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G4EBT > TENCOM 02.04.07 20:06l 142 Lines 5439 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 995032G4EBT
Read: GUEST OE7FMI
Subj: Re Ten Commandments (KB2VXA)
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Sent: 070402/1436Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:25270 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:995032G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : TENCOM@WW
Warren, commenting on the Ten Commandments, wrote:
>Jesus boiled it all down to two Commandments, the First regarding
>the worship of god that may be disregarded by Atheists but the second
>is all important, do unto others what you would have them do unto you,
>the Golden Rule.
>"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
>You must admit, these are among the wisest words ever spoken.
>So much for your other nine for Atheists. (;->)
I thought you'd like them! I think they most accurately describe how most
ordinary decent people, Christian, Muslim, atheist or whatever, go about
their daily lives.
The first four of the Christian Ten Commandments of course have nothing
to do with morality - they simply forbid the practice of any non
Judeo-Christian faith (eg Hinduism), forbid all ordinary work on the
Sabbath, and most religious art. ("You shall not make for yourself a
graven image").
I've said many times that the "Golden Rule" - the ethic of reciprocity,
("do as you would be done by"), is a feature of almost all belief systems
including humanism and pre-dates Christianity by a very long time.
The ethic of reciprocity shouldn't be confused with tit-for-tat, an
eye-for-an-eye or retributive justice. A key element of the ethic is
that a person attempting to live by this rule treats all people, not
just members of his or her in-group, with consideration.
Mahatma Gandhi said "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind".
Another misinterpretation of the Golden Rule is "majoritarianism" meaning
that an individual must relinquish his/her background or belief system
because it offends the sentiments of the majority.
It's an uncomfortable fact that when a majority of a particular faith
reaches a "tipping point" that majority becomes intolerant to alternative
viewpoints.
Animousity and hatred towards atheists is a case in point.
Nowhere is this more so than in countries with a high Muslim population.
There are many mosques in Britain serving 1.5 million Muslims (2.7% of
the population). I'm not aware of any Christian cathedrals in Iran.
One of the most worrying issues down the ages, still much in evidence
around the world today, is the inherent intolerance of the mainstream
religions, notably Islam and Christianity.
But many who see the dangers are seeking to promote religious tolerance.
IMHO, one wonderful organisation that strives to promote religious
harmony is the Ontario-based organisation appropriately called "Religious
Tolerance".
The website is hugely popular - it has over 3,580 essays, the latest of
which is entitled "Where is Jesus' body now? In heaven or a Jerusalem
tomb?"
During W.E. March 10, traffic on the site reached a high for the year. It
received over 8.7 million hits, 1 million page views, and 400,000
visitors.
The aims of the Religious Tolerance website are:
To extend religious freedom to people of all religious traditions,
even though you may disagree with their beliefs and/or practices.
Religious tolerance does not require you:
To accept all religions as equally true.
Religious freedom means that you can:
Without oppression, believe, worship and witness (or practice freedom from
belief, worship and witness), as you wish; change your beliefs or
religion; and associate with others to express your beliefs.
The site's mandate is:
"To promote religious tolerance and freedom;
To objectively describe religious faiths in all their diversity; and
To objectively describe controversial topics from all points of view."
The main motto of Religious Tolerance is:
"Study of the world's religions will lead to an understanding
of religious diversity. This understanding can;
Lead to inter-religious dialogue;
Dialogue will lead to peace among religions;
Peace among religions will lead to peace among nations."
The website is unlike almost all other religious sites as it promotes
religious freedom, and diversity as positive cultural values.
It doesn't promote its own religious beliefs - it can't because it's a
multi-faith group. It tries to explain the full diversity of religious
beliefs from Asatru to Zoroastrianism, including Buddhism, Christianity,
Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, Universism, Wicca, other
religious, spiritual and ethical groups.
Religious Tolerance tries to describe all viewpoints on controversial
religious topics objectively and fairly. It covers everything from
abortion access to equal rights and dozens of other "hot" topics.
The essays in response to the most common e-mails they receive are very
well-written and give a lot of helpful advice and insights. Typically:
Mine is the only Christian denomination.
Who is a Christian?
Group prayer with an Atheist
What religion should I choose?
Christ: Lord, liar or lunatic?
I'm being harassed; what do I do?
The cause of religiously motivated conflicts and genocides.
In a trouble world, riven by religiously motivated conflicts, it's
wonderful to see this small Ontario-based organisation doing what
it can to promote understanding, respect, peace, and tolerance.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/
Best wishes
David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
British Vintage Wireless Society Member
G-QRP Club Member, No: 1339
Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 15:12 on 2007-Apr-02
Message sent using WinPack-Telnet V6.70
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