Congregation for Religious Tolerance - Three Years Later

Revision Date:  06/14/2016

It has been three years since I founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and its associated blog, "The Path."  Since that time, I have published 542 posts, at last count, and those have garnered 21,000 pageviews from over 65 countries.  These numbers should make me puff up with pride, but I actually feel humbled by the entire experience.  

Only 5% of total comments about my posts, left on the site or via email, have seemed negative.  I feel fairly confident in saying half of those comments were due to not reading the entire post, misunderstanding the message of the post (probably due to not reading the whole thing), or a lack of any tolerance with the subject matter (which bodes the question of whether they read any of it).  Whichever the case, all comments are the reader's opinion, as the subject post was mine.  The fact they were reading a post on a blog dealing with religious and spiritual tolerance evidences to me that they are not so much disagreeing, as they might be searching for their own answers or reaching out for help.  But, then, aren’t we all?

I contemplated a 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 back then, and the positive feedback tells me my reasons are still sound.  

This is, and probably will always remain, a work in progress.  I have always welcomed any and all constructive comments and criticism that might better the end product, whatever it morphs into.  There have been so few non-constructive comments and criticism from my detractors, only that meager 5%; I decided it best to just leave them to consider the deafening silence from the other 95%.  

I wanted there to be no membership, per se, in the Congregation.  This may be an odd concept for many to grasp.  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 to make their own decisions and advising on how to smooth the bumps and remove obstacles blocking their way.

I believe that God helps those that help themselves.  You cannot put someone on their path, but you can help them define the path they seek, or the one they are already on.  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 to be more than they ever imagined.  You can't save the people from their lot, only they can do that, and only if they really want to.

Why a Congregation, and not a Church, for Religious Tolerance? I feel the meaning of "church" has been corrupted from the meaning Jesus originally intended (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?  It is probably in a building.  And since you're only supposed to pray in the privacy of your own room, worship and prayer in a "church" seems a tad hypocritical, if not blasphemous.  It would seem to rank right up there with money lenders in the temple.

As for standing behind a pulpit, personally, I'd rather sit and talk.  Well, okay...maybe on an occasional soap box.  I think Matthew states it best:

"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.”

-- (Matthew 23:8-12)

I quote the Bible often, even though I have issues with the Good Book, the Holy Scripture, and I have addressed those concerns many times throughout my posts on The Path.  But I think the lessons, the message the Bible offers, create a good foundation for laws and morality.  Does this detract from other religious texts?  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, pride, and ego.  It depends on if you read the various scriptures; if you interpret them as having the same general moral, and spiritual, philosophical belief systems.  

I'd venture to say you can read anything and bend it, interpret it, to meet any twisted agenda other than the original intent.  Two groups are doing this with Islam.  One is the heretical radical Islamic terrorist Imam, twisting the Qur'an in order to excuse murder, rape and torture of innocence.  The other group interprets the Qur'an the same way as the terrorist in order to excuse their own intolerant hatred toward all of Islam for the actions of a relatively small percentage of insane, deviant, blasphemers.  Egocentric righteousness will soon morph this intolerance into actions against innocence as horrific as those they decry, all due to poor interpretation driven by hate.  

The Congregation for Religious Tolerance exists as a rock on which to anchor a religious and spiritual tolerance not provided by many mainstream religious organizations.

At this moment I am keeping the concept of the Congregation 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, compassion, conversation and debate, while allowing everyone to peacefully follow their own spiritual beliefs without oppression, discrimination, and intolerance.

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.

"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."

-- The Upanishads

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, 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. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, 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.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, and instructor. He is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path," which offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination.