Atheists vs. Religious - Muslim vs. Christian - Protestant vs. Catholic ... What will you do to CLOSE THE GAP?

Question

To my fellow brilliant humans,

What are your best ideas for fostering unity with others, despite our different beliefs? What can we do to accept and respect others' beliefs while staying true to our own?

There are now supposedly over 22,000 sects of Protestantism alone, and many of these have multiple layers of sects within them, as well. Humanity has a natural tendency to form groups and differentiate from other groups like this - and diversity of belief is a wonderful thing - but not when it leads us to attack each other.

So I'm asking you - what conscious decisions and actions can we offer to foster acceptance and respect?

After all, our most basic beliefs and ideals - to be kind, do unto others..., to love one another - are essentially the same across all belief systems. Ironically, it is in defense of our own beliefs that we lose those most fundamental ideals!

I look forward to your ideas!
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I agree wholeheartedly with those of you who have spoken against conformity. Again, I think that diversity is a wonderful thing, and we should be open to even more beliefs and ideas. When I say "unity" I only mean in our humanity, not in our beliefs: how we can come to accept and respect each other for our diverse beliefs. Thank you for your wonderful answers so far!
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Answer 1

I do not think we can or should try to accept other's beliefs for the sake of unity, because that would be being intellectually dishonest and logically inconsistent.

Different people have different beliefs, some of them diametrically opposed, and they cannot all be right. Obviously some beliefs are right and some are wrong, and i think it is right and proper that we are allowed to disagree with other's beliefs and others are allowed to criticise our beliefs, as long as the purpose is to try and find out the truth and not to attack or offend people for malicious motives.

I think what we do need is a common set of values, that upholds the rights of people to believe different things, to change their beliefs, and to not believe. Force and duress should never be used, and censorship and attempts to control information (such as the banning of certain books, or banning the teaching of Creationism in schools) are also wrong. I believe that the way to counteract error is not to try and censor it but to present the truth, because the truth can stand for itself. There shold be freedom of belief.

We also need to be humble and willing to change our own beliefs, to realise that actually, none of us knows the whole truth, and that we almost certainly hold some beliefs that are wrong. We need to be willing to learn from others and not have the attitude that "We in group X are always right and you in group Y are always wrong so we cannot learn anything from you".

We need to guard against prejudice and bogotry, an irrational disdain for those who are different from us.

And we need to be objective, to see things the way they really are in the real world, with all it's shades of grey, not in simplistic black and white terms. Belief systems are never 100% right or 100% wrong.

As for tolerance, i would say that tolerance is not enough. Tolerance implies that we have to put up with something grudginly, we just tolerate it. Rather than just tolerate people who are different from us, we should champion their right to be different, even if we disagree with their beliefs. We should defend them against those who oppress them and stand up for their right to believe what they want as a matter of principle.

Sometimes we can also work together on issues where there is common ground:
http://www.unionoffaiths.com/

Answer 2

There is no easy answer to this question.

On the surface the answer seems to ignore the other beliefs and go your merry way. that is not going to happen. Christianity and Islam require that their message be spread. that means taking it to people to who believe differently and that causes conflicts.

Personally, I believe that we need to realize that just because I do not believe like you does mean that I am stupid. It does not mean that I wish you harm. It does not mean that I think you doomed. (I know, I know--not everyone thinks that way)

I remember when people had respect for others beliefs. That did not mean we belittle them. If we did not understand them, we left them alone.

the example that comes to mind is the USA. We are supposedly a Christian Nation with all the holidays associated with that belief system. but it is not "wrong" to publicly honor the holiday and traditions of that faith. If a certain belief system in in the majority of a country and you life there as a minority member, why must the majority change everything to your belief system?

Go to India or an Mid-eastern country and attempt to get away with some of the things that happen in the USA and see what happens.

Until we learn to respect others beliefs and not carry our offenses public, the gap will never close. so as Christian, I expect the gap to close when Jesus returns--not before.

Answer 3

It is sad that while most of us have those basic morals that you mentioned, we are all still so divided. Unfortunately, I believe that when it comes to people's religions, there will never be a unity. What I think we need to strive for, is to have a civility among us for the good of the world and put our religious beliefs aside just for the sake of getting along. And I don't think human beings can do that. Honestly, I believe mankind will be the source of our own undoing. So I guess to answer your question; there is not much we can do.

Answer 4

human beings are not factory products but living intelligent thinking creatures and there is no way all can think alike and have same beliefs. there is only one way and that is to respect each person's liberty of thought and action. we must develop liberal and democractic spirit, which implies that while one thinks freely, others' views should be listened with patience and respect with a right to agree or disagree without anyway impairing relations. Atheists and believers, christians and muslims and people with diverse opinions can happily co exist.

Answer 5

well I will talk about what Islam taught me,

In the Holy Qur'an Allah says that we must not force people to enter our religion and leave them believe in whatever they believe in, cause it is all clear to everyone what is right and what is wrong. We - Muslims - don not hate you for your religion or what you believe in cause that is what Islam taught us but we hate your actions. Don't expect that I will love you when you hurt and insult me . And for those who thinks that Islam spread by using brute force let me ask you this; since when self defense is considered a crime? The first Muslims were insulted, tortured and a lot of them were killed for around 13 years from the non-believers and you want them to just sit and smile. they are also the one that started every battle.In any case, I am not against living peacefully with whoever around me but can you convince them by your opinion? just look at how they talk about Islam and how we answer.

Answer 6

@ Morgan: take a read of all the "How do I become a vampire" questions, not all Twilight fans get its fiction.... Tough call, but I go with Team Catholic VS Team Protestant - I haven't heard of any Team Edward VS Team Jacob deaths or snipers yet....

Answer 7

"In Essentials, Unity; in Non-essentials, Liberty; in All Things, Charity," -John Locke

I think the biggest potential for agreement is with Catholics. But this has been the resoration movement's motto for centuries and I think its safe to say that we are no closer to unity than we were in the 1500's.

People ARe going to naturally disagree. but where we can all find a common denominator is truly in things like charity, freedom, and fighting tyranny.

Answer 8

The only way to close the gap is to STOP insulting, STOP ruining the picture of other religions & STOP this war about religions coz this war is resulting NOTHING but hate to each other
Why don't we talk about the general things that is important to all of us

So, r u with me in this point or what ??

Answer 9

You must be born again!

We read in God's Holy Lawbook the Bible:
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalms 51:5)
The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear. (Psalms 58:3-4)

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

We read in God's Holy Law Book the Bible in John 3:5-7: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44)

Be born a Christian, be born a Jew, be born a Muslim, be born a Buddhist, be born a Hindostan ect. you must be born again, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. See John 1:13

The Bible teaches that at the end of the world all the wicked will come under eternal punishment in a place called Hell, and this time may be very near. There is much Biblical evidence that points to the fall of 2011 as the end of the world.
Please contact Family Radio for the free book: TIME HAS AN END by Harold Camping A Biblical History of the World 11.013 BC - AD 2011 http://www.familyradio.com

Answer 10

I can't make people unite with anyone else. If someone wants to be my friend I will accept them, if someone has another religion I will respect and encourage them, but I will not be friends with a mocker.