Religious Tolerance

What does religious tolerance mean to us ? Why should one take time understanding it ? Here, I feebly try to explain what I mean by it:

We are all entitled to our own religious stance - whichever religion that we choose to be a part of and associate us with. In fact, going by the trend these days, there are a lot of people who are not religious, but believe in spirituality, and there are atheists, who are not even spiritual. What is important to note and what is also given in the Bhagavat Gita, is that the relationship that one has with God is personal and something that is unique to that person. What we as humans, can do is to accept this difference and lead more tolerant lives.

Religion is something that has been coming down for generations and almost every religion in the world has got its set of holy texts which claim  to be either the voice of God Himself, or the voice of the messenger of God. The difference is a fine one and ultimately means the same thing. Claiming that these books are absolute truth (the voice of God himself). Each one in his own religion must undertake a study at some point in his life to go over them in its native form and form his own opinion about them.

The problem I think today is that most of us only hear opinions about religion from Godmen of that particular religion and although we must at no point argue that their teachings are wrong. They too are opinions that are based from reading spiritual texts. The same texts that are available to each and everyone of us in that religion. The whole point of a religion is that we should agree to one another's view atleast inside that religion.

That being said, when someone doesn't stick to the pattern followed by everyone else in that religion, we tend to push that person towards what the majority does. Yet, if we are tolerant, we will respect that person's stand and let them be. The main thing to note that although both of you are following the same religion, and having the same God, same holy scriptures, yet, your relationship is different. That is in itself, is the basic teaching of any religion.

“There is no right or wrong, all there is, is the fact that we agree to disagree”

Now to the more touchy topic of respecting other religions. When someone is firmly rooted in ones own religion, other religions might seem irrational, inconclusive and even unacceptable. Yet, almost every religion has some basic underlying concepts that are universal in nature. These principals like: being kind, generous, not hurting others and so on as present in every religion. What we must see is that even though we might not accept other religions, we must respect them because all of them are a tool to attain religious well being and to live a more peaceful life on this earth.

I think that although religious leaders should be allowed to preach their teachings and religion, they should not claim that their religion or method of living is superior to others. It might be more appealing and might have more acceptance but that does not mean that everyone else is wrong. What religion to should be, is a set of concepts that if, you agree by, then you are following that religion. To at any point, state the such and such religion is not correct or against you is a sign of a person not being tolerant or enlightened enough to accept the different stance because ultimately, religion is personal and your relationship with God is also just as unique as someone else's.

Ultimately, what I would request everyone to do is to support each other through the time when each one of us are finding out who we are, what it means to be spiritual, or to follow a particular religion. It is unwise to push someone on any side of the field. What we can do, is to offer our opinion and let that person decide. I wish to everyone reading this article that they try to be more tolerant.

So, next time, when you find yourself in a tense situation where you have to interact with some who doesn't share your belief system and probably is lashing out at yours … take a step back, smile, remember the greater good of all religions is the same and merely agree to disagree.

God Bless.