Temptations of religious certainty only builds walls

[rug]

Published On Sun May 27 2012
By Dow Marmur

Though lofty declarations by national and international organizations may articulate the ideals and set the scene for interfaith relations, much of it gets lost in politics. The real work is usually done at the grassroots level.

I witnessed it firsthand earlier this month when I addressed a gathering of members of more than a dozen liberal churches and synagogues in North Toronto. The group has been meeting regularly for some 25 years. The hundreds of women and men involved have not only forged strong bonds of friendship but also gained a deeper understanding of the others’ beliefs and practices. As their mission statement has it, “we pray our work will help end bias, bigotry and racism.” By all accounts, their joint endeavours have also deepened their own faith.

My talk was about the tension between the quest for truth and the temptations of certainty. Those who claim to know exactly what God wants of them and of everybody else are usually not open to dialogue. If they get involved with exponents of other faiths, it’s normally either to defend their own or convert others to it. By contrast, liberals who engage in interfaith work know that God’s whole truth is beyond human reach. We’re compelled to strive for it yet must settle for fragments. A way to connect at least some of the fragments is to learn from adherents of different faiths in the hope of gaining more insight into our own.

Exponents of certainty, on the other hand, know from the outset that those who don’t share their convictions and traditions are by definition wrong and, therefore, must be shunned or put right. Those who claim certainty not only seek to isolate themselves from others but often seem to need to vilify and at times attack even their own co-religionists who view their faith with modern, critical eyes. That’s why the tensions are often within religions no less than between them. Though Jews and Christians find it easier to point to such battles in Islam, there are plenty in their own midst.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1194010--temptations-of-religious-certainty-only-build-walls

Dow Marmur is rabbi emeritus at Toronto's Holy Blossom Temple.

[cbayer]

1. Incorporating Islam is going to be tough, but well worth doing.

Excellent article.

[mr blur]

2. *Yawn* nt

[rug]

3. Oh, the glory of the English language.

[felix_numinous]

4. Great article

Rug! This is an inherently a diverse country and world, and too many people seem to have forgotten how to coexist respectfully in a mixed group or society. I LOVE getting into cool philosophical discussions about reality and the universe, psychology and perception--when there is no ego involved. I have spent many years around people from all over the world, and really talked with people from nearly every faith and worldview--and have the best time with people who reserve a space for humility!

I agree--the most difficult people to relax with are the 'exponents of certainty'. We are just little specks of dust floating around on a bigger speck of dust--so HOW can we be certain of anything? But we can wonder and explore--and keep an open mind--and remember to laugh at ourselves

[rug]

5. I enjoyed it too.

Glad you liked it.

[meow2u3]

6. Fundamentalists don't know it

Last edited Mon May 28, 2012, 09:39 PM - Edit history (1)

but someone who think he or she is absolutely sure of heaven is going to find out the hard way that the exact opposite is likely to occur. In other words, they may well be far closer to hell than any liberal. Religous fanatics should be afraid of thinking they have a free trip to heaven in the bag. God does not like presumption very much.