TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE
We often talk of peace in the context of war. But this is a very narrow and restricted notion of peace. Peace is deeply linked with the entirety of human life. Peace is a complete ideology in itself. Peace is the only religion for both—man and the universe. It is the master-key that opens the doors to every success. Peace creates a favourable atmosphere for success in every endeavour. Without peace, no positive action—small or big—is possible.
WORLD RELIGIONS AND THE SPIRIT OF TOLERANCE
The cost of disrespecting others is to be held disrespectful in the eyes of God.
In its declaration, the United Nations declared 1995 as the year of tolerance. However, tolerance is a permanent human requirement.
All the great religions of the world can be broadly divided into two categories: Aryan religions and Semitic religions. In my studies, I have found that tolerance has been given equal importance in both types of religions. Religion makes a man a spiritually developed human being, and one who has elevated their spirituality cannot afford intolerance. The behaviour of a truly religious person is always one of tolerance.
The difference between the two types of religions lies in the rationale of tolerance rather than tolerance itself. The philosophic ground of tolerance in Aryan religions is derived from their belief that truth is an all-pervading reality. According to this concept, a religious person’s psychology is that “If I am in the right, you too, according to your own tradition, are in the right.” In other words, tolerance in Aryan religions is based on the concept of manyness of reality.
The philosophic base of tolerance in Semitic religions is different. These religions believe in the principle of oneness of reality. However, so far as the question of human respect is concerned, Semitic religions lay equal emphasis on this value. The difference in this respect between the two branches of religions is one of philosophy, not of practice.
To put it differently, the basis of tolerance in Aryan religions is on mutual recognition, while its basis in Semitic religions is on mutual respect. This difference is only one of philosophical explanation. As far as practical behaviour is concerned, there is no difference in either religion in this respect.
To sum it up, the spirit of tolerance is the essence of all religions. The man produced by religion can never be divested of the spirit of tolerance. Intolerance appears to be directed at others, but it is akin to killing one’s own religious personality. How can a sincere person be willing to kill themselves by their own hands?
