Religious Tolerance in America

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Religious Tolerance in America

Religious tolerance is a growing social movement in America, and it should be.  We live in a world of religious pluralism.  There are about about 2 billion Christians, more than 1 billion Muslims, 700+ million Hindus, 350+ million Buddhists, 150 million Atheists, 14 million Jews, etc.  It would seem that religious tolerance is a necessity if we are going to get along.  We need to be tolerant of those who have different religious beliefs.  We should not hate and persecute someone because of his or her faith.

On one hand, religion is a good thing.  It helps people cope with life's difficulties.  It gives people peace and helps them have goals and a standard of right and wrong by which to live.  On the other hand, religion has been used to destroy peoples' lives.  We only need reflect on Bosnia, on the problems between Israel and the Palestinians, etc., to quickly realize that religion can be a force for harm as well as good.  This is all the more reason to be tolerant of other people's beliefs so that hatred and pain can be lessened.

Religious tolerance is especially important here in the United States since we have such a variety of people and cultures from all over the world.  If our society is to function well, it needs unity and consistency.  That is why it is good to have a common language, a common culture, and a common form of government. But, do we need a common religion?  Of course not.  We are too different and have too many differences of opinions on God.  Some say God is a force, others that He is personal.  Some say we are divine by nature and others deny this.  All cannot be correct.

Is there only one truth?