Religious Tolerance Day

Recently, I told a friend of mine that I have trouble understanding the Bible. Different denominations interpret it in radically different ways. Different translations say different things. I don't trust any particular religious authority to tell me what the Bible means. Why is one religious authority more likely to be right than any other?

My friend said that maybe different people are supposed to interpret the Bible differently. More generally, perhaps it's a feature, not a bug, that different people have different religious beliefs.

In seeking inspiration for what to say here, I re-read an inspiring speech by Harold Feld. How can a speech about community wireless networks be inspiring? Well, it is also about why and how we should strive to make a better world. At one point, Harold touches on how the Passover seder is explained to children. He says that we give each child a different explanation, because we have a responsibility to try to reach each child in the place where he or she is now.

In the same manner, perhaps God or the Dao or the cosmic microwave background radiation touches each of us in a different way, in the way that is best for each of us, and that is why we have different religions.

"There are as many ways to God as there are people." -- Joseph Ratzinger, 1995
(Thanks to eintx for pointing out this quote.)

"If there's a God, your purpose is to LIVE. To help people. To make the world a better place. And if there's NOT a God... your purpose is to LIVE! To help people! To make the world a better place!"
-- Tom Smith, 2006

"Jews, Christians, and Muslims all believe in God and the Prophets. They just have a few minor disagreements about who the Prophets are." -- anonymous friend

"So believe in God in Heaven, or believe in hearth and home
That the children are our future, or that we are not alone
Just believe that something matters, and believe with heart and soul
For the act of believing is what keeps us whole."
-- Harold Feld