Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Give us the courage to change ...
In the wake of the London bombings, I received this note from Christian Godefroy. It is a timely reminder you might appreciate ...
33% of the world's population is made
up of Christians who believe that
Christianity is the only true religion.
25% of the world's population is made
up of people who believe that Islam is
the only true religion.
14% of the world's population is made
up of Hindus who are convinced that
Hinduism is the only true religion.
And these 72% of people would be hard
pressed to convince the 4% of who are
Buddhists that they are wrong and
should change their beliefs.
And so it is in most religions: they
should be seen as opinions, because no
one can decide which belief is right or
true - until they die, and find out for
themselves.
Force changes nothing.
Violence changes nothing.
And terrorism doesn't change anything
either.
No one has ever come back to earth to
tell us what goes on on the other side.
And that is as it should be, because it
allows us to respect each other's
beliefs, as different as they may be
from our own.
The enemy we have to overcome is not
in the Occident or the Orient, not in
the Middle East or the Far East.
The enemy is intolerance, in all its
forms.
I invite you to click here:
http://www.positive-club.com/pc.1/e-prophet.html2
The site could help free your of the
fear and sadness that the events in
London may have engendered in you.
We are all Londoners, and we all have
a duty to continue seeking the best in
our lives, despite the obstacles and
tragedies that may appear on our path.
Being positive means acting positive.
It means finding, in this test, even
more reasons to appreciate each instant
of happiness, of love, recognition and
well being that is given to us.
It won't help anyone if we cast a
shadow over our life, and that is no
way to render homage to those who were
affected.
Let us cultivate tolerance and
happiness which, paradoxically, are
certainly the best responses to the
destruction caused by intolerance.
And let us pray, whether it be to
Vishnu, Mohammed, Jesus Christ, Buddha,
or simply to God:
"Give us the courage to change what
can be changed, the serenity to accept
what cannot be changed, and the wisdom
to tell the difference."
33% of the world's population is made
up of Christians who believe that
Christianity is the only true religion.
25% of the world's population is made
up of people who believe that Islam is
the only true religion.
14% of the world's population is made
up of Hindus who are convinced that
Hinduism is the only true religion.
And these 72% of people would be hard
pressed to convince the 4% of who are
Buddhists that they are wrong and
should change their beliefs.
And so it is in most religions: they
should be seen as opinions, because no
one can decide which belief is right or
true - until they die, and find out for
themselves.
Force changes nothing.
Violence changes nothing.
And terrorism doesn't change anything
either.
No one has ever come back to earth to
tell us what goes on on the other side.
And that is as it should be, because it
allows us to respect each other's
beliefs, as different as they may be
from our own.
The enemy we have to overcome is not
in the Occident or the Orient, not in
the Middle East or the Far East.
The enemy is intolerance, in all its
forms.
I invite you to click here:
http://www.positive-club.com/pc.1/e-prophet.html2
The site could help free your of the
fear and sadness that the events in
London may have engendered in you.
We are all Londoners, and we all have
a duty to continue seeking the best in
our lives, despite the obstacles and
tragedies that may appear on our path.
Being positive means acting positive.
It means finding, in this test, even
more reasons to appreciate each instant
of happiness, of love, recognition and
well being that is given to us.
It won't help anyone if we cast a
shadow over our life, and that is no
way to render homage to those who were
affected.
Let us cultivate tolerance and
happiness which, paradoxically, are
certainly the best responses to the
destruction caused by intolerance.
And let us pray, whether it be to
Vishnu, Mohammed, Jesus Christ, Buddha,
or simply to God:
"Give us the courage to change what
can be changed, the serenity to accept
what cannot be changed, and the wisdom
to tell the difference."
