Samuel Rodriguez
President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

Samuel Rodriguez

Rodriguez is founding pastor of Third Day Worship Centers and President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

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Extremists Vs. Idealists

If the world’s major religions coalesce around the virtues of love, compassion, and forgiveness, then why does the early 21st century religious narrative witness hatred, apathy, and intolerance? Is this a case of religious dissonance?

It may very well be another Pollyanna articulation of faith; yet reality speaks otherwise. Arguably, while the world’s major religions may include the aforementioned virtues and traits within each corresponding belief system, the laity and the followers of these religions seem to ignore, neglect, or circumvent these virtues.

While some religions preach love, compassion and forgiveness to members of that particular community; great religions go beyond the framework of self-preservation and with audacious hope extend love, compassion, and forgiveness towards all.

At times, this generation bears witness to the hijacking of good faith by extreme ideologues. At the end of the day, if love, compassion, and forgiveness unite the world’s major religions, then the leaders of these religions have failed miserably to disseminate this message to the followers.

When the oracles of love, compassion, and forgiveness outnumber the prophets and evangelists of hatred and intolerance, then once again, religion will play a major role in reconciling humanity rather than separating God’s children.

By Samuel Rodriguez  |  October 22, 2007; 7:27 AM ET Save & Share:  Send E-mail   Facebook   Twitter   Digg   Yahoo Buzz   Del.icio.us   StumbleUpon   Technorati  
Previous: Embracing our Differences in a Pluralistic Nation | Next: Yes and No to the Dalai Lama

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Considering it not religion,but the pleasure of sex having sustained humanity, thus secured our survival.That obvious to all but(few),that one religious or non religious.The body should take centre in worship.Glory of the erect penis, as the naked female form.Such given their rightful place at family as group gatherings,of worship. Such enabling that children grow into adulthood with an healthy appetite for the flesh,love as desire.As partake in the many,sexual pleasures. Giving praise,to the Almighty as Allah.. xxx X

Posted by: Lucifer | October 23, 2007 6:18 AM
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Love, compassion, and forgiveness are virtues that give me a sense of control over my relationship with my world. The personal peace and sense of well being I find in fostering these three qualities, allows me to feel relavant and worthwhile. I came to realize this personal truth early on in my life. I discovered this truth by attending church as a youth. I try to foster these qualities in my children as my parents tried to foster them in me. To me religion has always been a social structure to support those who felt similar about these things. The bonds forged with members of a religious sect are strongest when the common ideals support the natural needs to feel loved and relavant. So it is natrual that religion find these values at the core of their creeds.

Posted by: WJN, Boston | October 23, 2007 3:45 AM
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Whether religion is good for people or bad is irrelevant.It's whether it's true or not.

If,for instance,there is no god,then religion is a silly charade,even if it helped to keep societies peaceful.

But let's be real.Religions don't keep societies peaceful;or lawful;or happy;or loving;or free from war.

But even if they did,would that be reason enough to pretend that there really is a god?

Of course not; nothing is more important than the truth.And the truth is we can't know anything about gods,or the supernatural.
The truth is we don't know what the truth is.
And there is no reason to think a god exists.

For civilization to progress we have to move beyond religious thinking.
As Bertrand Russell puts it,to move on we have to slay the dragon at the gate,the dragon called religion.

Posted by: Teddy B. | October 22, 2007 11:48 PM
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Steve Petermann is correct. For the vast majority of religions and those who serve do tremendous good. Without the religions of love and all those who have dedicated themselves to the service of God, there would be much more violence in the world than we already experience. We should be thankful for the men and women who serve God and for the institutions they support that carry out so much good. The fact that we are all fallible sinners means religious institutions and those who serve will make errors and there will be those of them that carry out violence. Even Jesus Christ had to put up with Judas. So if Christ had someone that close to him who could be so evil, then we should not be surprised that evil will also penetrate the church. Buts let's not forget there were 12 disciples and only one of them failed in this way. So it is probably the same kind of ratio with today's church. Evil exists but it does not triumph and much more good is done, especially in the name of Christ.

Posted by: Tim | October 22, 2007 12:09 PM
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"Arguably, while the world’s major religions may include the aforementioned virtues and traits within each corresponding belief system, the laity and the followers of these religions seem to ignore, neglect, or circumvent these virtues.
"

This is a strange statement to me. My experience is just the opposite. I have found that the vast majority of religious adherents, though not perfect do aspire to those virtues and try to incorporate them into their lives. Visit any church, synagogue, temple, etc. and what you will find are, for the most part, *good* people. All one has to do is look at all the benevolence coming from religious groups. When disasters occur somewhere in the world, who are the first people to step up to help? If you have any doubt just look at the organizations who rose to the occasion to help when Katrina hit New Orleans, or the Tsunami.

While I agree that much evil has been done in the name of religion, I have been very surprised to see few presenters here step up to affirm that religion does offer a prominent place in culture to foster the virtues the Dalai Lama espouses.

Posted by: Steve Petermann | October 18, 2007 2:59 PM
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I believe in love, compassion and forgiveness for the simple reason that they work amazingly well in human affairs. Something about the butterfly effect. I would also throw in fairness, as equally important. I do hope and I do charity, but I don't do faith.

It's not necessary to judge other people's religions to make this work. If a religious belief, from Amish to Zoroastrian, brings comfort and peace to the believer, I am happy for them. I just don't choose share it.

This endless wrangling between religions strikes me as pointless and contrary to the values they claim to hold. Count me out.

Posted by: PGR - Tucson | October 18, 2007 2:03 PM
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I believe in love, compassion and forgiveness for the simple reason that they work amazingly well in human affairs. Something about the butterfly effect. I would also throw in fairness, as equally important. I do hope and I do charity, but I don't do faith.

It's not necessary to judge other people's religions to make this work. If a religious belief, from Amish to Zoroastrian, brings comfort and peace to the believer, I am happy for them. I just don't choose share it.

This endless wrangling between religions strikes me as pointless and contrary to the values they claim to hold. Count me out.

Posted by: PGR - Tucson | October 18, 2007 2:03 PM
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The problem with all three monotheistic religions is not that they fail to teach love compassion and forgiveness; it is that they ALSO teach that violence, oppression and that their way is the only way. This is by definition INTOLERANT.

One could argue that the people who use religion as a justification for hatred, oppression and violence are simply reading their sacred texts and acting on them in much the same manner that people who use religion as a justification for acts of love, compassion and fogrgiveness. Both are contained in the texts. This is why many of us reject all monotheistic religions.

Posted by: Doug Carr, Boston | October 18, 2007 12:15 PM
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