Militant atheism vs mutual respect among religions
Bishop Michael Putney, the Bishop of Townsville, spoke recently at an Iftar dinner jointly hosted by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Australian Intercultural Society. He argues that given the dominant secular society that we live in, it is difficult for people of faith to flourish, pass on their beliefs to their children, and support and sustain each other. In order to move beyond tolerance, as religious people we need to have harmonious relationships with people other faiths.
It is a truism now in inter-religious relations that there can be no peace in the world unless there is peace between the World Religions. Unless we religious people have harmonious relationships, and I would argue unless we have real friendship between us and not just tolerance and respect, other forces, political and economic, will be able to use us to further their own causes which bring division and pain to our world.
His speech makes an interesting read … thanks to The Ecumenical and Interfaith Newsblog for the reference.
Dave
5 comments September 16th, 2008