"Religion captures the very best and very worst of who we are, and to see only the best or the worst of religion is a dangerous error. If you see only the good, you become an apologist and take no responsibility for the incredible violence that religion is so capable of unleashing. If you see only the bad in religion, then you miss all the biggest questions, the most profound longings, the deepest fears and the greatest aspirations that define us. When faith is working right it can be profound, inspiring, and a great force for positive change in the world, and it can help us lead more giving, productive, and fulfilling lives."This paragraph is an excerpt from You Don't Have to Be Wrong for Me to Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism, by Brad Hirschfeld.
Not just wisdom, but a personal journey through his own life, his studies of religion, and how they came to be shaped by his disillusioning experience as a fanatic Israeli settler in Hebron makes this book a good read. You don't have to agree with him to find it a valuable resource. Highly recommended, both for those who think their religion is the only one, and for those who deem all religions evil.
No comments:
Post a Comment