Interfaith Journeys
  • Home
  • Interfaith Journeys
  • Stella Reekie

Like for LIke

21/6/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
I have been thinking some more about secular Scotland and wondering why those who espouse what they call a secularist viewpoint are so opposed to the religious voice or see religion as being in opposition to them.  As I said in the previous blog, the religious people I know would rather live in a secular society than a religious one and many of them would consider themselves to be humanist because the dignity and value of the human person is at the heart of their faith. Are we not all seeking a better society and concerned about the kind of Scotland we want to live in?  If we spoke about this and the values we want upheld in society it might  be that we are closer than we think.  In interreligious dialogue there is a principle that we try to adhere to and that is to compare like with like. It is so easy to compare the worst of one religion or philosophy with the best of one's own. I often think there is a tendency to compare the best of Christianity with the worst of Islam and the worst of Christianity with the best of Buddhism. Similarly i think many secularists compare the worst examples  of religion with the best of their own.  What would happen if we each looked for the good in the other and admitted that we all fail and do not live up to our ideals?

Belief in Dialogue describes the kind of secular society that I certainly would want  when it states " The state seeks to provide ‘a space in the public square’ to a wide range of views to ensure the freedom of many religious groups and not just one or even none".  Everyone has the right to express their views and live according to their beliefs and sometimes there can be a clash of values which people have to struggle with. An example of this might be the clash or seeming clash between equality and religious freedom and people must be given time to reconcile these rather than be castigated for what they believe.  I think it is time for both secularists and religious people to believe that those who hold differing views from them are good, people of integrity, trying to do their best with the insights and wisdom that have been given them.  If we look for goodness we shall surely find it and if we look for the opposite we will find that too.  Pope Francis recently said that doing good is a principle that unites all humanity beyond the diversity of ideologies and religions and creates what he calls 'a culture of encounter' that is the foundation of peace.   Is this not worthwhile striving for?

Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I am  a Catholic nun, involved in interfaith relations for many decades.  For me this has been an exciting and sacred journey which I would like to share with others.

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    RSS Feed

    Categories
    Religious Performances
    ​​

    All

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.