitizing Hate: A Scientologist’s Perspective
But rather than focusing on what we don’t like about others, we should look for ways to accept—even admire—our differences.
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Don’t Be Stupid
To me stupidity is not knowing about something, but then acting or speaking as if you do. Let’s say you start criticizing someone’s religion. What exactly are you criticizing? Is there some specific verse, writing, theory or philosophy you’re referring to? Or is it based on something you "heard" on the news or someone else’s ignorant opinion?
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Freedom of Thought: Infinitely Valuable and Incessantly Attacked
In the wake of the 1960’s, my father and mother began studying Dianetics and Scientology in New York and San Francisco. I grew up in a multi-denominational household—Christian, Jewish, Scientologist. I lived in an atmosphere of tolerance and respect.
