RELIGIOUS HARMONY — Not Religious Uniformity

achieved by attempting to alter people’s beliefs — a policy advocated by more than one scholar in this field. The only way to tackle the problem is to encourage people to show respect for others’ beliefs and to be humanitarian at all times in their dealings with adherents of other religions. It is important to realize that it is quite possible to inculcate this attitude without in any way tampering with long-cherished credos. It should never be conceded that the goal of religious harmony is unattainable simply because people’s beliefs differ from each other. It is certainly a possibility, provided that it is seen as a matter of practical strategy, and not as a pretext for making ideological changes. Religious harmony is, without doubt, a desirable objective; but cannot be achieved by attempting to alter people’s beliefs. ‘Practical strategy’ is something which people regularly resort to in matters of their daily existence. As such, it is a known and acceptable method of solving the problem. Since no new ground has to be broken, either for the religious scholar or for the common man, it should be a very simple matter for people to extend their everyday activity, within their own sphere of existence, to include an honest and sincere effort towards global religious harmony. It is simply a question of having the will and the foresight to do so. o Ignore The Divisions The way to prosper is to ignore the matters that divide one from others and concentrate on cultivating areas of mutual concern.