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Religion and the responsibility to love
One of the great impositions on the citizens of the world is that religion has been the source of much evil—the disaster of the Crusades, the Inquisition, current attacks on Muslims in Nigeria, attacks on Christians in India. When acts of violence or terrorism are committed in the name of religion, people of faith have the opportunity to rise up against them through prayer that embraces mankind in love. It’s so important to see that atrocities are not due to the practice of true religion but to some of the worst elements of human thought, masquerading as religion.
Religions, by their very nature, make claims about absolute truth. But a key question is how the practitioners of a religion apply its truth to human experience. Do they deduce from that truth that they have the duty to impose some teaching on another? Or does their understanding of that absolute truth increase their own spirituality, perfecting their spiritual practice and commitment to help heal the world’s suffering?
I remember once hearing that Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregation of the Commonwealth, when asked if he was frightened by the teaching of Christianity in some British schools, replied that people practicing Christianity didn’t cause him alarm. Rather, what concerned him was supposed Christians not practicing Christianity.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
July 18, 2011 issue
View Issue-
Letters
Betty Hughes, Ed Hurter, Vicki Knickerbocker, Maralee Knowlen
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Love marches on
Jenny Nelles
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Church growth—grappling with the new norms
Amy Frykholm
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Energy that is plentiful—and safe
Channing Walker
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How is Truth revealing itself to you?
Genelle Austin-Lett
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Protection during a tornado
By Paula Todd
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My healings!
Rachel
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The pure joy of running
By Shane Witters Hicks
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A spiritual roadmap for saving our cities
By Susan Tish
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Praying about terrorism in Jesus’ way
By Mark Swinney
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A lens of love in Northern Ireland
By Hilary McCreary
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Religion and the responsibility to love
By Lyle Young
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All on this globe together
Rosalie E. Dunbar
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Prayer in an earthquake
By Norman Anderson
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A new President of the Board of Education
The Christian Science Board of Directors
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When Christian Science dawned in my life
Mark DeGange
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The burning bush
Anne Dixon
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Healed of severe digestive condition
Gail Moeller
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Lump in breast dissolved
Carmem Tereza Fonseca Medeiros
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Grateful for many healings
Jan Arend Clarke
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Your divine ‘career counselor’
The Editors