The Congregation for Religious Tolerance (Updated 10/17/14)

Side Note:  The page views for this particular post have doubled, from the first year's count, injust the past six months.  Most of this interest has come from overseas, primarily Europe.  France, Ukraine, Turkey and Romania account for the majority of these hits.  Why the sudden interest in the Congregation?  It might be due to world events as people struggle with their tolerance.  It is hard to not blame many for the acts of the few, especially when the few number in the thousands.  But, then, Germany was just a small country run by fewer Nazis and they almost took over half of the world and the Island of Japan almost took the other.  The reasons are not as important as the fact that someone is searching for answers.  To this end I felt it was prudent to bring this post back to the forefront.  I will continue to update it from time to time and put it closer to the top of the growing list of posts.

I contemplated the Congregation for Religious Tolerance as I was writing what was to become my first post, "My View: Religious Tolerance." I felt my reasons for a "congregation" were sound then, and feedback tells me my reasons are still sound.  As the blog approaches 12,000 pageviews, I've had few "comments" but e-mails and conversations have been positive over the first eighteen months, and I have humbly accepted thanks from several for guiding them forward.  We do what we can with what God has provided.

This is, and probably will always remain, a work in progress as is evidenced by this update of the original posting from June 14, 2013.  I am a firm believer in a statement by Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher 500 years before the birth of Christ, "The only thing that is constant is change."  I welcome any and all constructive comments and criticisms that might better the end product, whatever that product morphs into.

Why a "Congregation," and not a church?  I feel the meaning of "church" has been corrupted from the meaning Jesus originally gave to it (He mentions the word only twice in His teachings I believe), and even though religious scholars say they understand it does not refer to a building, well... ask yourself, where is your church located?  Matthew 18:20 tells us, "For where two or three are assembled in my name, there I am in the midst of them."  A "church is defined as a congregation, not a building.  And the church Jesus spoke of was to be built on the "rock" of Peter as is described in Matthew 16:18, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it."  

There are no members in this Congregation.  If you follow my posts you are already a part of something greater than yourself, and I feel this may be an odd concept for many.  You are a member of a species that has an insatiable appetite for something more, yet they know not what or, more importantly, why.  The moment you question your long lived system of belief, you become one of a multitude that are raging at the machine of organized religion for their seeming greed, conflicting beliefs, hypocrisy, and especially because of the fear of God they intentionally instill in us.  They do this by using the Bible as a weapon, and if you believe this sacred scripture was written by fallible men with probable agendas, and collected into one book by other fallible men with probable agendas, and then used with great effect to rule the Christian Church by yet other men with obvious agendas, then yes, it is a weapon.  It is a weapon historically used to ensure servitude and healthy tithing to a physical "church" and, more specifically, to the egotistical leaders of the particular organized religion.  But, what of the sweet love, understanding, and forgiveness that was Jesus Christ?  What of the loving Father?  Questions, questions...  

I'd like you to follow the blog, but do not be a follower; be critical, but with an open mind; mentor, but do not lecture; teach only if asked; always share, and gently guide others onto their own path, assisting them in order to smooth the surface and remove obstacles blocking their way.  And, for heaven's sake, have an opinion!  I believe that God helps those that help themselves.  You cannot put someone on their path, but you can help them define it.  The rest is in their hands.  They can stand on a street corner with a sign asking for money, or they can take a helping hand and pull themselves up.  You can't save the poor from their lot, only they can do that, if they really want to.

And, as for standing behind a pulpit, I'd much rather sit and talk.  Well, okay... maybe I get on the occasional soap box.  I return to Matthew, as I think he states it best in 23:8-12:

"But do not be called Teacher (Rabbi); for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Messiah. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." 

 I quote the Bible often, even though I have issues with the Good Book, and I go into that further in many of my posts.  But I think the lessons, the message the Bible offers, create a good, solid foundation for laws and morality.  Does this detract from other religious texts?  I'd say, absolutely not.  Most religious texts seem to have the same general moral, and spiritual, philosophical belief systems.  Understanding this, one wonders why we go to war and kill each other.  This for me is a mystery answered only by understanding man's greed and pride.

I am keeping the Congregation fundamentals simple with two easy paragraphs and a few quotes:

Mission Statement:

The Congregation for Religious Tolerance promotes the idea of religious and spiritual tolerance through education, understanding, fairness and compassion, conversation and debate, while allowing everyone to peacefully follow their own spiritual beliefs without oppression or discrimination.

Philosophy:

1.   Tolerance may not necessarily extend beyond religious beliefs to include some religious  actions -- particularly those that harm or harass others. 

2.   Religious tolerance is a fundamental right in a democracy.

3.   It is incumbent upon all of us, at the end of the day, to protect those that cannot protect themselves and to stand up for the peaceful rights of others.

Quotes:

I use quotes throughout my posts.  I find the thought processes of other fascinating, especially those of the classic philosophers and statesmen whose ideas are as valid today as they were before the birth of Christ.  I will also be quoting Master Yoda, Winnie the Pooh, and Star Trek as I tend to think new ideas can be found in the most unlikely of places and tend to bring their own brand of "revelations" to our ever changing world.

"Tolerance is the posture and cordial effort to understand another's beliefs, practices, and habits without, necessarily, sharing or accepting them." 

-- Joshua Liebman, social critic

"The more people come together, the more borders will be opened and people and opinions get together, the more un-renounceable tolerance will be a fundamental part of our social life. Without tolerance there is no religious liberty, no freedom of conscience and no freedom of thought." 

-- Dr. Thomas Klestil, President, Federal Republic of Austria

"Those who see the variety and not the unity wander on from death to death." 

-- Upanishads

Note from Pastor Tony, the founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance, as well as the author and editor of "The Path," the Congregation's official blogsite:  

It is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion.  It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other.  An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so.  

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions, and then engage in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth.  After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.  

Frank Anthony Villari, Pastor