My message: You are wrong and not your religion.
April 21, 2016, Washington, DC — Today, I am pleased to have learned a bit about the Church of Scientology. Way back in 1979, I visited their office in Los Angeles and was impressed by their work, and had read the fascinating book “Dianetics” by L. Ron Hubbard. More about the church athttp://www.scientology.org/
Rev. Susan Taylor of Church of Scientology explained everything an individual needs to know about her church and have brought a lot of material to read. We discussed various things today and it was good to hear firsthand about the Church of Scientology. As we walked around the building, what I saw on the walls was fascinating reading. It is amazing how much there is to learn, here are ‘some’ of the pearls of wisdom in no particular order that I felt connected with.
The creed of the Church of the Scientology
- That all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights
- That all men have inalienable rights to their own religious practices
- That all men have inalienable rights to their sanity
- That all men have inalienable right to think freely, talk freely….
- And that no agency less than God have the power to suspend or set aside these rights, overtly or covertly.
- That man is basically good.
- Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today and you make your tomorrow.
- Be true to your own goals
Susan and I talked about what we can do to mitigate the conflicts we all have with each other and nurture good will. I am considering a monthly workshop series on wisdom of religion, all the beautiful religions that that I had organized in Dallas. Would you be interested in it, if we broadcast it?
By the way, the courts have cleared some of the false allegations against the Church of Scientology. I am familiar with the insecure men with established churches (nay, not the churches, but the individual men who run it) have always made a point to denigrate the new comer. They are afraid of losing their customers and the donations that go with them. They have ganged up against all new groups including Mormon, Reformed Church, and Unificationist Church etc.
I have been associated with Rev. Moon’s Unificationist Church as well. I have seen the ministers make fun of it, and he was accused of so many false things. There was a time people of other faiths denigrated his ministry… I found it to be otherwise. Rev. Moon has a great message to humanity about being one with God (he calls is God’s lineage).
Individuals err, not religions. However, if we are sincere about seeking the truth, we need to study a faith that is maligned. Finding the truth is our own responsibility, even if the clergy or scholar of the faith tells you what his or her faith is; don’t believe until you read it yourselves. Keep studying until your bias is gone, if it does not, then you did not get the message.
As a pluralist, meaning, an individual who embraces humanity with no prejudice, and finds himself in the same tent as all others, I am blessed to have relationships with everyone I could possibly know from Atheists to Zoroastrians and every one in between. I will continue to be a part of the 7.2 billion people on this planet. Jesus is one of my mentors and following him means to be like him – a pluralist.
When I visit or hear sermons from different faiths*, what I hear is not the literal words, but their essence. How following their ideas-sans-rituals will contribute towards creating a cohesive society and my interest is in the bottom line of all religions – and i.e., do they bring comfort, comport and balance to an individual and with what surrounds him. Indeed, all religions do that with a few exceptions.
When you hear an ugly sermon in a Church, Synagogue, Mosque, Temple or any place of worship, it is not God’s words they are speaking, but their understanding of those words. God is not a bloody villain of his own creation, God loves us all, but a few men from the pulpit spew their hatred and ill-will towards others in the name of God, what a shame!
Is there a minister out there, who has the confidence, faith, and is secure to say that other faiths’ are equally good? And never in their language would they express that theirs is superior. If you know someone, please let me know, we need people like that. They are the true religious people and want to give them the megaphone.
Religion is about living in peace within and with others. If you are not at peace and malignant towards others, they you did not get your religion right. You are wrong and not your religion.
Dr. Mike Ghouse is a community consultant, social scientist, thinker, writer, news maker,Interfaith Wedding officiant, and a speaker on Pluralism, Interfaith, Islam,politics, terrorism, human rights, India, Israel-Palestine, motivation, and foreign policy. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Visit him (63 links) atwww.MikeGhouse.net and www.TheGhousediary.com for his exclusive writings.