Surviving Religion
Saturday, January 01, 2000
Hey, I’ve got a great idea! It could save a lot of people a lot of suffering. You know how we humans sometimes form up into us-and-them teams and treat “them” rather badly? And you know how we often use a difference of religion to mark our “enemies”.
Just imagine you are a member of a religious minority that is being persecuted or discriminated against — you’re being abused or you can’t get a job or you can’t marry someone of the other faith.
Well, here’s my solution: take up two religions! When the local bullies start picking on a certain faith, just practice your other faith for the time being. I don’t think there’s really any sense in getting yourself knocked about by thugs for a principle they don’t even want to understand.
I don’t think God would judge you as a traitor. Then when the coast is clear again, practice whichever religion you believe is the better channel to God.
Philip O'Carroll