Tolerating religious intolerance

The Swiss action prohibiting the erection of minarets attached to Mosques to call the faithful to prayer smacks of intolerance. Coming from the Swiss it is both surprising and frightening. Of all the nations of the world, Switzerland had built the reputation of being the most tolerant and accommodating. It seems clearly an attempt at "an eye for an eye" justice. THE ACTION SEEMS TO SAY: If the modern protagonists of Islam are going to show an intolerant face then we will do the same.

The trouble with this kind of thinking is where do we stop? How far backwards will the modern world go to teach Islamic fundamentalists a lesson? The public call to the faithful can be annoying. Why is it necessary for everyone in the town to know when some faithful go to worship? Or, for that matter, why must those who wish to pray have to be reminded to come to pray? It is not as though the prayer times change every day. If the faithful cannot remember the prayer times they are hardly faithful.

It seems to me that religion is taking all of us backwards into our respective shells instead of broadening our spiritual perspectives and becoming more tolerant.

By Arun Gandhi  |  December 1, 2009; 6:16 AM ET Save & Share:                 
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Posted by: Navin1 | December 8, 2009 3:05 PM
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