SHARED WISDOM

AGREEING TO DISAGREE experiences unpleasantness involving another individual or group, the wise approach to adopt is that of reconciliation, not confrontation. The policy of reconciliation in controversial matters is not one of retreat or cowardice. On the contrary, its purpose is to prevent one’s resources fro m being spent futilely and channel them towards some worthwhile endeavour. The opposite of reconciliation is conflict or violence. Both parties reach a dead end in a situation of conflict or violence. Their journey stops at the point of the confrontation itself. This fact highlights the importance of adopting a policy of reconciliation so that one may continue one’s journey toward one’s destination without interruption The way of reconciliation might appear to some at first sight to be a way of loss. However, if we keep our eyes on the future rather than on the present, we shall find that it inevitably leads to success. On the other hand, a policy of confrontation cannot do anything other than lead to failure and ruin. AGREEING TO DISAGREE Religious harmony is based on unity despite differences rather than unity without differences. It is not based on agreeing to agree b ut, rather, on agreeing to disagree on some things and agreeing to agree on others. Thousands of religious groups exist in the world. Given the differences separating them, let us consider how to bring harmony between them.