To: All USA Religious Leaders
Religious Tolerance
John Lennon.
Imagine.
In the USA we have 3 major monotheist religions, all worshipping God…. above all else. In hundreds of thousands of religious buildings spread across this vast nation.
Step 1. The leaders of each local place of worship could schedule an ‘open’ weekly God Worship service in which Jews, Muslims and Christians get together to say some prayers, and sing some songs, to celebrate our common God of love and peace. No Latin, Arabic or Hebrew languages needed, just our American English. The priests, imams, rabbis, pastors etc. could choose and print appropriate songs and prayers which leave out the complexities of our various religions (Protestant, Sunni, Orthodox etc) with all those saints, messiahs, sons, prophets etc. Just so that we all can, once a week, celebrate and rejoice in our love of our common God and of each other. Together.
For thousands of years our 3 monotheist religions have remained exclusive. That exclusivity has bred suspicion, fear and hatred. It would be so much better if we now transformed them to be inclusive. Don’t you think?
Step X. Imagine. Eventually. All those synagogues, churches, mosques being re-labelled. House of God. All welcome!
Imagine.
In the USA we have 3 major monotheist religions, all worshipping God…. above all else. In hundreds of thousands of religious buildings spread across this vast nation.
Step 1. The leaders of each local place of worship could schedule an ‘open’ weekly God Worship service in which Jews, Muslims and Christians get together to say some prayers, and sing some songs, to celebrate our common God of love and peace. No Latin, Arabic or Hebrew languages needed, just our American English. The priests, imams, rabbis, pastors etc. could choose and print appropriate songs and prayers which leave out the complexities of our various religions (Protestant, Sunni, Orthodox etc) with all those saints, messiahs, sons, prophets etc. Just so that we all can, once a week, celebrate and rejoice in our love of our common God and of each other. Together.
For thousands of years our 3 monotheist religions have remained exclusive. That exclusivity has bred suspicion, fear and hatred. It would be so much better if we now transformed them to be inclusive. Don’t you think?
Step X. Imagine. Eventually. All those synagogues, churches, mosques being re-labelled. House of God. All welcome!
Why is this important?
This is an effort to help reduce the level of suspicion, fear and hatred in America.