11-14-2010, 01:31 AM
I think we need to be compassionate towards all those struggling towards the light. I look at the intolerance of some religious people towards others outside their religion as "the thorn that protects the rose". These people are in a fragile state where they are just waking up to a greater reality (and aren't we all often a little grumpy when waking up?). Their strong righteous beliefs are a way to keep them focused on god and prevent them from sliding back into sleep. Once they wake up more fully they will begin to appreciate the wisdom in other paths to the creator. As Sri Ramakrishna said "there are many ways to get to the roof".
If you want to interact with these strongly religious people you could try finding a common ground. For example, I have a friend who is a charismatic christian (pentecostalist). They are very set in their ways, and one of the focuses of their church is on loving your fellow man, but they also believe that sinners will go to hell for eternity. Rather than trying to talk them out of this contradictory view, I try to focus on the loving your neighbor part with them and try to get them to move towards the bodhisattva ideal (without calling it that, of course) where makes a vow to help everyone even if they might be an unrepentant sinner. I have found in the past that fundamentalist Christians are often receptive to the bodhisattva ideal once you explain it to them in a way that fits entirely within their dogma.
If you want to interact with these strongly religious people you could try finding a common ground. For example, I have a friend who is a charismatic christian (pentecostalist). They are very set in their ways, and one of the focuses of their church is on loving your fellow man, but they also believe that sinners will go to hell for eternity. Rather than trying to talk them out of this contradictory view, I try to focus on the loving your neighbor part with them and try to get them to move towards the bodhisattva ideal (without calling it that, of course) where makes a vow to help everyone even if they might be an unrepentant sinner. I have found in the past that fundamentalist Christians are often receptive to the bodhisattva ideal once you explain it to them in a way that fits entirely within their dogma.