What Our Faiths Really Teach

In a recent NEW YORK TIMES article, I read of Muslim extremists attacking a mosque in Pakistan. It ended with this: “They have taken the lives of innocent worshipers,” he said. “Does Islam teach the killing of innocent people?” (“Mosque Serving Pakistani Military Hit by Attackers”)

How often does it happen that we hear about the actions of “extremists” in our news media. Well, it’s not always that way, and sometimes we actually read about people of different faiths sharing basic values, and supporting one another in these views. In another recent NEW YORK TIMES article, (“Three Clergymen, Three Faiths, One Friendship”) we can read about how three thoughtful and scholarly religious leaders interpret their scriptures and deal with their differences.

When asked what they most valued as “the core teachings of their tradition...the minister said, ‘unconditional love.’ The sheik said, ‘compassion.’ And the rabbi said ‘oneness.’”

While the news media seem to emphasize the differences among our many faith traditions, we can see much common ground among these three statements of core teachings. For example, Muslims believe that Allah is the only God; they say in their belief statement, “There is no God but Allah.” Surah 112, entitled “Oneness,” begins, “God is One, the Eternal God.” The rabbi in this story says “oneness" is the core teaching of his tradition. Quoting Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one."

Jesus of Nazareth demonstrated unconditional love in the way he lived and in the messages he taught. In particular his Sermon on the Mount describes how to live out a life of unconditional love, having compassion for those around us who are less fortunate, regardless of their circumstances or their beliefs.

These three (liberal) leaders also declared what they regard as the “untruths” in their faiths. The minister said, “Christianity is the only way to God.” The rabbi said it’s the notion that the Jews are the “chosen people.” And the sheik said it is the “sword verses”, like “kill the unbeliever,” in the Qur’an.

Few amongst us in 2010 believe, for example, that Christianity is absolutely the only way to God. Surely some Christians do believe that, but many do not. (And probably most who are NOT Christian don’t believe this either!) In my opinion, only the more conservative believers embrace belonging to an exclusive group, i.e., they seek to exclude certain others from their groups. Words like "the only way" and "the chosen people" represent statements about exclusive groups. The so-called "sword verses" in the Qur’an also point to the exclusion of others, referring to them as "unbelievers."

I cannot accept or condone extremists’ behaviors, like “the killing of innocent people.” Still, I have to include other people's beliefs in my spiritual world view. Their concepts of God and the nature of relationships among peoples help me see other ways of understanding and interpreting God's messages to us humans.

Isn't that act of including – loving our enemies – how we can demonstrate unconditional love in our day to day living? Isn't that inclusion what compassion really means? Won’t it be a joyous day when these messages translate to actions of inclusion that fill our news media? Perhaps it will come to be in this new year, if we all can agree that we will settle for nothing less.