I was pondering a topic to blog about today, and I started thinking about the many people who consider themselves a certain religion yet rarely worship if at all. I think it's true with most religions that there are are more orthodox believers and also some bordering on secular. Often times these people don't get along, with especial bad feelings coming from the hard-core followers. So many sects can arrise from different religions, I think the root of unrest and war between religions stems from this more than other causes.
For example, the Bahai had different views than the rest of Islam but they were still very close to the orgin. Islamics however persecuted them more than other religions more distanced from their own beliefs. The Christians who wrote about meeting with the Bahai's were shocked by their knowledge of christianity, yet since they still considered them a different religion, they had more apathy towards their following of some of their beliefs.
I agree, that often disputes occur over slight differences, rather than huge ones. It does seem though, that the bigger ones would be easier to fight over, since there is an obvious right to either side.But I do think that often, the disputes are over small differences like you say here.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed that while reading about the Bahai's...more often than not, it's the little things within a religion that cause the big disputes, rather than huge differences between separate religions. Nice post!
ReplyDeleteThat's very interesting. If you think about it, Christianity and Islam are based on the same history (with a few differences), but look at the Crusades. I suppose (in this case) it's the cultural difference rather than the doctrine.
ReplyDeleteespecial bad feelings coming from the hard-core followers Indeed fanatics are a problem - "The Divine Messengers have been sent down, and their Books were revealed, for the purpose of promoting the knowledge of God, and of furthering unity and fellowship amongst men. But now behold, how they have made the Law of God a cause and pretext for perversity and hatred. How pitiful, how regrettable, that most men are cleaving fast to, and have busied themselves with, the things they possess, and are unaware of, and shut out as by a veil from, the things God possesseth!
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That the divers communions of the earth, and the manifold systems of religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of God and His Religion. These principles and laws, these firmly-established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are rays of one Light. That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated.
Gird up the loins of your endeavor, O people of Bahá, that haply the tumult of religious dissension and strife that agitateth the peoples of the earth may be stilled, that every trace of it may be completely obliterated. For the love of God, and them that serve Him, arise to aid this sublime and momentous Revelation. Religious fanaticism and hatred are a world-devouring fire, whose violence none can quench. The Hand of Divine power can, alone, deliver mankind from this desolating affliction. Consider the war that hath involved the two Nations, how both sides have renounced their possessions and their lives. How many the villages that were completely wiped out!
The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. He Who is the Daystar of Truth beareth Me witness! So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth. The One true God, He Who knoweth all things, Himself testifieth to the truth of these words."