Preface
All the world’s major religions should focus on what binds them together rather than on what keeps them apart. If we can get past the ignorance and fear perpetrated by the followers of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, then we will be able to celebrate the fact that every one of these major religions contains elements that are found within the others. For example, Jesus was a prophet, as was Mohammad. When did these two powerful influences become adversaries, and why? We must understand that a common thread runs through a civilized nation’s religious beliefs, and this is what we should be focusing on, what we should be celebrating. That is, we must work to understand the commonalities between the religions, rather than searching for those elements that separate us. Unfortunately, too many Jews, Christians, and Muslims have focused on discrediting each other. They do this as a way of challenging each other, and, indeed, each works to discredit the other. In short, each believer thinks that his or her religion is the true one and, therefore, the only one that should be honored.
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that one day blacks and whites would learn to respect each other and live in peace and harmony. Allow me to say that I too have a dream. My dream is that not only can we all learn to love and respect each other regardless of our skin color but that we all can learn to respect our religious differences. We should not be going to war on the basis of our religious differences. On the contrary, we should learn to love and respect one another, despite our divergent religions.
My dream culminates with the hope that the Abrahamic religions will one day show the entire world that there is but one God and that there can be harmony and unity among His followers. If we believers can realize this unity and harmony among ourselves, then perhaps we can convince nonbelievers that there is a righteous and loving God worthy of anyone’s worship. Nonbelievers would then witness the love that is expressed among believers and would be convinced that by believing in God, we could have a much better world. As it stands today, however, some nonbelievers—accept it or not—are much more in tune with God and His message than many who profess to be believers. I really can’t blame nonbelievers who argue that if religions are from God, and if it is God’s desire to insure peace and love among people, then why is there so much tension, hatred, and war? Nonbelievers say that they want no part of a world wherein religions cause much of the destruction and chaos. How can I, or other religious individuals, condemn nonbelievers because they would rather love than hate? If religions cause hatred and fear among the faithful, then how can we ever practice the love and harmony espoused by Moses, Jesus, Mohammad,
or other prophets? It can be done, but that process will take decades, if not centuries, to complete. The time to start is now!