Personal Notes 

A personal note - Religious Intolerance

I am really amazed at the reaction that certain elements of religious movements have towards totally insignificant happenings. The fanatical fervour that is displayed is a (to me) clear indication of their emotional immaturity.

There are a few things that they display.

They a total lack of tolerance of anyone who thinks differently to them.

They display a total lack of faith in their god in that they are afraid of teddy bears and movies and believe that these insignificant things can change their faith.

They demonstrate a complete lack of confidence in their god/prophet whatever they choose to call him/her.

They think that their god is so incompetent that they have to take over and do his/her work.

The unfortunate situation leads me to feel that these thugs and bullies are merely displaying their true nature and are attempting to justify it because of their "religious" outrage. Doing something bad is doing something bad and no amount of political or religious affiliation can justify it. A thug is a thug no matter what cloak it wears.

I wonder if they realise that they are certainly not a credit to their stated beliefs. When I observe their behaviour then all I feel is that I want as little to do with them and their organisation as possible.

I wonder if they realise that if you have to force anyone to accept your beliefs then you your beliefs aren't worth believing in.

I wonder if they realise that their way is exactly that, their way and not the "ONLY" way. Others have the right to their own beliefs. The question is however, if I observed their lives would I be convinced that their way was the best way?

If you don't like what is happening then don't support it, but you have no right to expect me to feel the same. There is a passage that I recall, well actually 2. "Judge ye not." I believe that the instruction was to leave the judgement up to God. Now you wouldn't presume to be God would you? The other is "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone" Well before you go ahead and burn others at the stake of your fervent criticism and condemnation take a look at your own life. Is your life a shining example of your faith. Do you follow all the teachings or are you the ultimate blasphemer, failing to live out the beliefs that you publicly proclaim.

As you can see I don't have much time for these few people who really make it difficult for all the TRUE believers. What I am going to ask you is that you do not lower yourself to their level. Just because a few members of an organisation behave badly does not mean that the organisation is bad. (You do not cut down the orchard because a few apples go bad). You have the emotional maturity to remain level headed. Remain true to your faith and let your life speak the message you want the world to hear.

To live your best life be true to the YOU, that you want to be.

Live up to the reputation that you want to have.