Divided on religious divisions

It has never served the interests of the Christian faith to limit the

exploration of truth by seekers. Christianity is by definition a

faith of choice. God is love. He created humanity for a love

relationship with him. Love requires a choice to be valid. Much to

the dismay of most teens, you can’t force someone to love you. As

convenient as that would be, the relationship would be hollow. That

is why we believe that you can’t be born into our faith, it has to be

a conscious decision. It is also why we only baptize people who have

made a conscious choice and do not baptize infants.

Though I do not agree with the doctrines of the Jehovah’s

Witnesses , I am glad that people check out what they believe. I am

more convinced of my faith from my exploration of many world

religions prior to choosing to follow Jesus. Christianity has nothing

to fear from investigation and discovery. Investigation will lead to

conviction, not an inflammation of “religious divisions.” I think

this is a red herring.

Outlawing religious practice is reminiscent of old soviet tactics,

but is also practiced in Western Europe and in most parts of the

world today. It is a line that becomes difficult when a religion

begins to take on a political agenda. Our situation in the Middle

East is being exasperated by groups intent on setting up religious

governments instead of democratic ones. Some of the Witnesses’

doctrines on involvement in government and military service appear

rebellious or suspicious in countries like Russia where military

service is obligatory. This then may influence their definition of

“endangering public health.”

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

RIC OLSEN

Harbor Trinity Church

Costa Mesa

Religious division is no excuse to ban any group from practicing

its religious belief as long as they do not violate or threaten the

morality and stability of society. Respect and toleration of other

divisions must exist. There are religious differences (denominations)

among all faiths, including Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.

Nonetheless, the disagreements should not become an excuse to ban a

certain sect from practicing its belief.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are prominent in the US; we see them often in

our neighborhoods and shopping malls distributing literature in a

respectable and kind manner. Their actions are not inflaming,

indecent or offensive. When their actions do become indecent or

threatening toward the public or the sanctity of life then the

government should intervene.

IMAM MOUSTAFA AL-QAZWINI

Islamic Educational

Center of Orange County

Costa Mesa

As one who is truly grateful for the 1st Amendment -- while

mindful of its meanings, and as one who thinks that diversity of

religious beliefs and practices is one of God’s great gifts -- I

would like to know the particular rationale for this ban. My limited

knowledge of Jehovah’s Witnesses includes their Biblical bases: they

take their name from Isaiah 43:12 and Hebrews 12:1.

They have conscientious objections to war and accept governmental

authority. They are familiar with being victims of religious

discrimination and often cite 2 Timothy 3:12, “All who want to live a

godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” They have been

arrested, beaten and jailed in many countries, and are banned in

communist countries in general. That Jehovah’s Witnesses have been

banned in Russia should come as no surprise to those of us counting

the First Amendment to our Constitution among our blessings.

“Inflammation of religious divisions” cannot be good, however.

While discussion of religious differences for better understanding of

diverse beliefs and rituals/ceremonies is important and

recommendable, to “inflame division” in this context means to me

inciting excessive and unnatural separation of competitive

beliefs/practices. Much, much better is the spirit of this piece from

another church’s bulletin (guess which denomination): “If you could

get religion like a Baptist, Experience it like a Methodist, Be loyal

to it like a Catholic, Sacrifice for it like a Jew, Be proud of it

like an Episcopalian. What a religion you would have, especially in

addition if you could go to Heaven -- automatically like a

Presbyterian.”

I would appreciate the truthfulness of this humorous spirit

equally if “Presbyterian” was replaced by “Jehovah’s Witnesses!”

THE VERY REV. CANON

PETER D. HAYNES

St. Michael & All Angels

Episcopal Parish Church

Corona del Mar

While I disagree with the beliefs and practices of the Jehovah’s

Witnesses, I do not question their right to practice their religion,

and I am glad the U.S. Constitution ensures that they can. I dislike

being handed religious pamphlets or having people knock at the door

to talk about their religion, but I also object to being solicited

outside discount stores by charities, including the Boy Scouts. Yet I

believe that the harm in prohibiting these activities would greatly

outweigh my preference for privacy. In Zen we do not proselytize

because the initial impetus to practice must be discovered within.

People may be inflamed by practices which differ from their own.

At an office where I worked here in Orange County, some of the staff

were irritated that Jehovah’s Witnesses would not participate in the

department birthday celebrations. Who is responsible for the office

disturbance? Jehovah’s Witnesses are well known for their refusal to

have blood transfusions, but it may be less commonly known that many

medical alternatives do exist. Neither endangers public health.

If “inflammation of religious divisions” means that missionaries

from one religion attack another religion in order to pirate

converts, it easily applies to individuals from many religious

groups. Jehovah’s Witnesses, like many Evangelical Christian groups,

believe that the example of Jesus and the Bible call for them to

preach the “Good News.” Ministry training schools advise them to be

polite, to respect the wishes of those who are not interested, who

are satisfied with their own religious affiliation, or who do not

want to be visited. They know their time is better spent on people

who express interest and are open to learning more.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are somewhat unique in that they are

politically neutral. In the U.S. they do not vote or go to war. They

do not support or resist government but wish to live peacefully. In

some countries, failure to support the government may be interpreted

as opposing the government, which may be far more threatening than

concern for tolerance among religions.

The Moscow authorities would be better advised to consider exactly

what threat exists and what specific actions should be curtailed,

rather than prohibiting one religious group from practicing its

religion.

THE REV. DEBORAH BARRETT

Zen Center of Orange County

Costa Mesa

The very first instance of aggression was catalyzed by controversy

over religion. Cain raised his hand against Abel following an act of

worship. It was while Cain was approaching God that he felt enmity

for his brother. Since then, divisions along religious lines have

been drawn over each faith’s belief in its exclusive acceptability to

God. Denominations revile one another.

It is with revolting regularity that religion has obscured God

through condemnation and violence rather than revealed him through

generosity and peace! How thin is the veneer of virtue which covers a

seething capacity for evil!

Inquisitors abound who claim theirs is the one and only path to

heaven. Mark Twain wrote, “Man is the only religious animal. He is

the only animal that loves his neighbor as himself and cuts his

throat if his theology isn’t straight. He has made a graveyard of the

globe in trying to smooth his brother’s path to heaven.”

It has often been that when piety is at its highest in

sanctuaries, blood runs thickest in the streets. Yes, we have

repeatedly seen the ugly face of religion. Actions on behalf of faith

have exposed a callousness to human suffering, an indifference to

truth, a contempt for freedom and a determination to suppress all who

differ with those in authority.

Religious faith, though, at its highest and broadest and deepest,

offers us confidence when we are lost, calm when we are

tempest-tossed, stability when the moral ground quakes under our

feet, strength in weakness, comfort in grief, hope in sickness. It

summons us when we are smug and satisfied, commands us to distinguish

between right and wrong, and calls us to do justly, love mercy, and

walk humbly.

Religion is duty and responsibility, challenge and demand, free

will and accountability. We must re-dedicate ourselves to the best in

religion. We must turn from suppressing, excluding, and vilifying.

Let us consecrate life, respect one another, and know that a God of

love can never sanction teachings of contempt. May we, as God’s

partners in the unfolding of creation, uphold convictions without

arrogance, commitment without coercion, and righteousness without

self-righteousness.

RABBI MARK MILLER

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach