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In the aftermath of September 11th, 2001, I have added a few words to this page, which was originally written in a more philosophical light many moons ago. In the months following 9/11, many otherwise intelligent and loving people around the world, not just in the United States, are allowing themselves to classify an entire religious group as being "terroristic" and "barbaric" in nature. (I have been sent many chat room logs which are both frightening and sickening.) The truth of the matter is that there are good and bad in all people, from all countries, and all religious groups. Now more than ever, we must all strive to find the good in humanity, rather than the evil which exists in a relatively small number of individuals. |
Yes, it is true that there exist a few extreme and fundamentalist groups in the world that thrive on separatism, and voice their opinions through acts of terror and death. But their way of thinking should serve as a reminder to all of us that spiritual and cultural intolerance in and of itself breeds contempt and violence. I have been deeply touched to see that the world community has reached out to the United States in support and concern; people from around the world, reacting as brothers and sisters. The way in which Americans have come together as one, united by their grief and determination in a single-minded purpose, has shown the world community our love of not only this country, but the very values it represents. It is by uniting together as one, as both a nation and a world community -- irrespective of our cultural and spiritual differences -- that we will defend individuality and freedom. Blessings, JRS |
As I have mentioned elsewhere in this website, I truly love what I do. But I think one of the greatest unexpected rewards from my vocation is hearing from people from all around the world, and having not only the opportunity to befriend people of every faith and belief system imaginable, but experiencing the rewards of a mutually-beneficial exchange of ideas, experiences, and personal beliefs.We too often relate to only that which is in front of us, and do not make the effort to understand concepts which are foreign to us. This not only applies to spirituality, of course, but to cultural, racial, socioeconomic, ageism, sexism, and issues of sexual inclination as well, but I won't get too deeply into those issues here. (We just don't have that sort of time!) It is wonderful to know that I have brothers and sisters in Turkey, Greece, Singapore, India, Israel, Malaysia, Egypt, all across Eastern and Western Europe, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Africa, and elsewhere around the globe and across the United States. While we may not share the same exact spiritual belief systems or cultural backgrounds, we are united nonetheless by our common sense of spirituality and human kinship. The point of creating this page is to restate the obvious, which has been stated many times over by many others. But I am taking a moment to restate it here because of my tiny hope that even if just one person stops to read this page, just maybe they will readjust their self-imposed spiritual and cultural compasses to include those outside their own little world. Many people will read this page and believe that they "get it"...that of COURSE they embrace people based upon their spirit and character, rather than by "categorizing" them. However, within the last decade or so it has become more important to be "politically correct," and not say or do things which are offensive to others. Not everyone abides by the politically correct standards, of course....but most people do, at least when in the company of others. Simply adopting a "politically correct" attitude is NOT the same thing as being spiritually tolerant or blind to the superficial differences within mankind. The goal is to take the superficial "P.C." mechanism from without, and bringing it WITHIN...living it, breathing it, and believing it. Spirituality is not defined by the label attached to it, or the practices you keep, or the Gods or Godesses to which you pray, no more than is a person defined by the color of their skin, the country from which they hail, or the amount of money in their checking account. Spirituality is the inherent longing within each of us for a connection to something greater and purer than ourselves -- and that commonality should be more than enough for all of us to appreciate the similarities between us, rather than focusing upon and disparaging the differences. Spirituality is the most personal and meaningful choice a person can make for themselves, and none of us really have the right to ursurp that right of choice -- not from our neighbors, not from our sons and daughters, and not from the "strangers" in another country. Let's not forget that there are still many places in the world where Spirituality is not the buffet-table of choices most of us are accustomed to -- it is what it is, by law, without question. In the United States, we are fortunate enough to have fought for and received the right of freedom of religion, at least in a very technical and legal sense. Unfortunately, we still persecute and discriminate against each other for exercising that right. It has been 50 years since the horrors of the Holocaust showed the world the vilest form of religious intolerance, yet anti-Semetism prevails; 400 years after the Protestant Reformation, people are still warring over the Catholic versus Protestant debate; entire cities are bombed on the basis of which God the people worship, and neighbors disparage neighbors because they worship on sacred Native lands, rather than in a church or temple. It's rather depressing, unless you are the optimistic sort who hopes for great change beginning with just a few. |
It is no longer good enough to cry peace, we must act peace, live peace, and live in peace. - Shenandoah Proverb |
SPIRITUAL TOLERANCE |
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