A positive example for religious tolerance

[Haltickling]

I just saw an interesting TV documentary about a very positve example for religious tolerance:

Recently, Bali has built a unique religious district, consisting of a Catholic and a Portestant church, an Islamic mosque, a Buddhist and a Hindu temple. The clerics of those different religions come together regularly to discuss the various problems of their people.

Why isn't this possible elsewhere in this world? All the religions working peacefully together!?

FYI: Bali is a Hinduistic enclave within an Islamic state (Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim country), but a lot of foreigners live and work there as well. The Balinese have no sympathy at all for Islamic fundamentalists like those who committed the bombing of a discotheque on their island.

😎

 

[Strelnikov]

Come on, Hal, you've spent enough time in the USA to know that what you describe in Bali is the norm here. Hate crimes against minority religions make news here because they're extremely rare - if it happens every day, everywhere, it wouldn't be news.

I imagine the same is true in much of Western Europe. In fact, if you want to see real religious intolerance hard at work, you pretty much have to go to Pakistan, Iran or the Arab Middle East.

Strelnikov

 

[sushi854]

I believe Hal is describing a scenario in which diverse religions choose to come together within a given area and coexist peacefully. I would suggest that the peaceful (for the most part) coexistence among different religions in the US and Europe has more to do with prevailing societal and governmental norms (ex: constitutions, legislation, traditions) than an intense desire among some religious groups to cooperate.

Of course I wouldn't want to generalize and suggest that this is true of all religious groups. Certainly there are those that promote unity and peaceful coexistence, but as we well know fundamentalism is a strong force with dangerous consequences. I just wonder if the Bali district of which Hal writes came together naturally or by chance, or if it was the product of some other type of influence.

 

[Haltickling]

You're probably right about religious tolerance in USA, Strelnikov. However, I notice one significant difference: Whereas the various religions in Bali work actively together for society, the US brand of tolerance normally consists mainly of indifference towards other people's religions.

Islam was designed to be a tolerant religion, but like so often in history, the original design became perverted by humans.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

Actually, Hal, there is a widespread movement that exists throughout the US and (I think) in other countries now as well. It's generally referred to as the "council of churches". This group started out years ago with a few clerics who wanted to try to foster more openness and communication between the different faiths. It now includes people from ALL religious backgrounds...various Christian denominations, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc. It even includes clerics from small independant "churches" that many don't even know exist. There is open dialogue and cooperation between the clerics as well as the members of their congregations. They share their faith and experiences with one another and work to find the common ground where foundations for unity can be built. And, it's succeding.

We've even had several times where we have a "pulpit exchange", allowing clerics from other faiths to come and share about their own beliefs with another faith's congregation. We work on projects together to strengthen communities as a whole and show our people that we can live and work together not only with tollerance but also with love and caring for one another and those around us. One such project is the food pantries set up all over the place to aid those who find themselves caught short. All the faiths who have vollunteers to run them work together to help feed those in need. There's a group of people who have the knowledge/ability to do repairs for those who are unable to take care of their property. The council picks up the tab for materials and finds a vollunteer in the group (from whatever faith) to go do the work. At thanksgiving time, we have interfaith services at various places. At times of need, we come together to work for the good of all.

There's a ton more that goes on. The thing is that the group chooses to not toot its own horn. So, unless you've benefitted from its services, many don't know about it. Often, even those in congregations whose clerics are involved don't hear about all of what goes on. Having been very involved in this movement over the past several years, I can tell you from experience that things are MUCH better than the media presents. Unity isn't 100%. But, it's definitely growing. And good things are happening.

One thing to understand about the media here in the states is that it tends to point out the negatives and ignore the positives. So, what you hear over there, coming through the AP or whereever, is going to lean towards that. One day, perhaps those incidents that show people's good side will be considered newsworthy. I've witnessed plenty of things that I wish had news coverage simply to show people that there is good in everyone. But, for whatever reason, they prefer to show the bad. Go figure!

Ann

 

[sole seeker]

Thanks for your post, Ann. I move about every five years - it was my life-choice to do so before it became a requirement for my career. In my experience, the Council of Churches is active more places than not.

IMO - the press reports negative news because to most people, controversy is interesting. Interesting sells papers/air time.

 

[Haltickling]

Hmm, I'ver heard of the "Council of Churches" before; thanks for the info!

We have similar efforts here, but only on a local level, mostly between Christians (Catholic and Protestant) and Muslims, as we have a rather large Islamic minority here. Berlin is the biggest Turkish community out of Turkey (about 250,000). Some of them are here for the 3rd generation already, and they often don't speak Turkish anymore, or only with a strong German accent...

And of course, there are the usual ecumenic efforts between Catholics and Protestants. But still, several Catholic priests have been retired forcibly by the Vatican for concelebrating the Holy Communion together with Protestants recently. And a new law is about to pass legislation now, forbidding female Muslimic teachers to wear the obligatory head-scarf (no veil, just covering the hair) during work. Still a long way for tolerance to go here... 🙄

 

[JPie1]

I not entirely aware of the council of churches but I do know in my area we have common meetings of the clergy of several different religions including the Temple I belong to, a neighboring church and several other churches of different faiths. Religious tolerance if practiced world wide would go a long long way.

 

[BigJim]

Something like that can only be good for the people who they represent. I wish the people involved in the Council the best of luck.

🙂