Co-Exist

[cleo6223]

So i decided that this question should be moved into its own post because I find it a very improtant subject.

Well as most of you all know I am the founder of Ravens of Sacred Education a Wicca group in the Sault. Now as we are fairly new I am still in the recruitment stage. During this I have been posting adds on Sault today well in response to it I received this email message from a local women it read as follows:

I have briefly looked into your beliefs
please take your R.O.S,E. somewhere else
or nowhere and leave our city and Christians with our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us. and made us like unto himself. and who is our Lord and saviour
we don't need or want this in our lives


I received this and wrote back to the women offering to talk to her about any concerns and misconceptions that she had, I have not heard from her since. The second question that came to mind was who is this women to think that she can tell me to leave town as well as what would she say to a Muslim or any one else of a different faith that she does not agree with.

So I had an idea I have heard and read about a campaign called Co-Exist it runs in many big cities as well as the UK the idea behind it mainly is to teach people of other religions to exist with one another

here is an a quote from there web site

"The Coexist Foundation is a charity established in 2006 to promote better understanding between Jews, Christians and Muslims - the Abraham Faiths - through education, dialogue and research. Through the projects and programmes which we support, we hope to help people of these faiths improve their relations - above all with each other, but also with different faiths, and with those of no faith."

http://coexistfoundation.net/coexist...tion/index.htm


so my idea why not do something like this in town, obviously we are in need of a thing like this. We are becoming a more diverse community and there are going to be different religions coming about more and more as we progress. so the idea would be to get as many different people of different faiths together to educate one another as well as the community in the way they think and practice.

I myself plan on looking into purchasing the bumper stickers and bracelets so that people can show there support for the cause, and then with the sales donate the money to local charity in town.

so my questions to you do you think this would work and is any one willing to help?

[Bluesky]

No, I don't think this will work.

[cleo6223]

why not ?

[Bluesky]

1. Because people who take their faith seriously, believe that they are right. Which means that they are convinced that others are wrong.

2. Because we already DO co-exist. There is a lot of tolerance for a myriad of different ideologies. (That is, if you do not define tolerance as agreement with..)

3. Because the three monotheistic groups that you mentioned are at the polar opposite end of Wicca in terms of their ideologies. Wicca is absolutely forbidden in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. I am ignorant about what islam teaches about Wicca.

Your idea might work with beliefs that correlate better with yours; I know there are pagan groups in town. Bahai's would probably also be cooperative because that is their raison d'etre.

[cleo6223]

I get what you mean with some of that but the point is a lot of people are not educated about wicca and thats the point it offers and education source for people and helps get rid of the stigman and ignorancebehind it.

and i find that tolerance is laking in some groups in this city as you can obviusly tell by the email i recived the point behind the group isnt to promote teaching or trying to get people to change but a better understanding of one anouther and to anserw questions it would only work if all the relgions are represented.

I dont see how it cant work since all the religons sit on the same councile and communicate

[NewCasa]

As the story goes, when Christianity first began the main religion of the Romans was polytheistic. Here comes this guy who teaches belief in a single God, not many. He teaches many other things that don't agree with the current beliefs. So what do they do with him? Well, they crucify him, of course.

I guess now the shoe's on the other foot with monotheism being the flavour of the millennium. So now a Christian shows their intolerance for someone who doesn't believe what they do. Other monotheists blow stuff up in the name of their God, shrieking jihad on the infidels as they do.

The moral? Just be thankful you live in a country where all you get is a little hate mail. I have no idea how well your campaign for tolerance will work but I have to say that in my experience 90% of true believers in any religion are quite intolerant of the competition.

[cleo6223]

Other monotheists blow stuff up in the name of their God, shrieking jihad on the infidels as they do.

.

see statements like this are my point you know that in general thats not a true fact of all people of that faith but you make the statement any way and that in my eyes is wrong

[Bluesky]

90% of true believers in any religion are quite intolerant of the competition.

SO now I have to ask, what definition of "tolerant" are you going by?

Some feel that freely expressing one's disagreement is being intolerant. Is that what you mean?

Others, like myself define tolerance as "putting up with" even if reluctantly, because I do not agree with an ideology, yet being compassionate, etc of the persons involved. But leave me the freedom to express myself on the ideology.

We have been around this issue before:

One either holds all people as equally valid or all ideas as equally valid.. I believe the doctrine that all ideas are to be held as equally valid (along with being inherently incoherent) eventually breeds intolerance.

[NewCasa]

SO now I have to ask, what definition of "tolerant" are you going by?

Some feel that freely expressing one's disagreement is being intolerant. Is that what you mean?

Others, like myself define tolerance as "putting up with" even if reluctantly, because I do not agree with an ideology, yet being compassionate, etc of the persons involved. But leave me the freedom to express myself on the ideology.

We have been around this issue before:

One either holds all people as equally valid or all ideas as equally valid.. I believe the doctrine that all ideas are to be held as equally valid (along with being inherently incoherent) eventually breeds intolerance.

We were referring to someone who sent an email to someone telling them to get out of town because of their beliefs. Tolerance is not about what beliefs you hold yourself, it's how you deal with people whose beliefs oppose your own.

[NewCasa]

see statements like this are my point you know that in general thats not a true fact of all people of that faith but you make the statement any way and that in my eyes is wrong

I was referring to the ultimate act of intolerance in order to make a point.

[cleo6223]

My definition of tolerance is when people can talk civially to one anouther about what they belive even thought they may disagree im not saying that every one has to belive what every one else does and my concern isnt just with those who are wiccan as well but with all religons that are misunderstood.
I know for a fact that its not an easy thing but for people to understand where the other comes from and for people not to have a fear for practicing there belife would be a wonderfull thing. I myself cant even post my address for my members of R.O.S.E on the website because I know that something could be done to my home as I have experienced these kinds of things before

so to close

Tolerance is an understanding and an agreament to disagree but let those express there selves in the manner that they feel is right and to not judge the person they are based on that

[Bluesky]

We were referring to someone who sent an email to someone telling them to get out of town because of their beliefs. Tolerance is not about what beliefs you hold yourself, it's how you deal with people whose beliefs oppose your own.

Agreed. Obviously the author of that letter is indeed, intolerant.

[Bluesky]

Tolerance is an understanding and an agreament to disagree but let those express there selves in the manner that they feel is right and to not judge the person they are based on that

I agree with this.. but I have often posted disagreement of an idea extensively before, and have been labelled as intolerant.
Disagreeing, and judging an idea and not the person is a right that I maintain. I believe that some ideas are downright destructive. Years ago (yes I have been on SOonet that long, along with SB) a fellow who claimed to be a champion of tolerance started out by saying "I may not agree with what you say but I will defend your right to say it.." he claimed to be a Buddhist, ended up viewing all Christians as dangerous and told us that we should all be shot. He left the forum shortly thereafter. Perhaps he still lurks on this board. Who knows. Soc, are you still around?

[cleo6223]

I myself disagree with some aspects of chrisitan religion as well and that has labeled me well many things id rather not say on here lol but i dont see why some dont understand that you can agree with belife and aspects of a religouse faith and practice anouther. I also dont see how some one can look briefly into a belife and make a judgment right away as per the letter i recieved