Above Photo by Manuel Canevet. Below Photo by Brendan Dolan-Gavitt.
“Intolerance betrays want of faith in one’s cause”
Mahatma Gandhi, 1869 - 1948.
I’ve never been a man who enjoys conflict. In all my life, from childhood to my present age, I may have been involved in half a dozen physical altercations, most of which were with my younger brother. I’m the type of guy who would rather walk away from a fight with my damaged pride than stand my ground and turn an intellectual pissing contest into an exchange of blows. There are, however, some things that I will always stand up against: bigotry in all forms, especially religious intolerance.
One of the main purposes behind this blog is to serve as a vehicle with which to fight religious intolerance. Too long have I watched the narrow minded old men of mainstream religion spout their vitriol over television, radio, and in print. Too long have they spoken against common sense, using their titles of Reverend, Pastor, and Father as justification for their bigotry. At one time, the scriptures of the Bible were used to rationalize segregation and sexism; the same text is now used to vindicate homophobia and war. These men of hatred hide behind the pretense of religious freedom and tolerance, like Trojans within their horse, seeking to dismantle the institutions of religious freedom and tolerance from the inside out.
I have to ask myself, how can I alone could stand up against these men? I’m not an authority. Though I am working towards becoming a Minister, I don’t even have a B.A. degree in religion. I am nearly powerless. I might as well be a homeless man on the street corner with a sign reading “The End is Nigh” for what all my credibility and influence is worth. The only thing I have is my faith in humanity. Is that enough? It will have to be.
Yet, I cannot allow myself the luxury of advocating to only those who agree with me. Sitting around listening to others agree with me would be nice, but I wouldn’t be accomplishing much. I have every intention of bringing my message of tolerance to those who will not listen. This, of course, will result in conflict. You cannot have change without conflict - even Jesus knew this. In Matthew 10:34, Jesus said, “Think not that I come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” He is not speaking of literal violence, but instead of the conflict that is inherent in challenging the ideas held by others - family in particular.
Which brings me back to my very own “narrow minded old man.” Even though I love my family, I am afraid that they will not approve of this new endeavor. I have, in the past, been the source of controversy within my own extended family. For quite a number of years, I didn’t have anything to do with my grandparents or my aunts and uncles, if only because of my difference in beliefs and ideas. They still do not know the full extend of my ‘rebellion’ against their expectations. I am sad that I may never have the opportunity to truly let them know who I am. It is with that same sadness that Jesus said “I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
Though the path I walk places me directly into conflict with my loved ones and asks of me to be uncharacteristically confrontational, I still have faith that I can make a difference. If nothing else, I know that I will have been true to myself and to the Divine. That alone makes me worthy of this task.
Originally Posted September 28, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
 |
March 20th, 2008 at 10:13 am
John,
Glad to have found your blog.
You talk about conflict. I think that when you face conflict, what you are doing is actually working. That is, you are really challenging the person in conflict with you, to examine his/her views. The conflict you experience with this person is not actually a conflict directed toward you, per se, but an external manifestation of this person’s own internal conflict.
I wish you all the best and I am sure that any positive step to help humanity will not go rewarded by the universe.
Thanks,
Desika
March 20th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I think that when we are being our authentic self, we often cross lines with those whom are close to us. Our families often don’t understand or agree with our path. I do believe there is a way to express yourself with love. There is a way not to be confrontational while at the same time expressing what you believe. Approach this with love and in the end all will be well.
March 20th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Hi John,
Titles and qual’s are part of the problem in my view.
A long time ago someone asked, What is truth (and couldn’t recognise it).
If we try to show what we see clearly and why, there is little that a title or qual can add.
Arguing usually entrenches people in their positions.
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Hello Desika Nadadur,
I’m glad you found my blog as well! *That* is an excellent way of looking at it. However, the same can be said when we are confronted with something that is blatantly offensive and false… All perspective, I guess. I do hope you meant “unrewarded.”
Hello Mark,
Yes, I agree. I really have nothing to add regarding your comment. Thank you.
Hello Evan,
Titles and qualities are not in themselves the problem, yet are merely symptoms of a larger misunderstanding. While it is true that arguing entrenches a person in their position for that moment, when they walk away and have a chance to think about it, they usually end up integrating part of the message being conveyed. This is especially true if the person who is initiating the conversation is receptive to criticism and takes opposing views into account.
Namaste.
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
John,
Yes, “unrewarded” is what I meant.
It is all perspective. We project our own views on to the world and then say the world is such and such. The true nature of reality can never be seen through the veil that we place on it, via our conceptions, perceptions and conditioning.
Thanks,
Desika