Faith and Religion
The First Amendment to the American Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." It is not an easy task for our country, with its many religious beliefs, to find a way to write laws that allow everyone to practice their religion. We must also respect the right of people who do not believe in God!
We express our faith in God through religion. Religion is not the same thing as faith. God is all-seeing, all-knowing, and beyond our understanding. Faith is a gift from God to each of us individually, and we can depend upon it and be strengthened by it. However, we must not forget that the gift of faith does not allow us to see ourselves or the world as clearly as God does. Religion is our imperfect way of trying to share our relationship with God with each other. We must be strong in our faith, which comes to each of us from God, but humble in our religion, which suffers from our imperfections.
Religions are the roads and rest stops of faith. For those of us who are Lutherans, we believe that the road that Martin Luther built is the truest road on which to travel through life. Others disagree and choose different roads. Americans are expected to respect all religions, even if we disagree with some of their ideas. We must be generous in our dealings with others and respect the sincerity of those who believe differently than we do, just as we expect others to respect the way we express our faith in God.
All of the major religions of the world believe in the Golden Rule. Jesus talks about it in
Matthew 7:1-5, 7-16
1 Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9 Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
12 In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Respecting each other's religious beliefs is just one way that we practice the Golden Rule. More about the Golden Rule
The Golden Rule in other religious traditions:
In 1993, representatives of 143 religions and spiritual communities around the world came together in the Parliament of World Religions and declared: " ... We must treat others as we wish others to treat us. We make a commitment to respect life and dignity, individuality and diversity, so that every person is treated humanely, without exception. We must have patience and acceptance. We must be able to forgive, learning from the past but never allowing ourselves to be enslaved by memories of hate."
A Muslim version of the Golden Rule: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam al-Nawawi's "Forty Hadiths."
Buddha said, 'Let a man overcome anger by kindness, evil by good'
Bahai Faith: "And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Baha'u'llah
Confucianism: Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself. Analects XV.24
Judaism: Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the LORD." (Remember, Christians and Jews share the Old Testament as Holy Scripture.)
Philosophy: In the field of philosophy, what Christians call the "Golden Rule" is identified as the Ethics of Reciprocity.
How can it be that there might be more than one way to explain and worship God?
This is what Paul said about his understanding of God in
1 Corinthians 13:12:
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;
now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known."
Here's a story from India that shows what happens when you can't see fully and clearly :
The Blind Men and An Elephant
It was six men of Indostan, to learning much inclined, who went to see the Elephant (though all of them were blind), that each by observation might satisfy his mind.
The First approached the Elephant, and happening to fall against his broad and sturdy side, at once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant is just like a brick wall!"
The Second, feeling of the tusk, cried, "Ho! what have we here, so very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear, this wonder of an Elephant is very like a spear!"
The Third approached the animal, and happening to take the squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake: "I see," quoth he, "the Elephant is very like a snake!"
The Fourth reached out his eager hand, and felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like is mighty plain," quoth he, "'Tis clear enough the Elephant is very like a tree!"
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, said: "E'en the blindest man can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can, this marvel of an Elephant is very like a fan!"
The Sixth no sooner had begun about the beast to grope, then, seizing on the swinging tail that fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant is very like a rope!"
And so these men of Indostan disputed loud and long, each in his own opinion exceeding stiff and strong, though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
MORAL: So oft in theologic wars, the disputants, sure of what they've gleaned, rail on in utter ignorance of what each other mean ... and talk about an Elephant not one of them has seen!
