Having been raised, and lived in multiple countries, and thanks to real friendships (not just acquaintances) with people from almost all the major religious and non-religious backgrounds from several parts of the world, I know how embarrassingly shallow, and alarmingly ignorant it is, to use a very broad brush, to negatively portray a community, or a denomination, or a group of people, that are different from "us".
The extremist Hindu factions slaughtered hundreds of Muslims in Gujarat, India, in 2002, and continue to cause havoc in different pockets of India. Noting this, some may think that Hinduism is a violent religion.
Because of the actions of a few Muslims that believe in a particular interpretation of their religious text, some paint that religion as evil.
People are saying the same thing about Christianity too, when they look at the Westboro Baptist Church, the crucifix-wearing KKK, or the ever-scowling Evangelicals. They also must have thought the same thing about Christianity, when the Catholics and the Protestants deep-fried the "heretics" at the stake. Oh, and let's not forget the blood-bathed Crusades.
The other day, I came across an article in TIME magazine, about the growth of radical Buddhism in Burma, where scores of Muslims have been killed, due to communal violence. One would assume that equating "radical" with "Buddhism" is oxymoronic, because it is a religion that is known for non-violence.
What's my point? All the prominent religions have had their share of people who have spoken and acted as the agents of darkness. And they continue to do so, in the name of their beloved beliefs. Their sincerity is not in question here, but the result of what their words and actions produce -- which is anything, but love.
John says, "…whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love, does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7-8 ESV). Period. It's not about our supposed theological rightness, devotion and/or passion.
However, the fact remains that the rest, if not, the majority of the believers of all the major religions, do not support (as passive as they might be in voicing their disagreements) the actions, or the interpretations of the vocal few.
Bigotry is a choice. It is birthed by ignorance; and often cultivated by a cocooned upbringing and the environment we choose to surround us with. Not one of us are born as bigots.
The freeing news, however, is that, choices can be unmade.
