It is difficult for some religious people on all sides to even sit down and talk to each other let alone become friendly; if anything, one side might try to convert the other. But what is wrong with this picture? Two human beings, brothers, can't even sit down together and talk peacefully. There are HUGE walls of xenophobia that separates the citizens of these United States. We fear those that are unlike us, but why? What is driving this fear? Is it ignorance or something worse?
In the Dune series by Frank Herbert, there is a Litany Against Fear that several characters recite at their most fearful moments.
- "I must not fear.
- Fear is the mind-killer.
- Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
- I will face my fear.
- I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
- And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
- Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
- Only I will remain."
Those of us living in the West don't have to face the horrors that are going on in the middle east. And for those that are experiencing pain, suffering, anger, and loss my prayers go out to ALL of you. In the U.S. we have no fear of persecution because of our personal beliefs. We are truly blessed but we still need to cure ourselves of ignorance. Go to the library and really dig into the beliefs of others. I believe removing ignorance will calm down millions (if not billions) of peoples fears. Deep down inside I believe all religions want and yearn for peace, love, and justice. It is those who use the name of God to spread terror that give ALL religions a bad wrap.
Read. Learn. Grow. Talk. Love. Let us together remove the blindfolds of ignorance.
- Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
- Only I will remain.
1 comment:
Saw "Fear is the Mind-Killer" in your post cloud and knew I had to read about Dune!
It's funny, over the last five years my pendulum has swung back the other way: I have a much harder time being around outspoken Evangelicals (my tribe of origin) than those of other faiths: Buddhists, Hindus, Wiccans, fans of Babylon 5...
The truth is (and I'm not particularly proud of it) I "can't stand the site of" people who look like me. Because I have so far to go. And where I've been isn't good enough. I find "the other" refreshing and somehow NEUTRAL.
Thanks for your insightful posts,
Peter
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