How To Help Dissipate Religious Bigotry and End Conflicts

[fingolfin]

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.. acceptance, in the sense that each religion is unique in it's own right.

.. but i guess, it's not SPEAK NOT PREACH.... but DO or DOING THE TEACHINGS OF YOUR RELIGION. Which of course is, spread love and unity and peace.

[Oakboy]

Namaste/Namaskar <----- 1 Your spirit and my spirit are ONE
2 I salute the God within you
3 The Divinity within me perceives and adores the Divinity within you

so no matter what religion you may have..Namaskar!

[solderingiron]

i do not agree with mr. jun. we are not blind we have a guide we have a bible a reference.. it is complete...

[brown_dog]

Once upon a time, there lived six blind men in a village. One day the villagers told them, "Hey, there is an elephant in the village today."

They had no idea what an elephant is. They decided, "Even though we would not be able to see it, let us go and feel it anyway." All of them went where the elephant was. Everyone of them touched the elephant.

"Hey, the elephant is a pillar," said the first man who touched his leg.

"Oh, no! it is like a rope," said the second man who touched the tail.

"Oh, no! it is like a thick branch of a tree," said the third man who touched the trunk of the elephant.

"It is like a big hand fan" said the fourth man who touched the ear of the elephant.

"It is like a huge wall," said the fifth man who touched the belly of the elephant.

"It is like a solid pipe," Said the sixth man who touched the tusk of the elephant.

They began to argue about the elephant and everyone of them insisted that he was right. It looked like they were getting agitated. A wise man was passing by and he saw this. He stopped and asked them, "What is the matter?" They said, "We cannot agree to what the elephant is like." Each one of them told what he thought the elephant was like. The wise man calmly explained to them, "All of you are right. The reason every one of you is telling it differently because each one of you touched the different part of the elephant. So, actually the elephant has all those features what you all said."

"Oh!" everyone said. There was no more fight. They felt happy that they were all right.

The moral of the story is that there may be some truth to what someone says. Sometimes we can see that truth and sometimes not because they may have different perspective which we may not agree too. So, rather than arguing like the blind men, we should say, "Maybe you have your reasons." This way we don’t get in arguments.

This is a great story. This portrays that we should study both science and the Bible.

[pal]

i do not agree with mr. jun. we are not blind we have a guide we have a bible a reference.. it is complete...

maybe the story only applies in religions having different sacred books as basis in there faith. But those religions don't have much of an argument.

[geoseph]

Was the elephant male or female? =)
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Sometimes, by defining our terms or giving examples, we can make our understanding clearer to others. Some persons who are in a debate may actually be in agreement had they defined their use of words.

It helps to also give our reasons for our conclusions. This way, the issue may be more clearly guided towards what actually lies beneath (premises), or if the conclusion happens to not really follow the reasons given, a better conclusion may be made possible. The first goal is find common ground. The foundation for a major agreement is in the minor ones.

By defining terms and finding common ground, hopefully those in debate may better understand and learn from each other. If a good point is given, it's best to concede and move on. If a point is given that one does not agree with, asking to clarify the matter would be more productive than mere disagreement. One also gains the opportunity to learn from the other person. By having first invested in a common understanding, if a refutation may be found, it can be arrived at as a friend.

Sometimes, the answer to a debate is by combining both propositions, like in the parable of this thread. However, this cannot be arrived at without first understanding each other.

There are some points where genuine disagreement may be found, like a difference in opinion or values, where there may not be enough common ground to settle the issue. In such instances, the best path may be to simply agree to disagree or to suspend judgment on the matter.
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I have had my share of debates and I don’t quite enjoy the thought of winning a point, but losing a potential friend in the end. There are better methods of learning or teaching than making arguments or picking a fight. Best of luck to us all. :mrgreen:

[pal]

lets just say Christianity s one of the blind men. Supposedly Christians should have a common belief. Specialy Christian denominations who only believe in Bible as the complete and authentic Word of God.

Why they still argue when they are touching the same spot?

Some believe in Holy Trinity. Some believe on oneness. You mean both of them are right? How will that happen?

[pal]

Sometimes, by defining our terms or giving examples, we can make our understanding clearer to others. Some persons who are in a debate may actually be in agreement had they defined their use of words.

mao jud

By defining terms and finding common ground, hopefully those in debate may better understand and learn from each other. If a good point is given, it's best to concede and move on. If a point is given that one does not agree with, asking to clarify the matter would be more productive than mere disagreement. One also gains the opportunity to learn from the other person. By having first invested in a common understanding, if a refutation may be found, it can be arrived at as a friend.

I just hope that will be the trend.
But debates happen in front of many people. under a divided crowd. wherein debater continue to defend their stand, sometimes not because they really believe they're right, but because pride occurs and loyalty from the church they're in. Christian are very busy for the Kingdom; sometimes they forget the King.

[geoseph]

mao jud
I just hope that will be the trend.

Thanks pal (cliché not intended).

But debates happen in front of many people. under a divided crowd. wherein debater continue to defend their stand, sometimes not because they really believe they're right, but because pride occurs and loyalty from the church they're in. Christian are very busy for the Kingdom; sometimes they forget the King.

You have a point.

Nowadays, I’d rather leave it to a person’s better judgment. People can change or evolve over time. As some say, who knows that the future might bring?

I was thinking to avoid debates myself, and (hopefully) keep coming up with a many useful posts as I can.

[junn]

i do not agree with mr. jun. we are not blind we have a guide we have a bible a reference.. it is complete...

complete

John 21:25
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.


the bible itself tells us that not every truth can be written down in books...