Can we have different beliefs and still have peace.

[Vinayaka]

Obviously true, because they see the reality of our spiritual and physical existence ONLY through the perspective of their own cultural perspective, and of course rejecting all others in one way or another.

Who said anything about rejection? Having a different paradigm does not mean you are rejecting something else. It just means acknowledging differences. We can all get along marvelously by acknowledging differences. Does living in Asia mean you REJECT north America? Obviously not.

Some of the ancient religions, especially the dharmic ones, and may indigenous ones held incredible wisdom, including tolerance.

 

[shunyadragon]

Who said anything about rejection? Having a different paradigm does not mean you are rejecting something else. It just means acknowledging differences. We can all get along marvelously by acknowledging differences. Does living in Asia mean you REJECT north America? Obviously not.

Yes, obviously not, but the reality is the different ancient religion do in one way or another reject the other religions, and the nature of the relationship between humanity is indeed defined by the that religion in rejection of the others. Your neglecting an important claim of even ancient dharmic religions, and that is they do not accept later claims of the truth of Divine Revelation, and tolerance in these relationships is like band aids for cancer. Theyy consider their Revelation the only eternal truth.

Comparing Asia and North America is indeed a foolish example and no meaning here,

Some of the ancient religions, especially the dharmic ones, and may indigenous ones held incredible wisdom, including tolerance.

Acknowledging ancient indigenous ones of having wisdom and so is tolerance, but that is not the issue here. It is the present world religions and how they relate to each other that is a primary cause of conflict.

You have to consider someone inherently different to tolerate them, and in reality tolerance is by degree intolerance.

 

[Vinayaka]

Yes, obviously not, but the reality is the different ancient religion do in one way or another reject the other religions, and the nature of the relationship between humanity is indeed defined by the that religion in rejection of the others. Your neglecting an important claim of even ancient dharmic religions, and that is they do not accept later claims of the truth of Divine Revelation, and tolerance in these relationships is like band aids for cancer. Theyy consider their Revelation the only eternal truth.

You don't know much about Hinduism, obviously. India has been the safe haven for Christians, Baha'i' and Buddhists escaping persecution because of Hinduism's tolerance. Buddhists as well have been incredibly tolerant. Perhaps you don't understand what tolerance means. It means to tolerate, or allow to exist without trying to change. It does not mean acceptance or agreement with regard to belief. True tolerance is allowing other faiths to exist as is, without trying to change them. It doesn't mean accepting their beliefs as your own.

As to divine revelations, Hindus don't even know what that means, let alone accept it as a belief. However, if a person came along who held those beliefs, the person would be accepted, just because he is a person, regardless of what beliefs he holds.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Every person we meet or come across is both an opportunity as well as a test of our sincerity in our conviction that all people should be treated equally.

It is so basic and seems very simple but being prejudice free is the the real war and the battle within is the hardest one to conquer.

If we can conquer ourselves then we will find us all living in oeace and harmony.

Being prejudice free starts with every person, affects every person we deal with and shapes our world.

It is the greatest and noblest of battles to fight.

 

[Rainbow_Ninja]

I believe we can. The one thing that each person would need to believe, to attain peace, is the desire to destroy self cherishing. While we cherish ourselves and our desire for happiness above all others, peace cannot be found in this world. When we recognise that we are one person and other are countless, therefore their happiness is more important than our own, peace will follow. I don't think it matters which religion you choose to follow, as long as this is the central tennant of practice, peace would come naturally.

 

[loverofhumanity]

I believe we can. The one thing that each person would need to believe, to attain peace, is the desire to destroy self cherishing. While we cherish ourselves and our desire for happiness above all others, peace cannot be found in this world. When we recognise that we are one person and other are countless, therefore their happiness is more important than our own, peace will follow. I don't think it matters which religion you choose to follow, as long as this is the central tennant of practice, peace would come naturally.

You are right. We live in an age where the self is as a God or 'number one' and where the spiritual values of compassion for all humanity does not rule. Wherever we are we need to reach out to people to encourage them to become spiritually minded and become selfless. Materialism is kind of an experiment but people are slowly realizing it does not bring inner peace or contentment.

So it is for the spiritual people like yourself and others to help guide the world into paths of spirituality.

Through suffering we are all learning that attachment to self and ego brings nothing but misery.