Inter-faith co-existence is possible and desirable

Religious intolerance is not a new phenomenon in the world. For many centuries now, a number of people have been indiscriminately killed because they ascribe to different faith as opposed to their tormentors. However, many religious leaders have condemned such killings, pointing that there’s nowhere, written or otherwise, that God sanctions such acts. But the tormentors of other faith have justified their actions, killing in the name of God. There are cases around the world where churches and mosques have been razed to the ground in religious wars pitting Christians against Muslims and vice versa. Intra-faith intolerance has also been the order of the day, even if some cases have not led to harrowing bloodbath. The fact that religious fanaticism has been a bane to social co-existence cannot be gainsaid. It’s today hard to find a Muslim and a Christian couple living together and happily in the institution of marriage unless one converts. And many such marriages have led to divorce when one partner cannot tolerate his or her adopted religion since faith is a matter of heart and cannot be forced. Even love, the most powerful of emotional attachment, has been unable to withstand the onslaught of religious intolerance. But is the world too small for all God’s people of different religions to live in peaceful co-existence with each other? Are religious fundamentalists doing so for their selfish agenda? And what prize and honor do they get after hating people of different faith? Abubakar Hamadi, an Imam in Nyamirambo says that contrary to belief that Muslim religion foments religious intolerance towards other faith; Islam religion promotes love and inclusiveness. “There are many causes of religious intolerance and among them misunderstanding of certain religious principles. Those who are not well educated in religious doctrines are more likely to be indoctrinated and thus cause religious conflicts,” he says. He adds that religious tolerance shouldn’t be misconstrued as religious acceptance since there are different practices in both Christianity and Islam among other faiths that are unacceptable to those professing their different faiths. “Some religious faiths don’t condone polygamy while Islam does. Likewise, there some things some Christian denomination allow like gay marriages that are unacceptable in Islam. Therefore, we can only live harmoniously side by side if we tolerate each other, even if we don’t accept each other’s practices,” he adds. Patrice Kabuga of Remera Catholic Church says we are all now living in a free society, and no one belief is more equal than others. “Each and every person has the right to his or her individual opinions and this also goes to faith.” He adds: “We ought to tolerate different opinions, even if we don’t agree with them so as to live in harmony and peace. Or else, without doing so, society can easily degenerate into anarchy and discord as has been witnessed before.” In Bible, God instructs Christians to be tolerant to those who are not believers, and advises Christians on what they should do when faced with intolerance. In Romans 14:1-4, the bible says: “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” According to Pope Francis, human life is sacred and not subordinate to any condition, neither qualitative, nor economic, much less ideological. The pontiff is quoted as saying last week in a meeting with Italy’s Pro-Life Movement that for a Christian, it is a part of the witness of the Gospel to protect life with courage and love in all its stages.