Folks,
There is an interesting cartoon on Pope Francis in the current issue of The Economist (Oct 18, 2014).
Since his election to the top position in March last year, Pope Francis has always be seen and viewed as the people's Pope. He is loved from everyone, whether Christians or not.
I personally have respect for this man, because of his soft, liberal, progressive, conciliatory and inclusive approach.
Recently, the Pope was reported in the media as driving to make the Roman Catholic Church more welcoming to the gay people (homosexuals).
And this is certainly a taboo issue in almost all religions.
Nonetheless, I think that welcoming the gay people is a good move, on the basis that religions should warmly welcome any fellow humans regardless of their background, race, ethnic, and gender.
As for the Pope's move, I think that there will backlash and resistance from some, if not most, of the church's conservative religious leaders.
The same can be said to the faith of Islam, as well as other religions.
Imagine, an imam (religious leader) in Malaysia openly welcoming gays and lesbians to the mosque to pray.
Such is a blasphemous act, some holier-than-thou religious scholars might say.
Based on maximum scenario calculation, such an act is enough to get the imam labelled as heretic (kafir), and possibly charged in the court, which will result in being jailed.
Why are some of us so intolerant to others that do not fit within the framework of our system of belief?
That aside, I strongly believe that every faith should make its teachings open to anyone who is professing or intending to do so, without being discriminatory and embrace reconciliatory?
After all, being religious is also about being tolerant, inclusive, caring and loving towards another human beings.
And discriminating another human is actually a sinful act, and contradict to the teaching of the religion that you are professing, no?
Why can't we all care and love one another without being discriminatory and stereotype?
There is an interesting cartoon on Pope Francis in the current issue of The Economist (Oct 18, 2014).
Since his election to the top position in March last year, Pope Francis has always be seen and viewed as the people's Pope. He is loved from everyone, whether Christians or not.
I personally have respect for this man, because of his soft, liberal, progressive, conciliatory and inclusive approach.
Recently, the Pope was reported in the media as driving to make the Roman Catholic Church more welcoming to the gay people (homosexuals).
And this is certainly a taboo issue in almost all religions.
Nonetheless, I think that welcoming the gay people is a good move, on the basis that religions should warmly welcome any fellow humans regardless of their background, race, ethnic, and gender.
As for the Pope's move, I think that there will backlash and resistance from some, if not most, of the church's conservative religious leaders.
The same can be said to the faith of Islam, as well as other religions.
Imagine, an imam (religious leader) in Malaysia openly welcoming gays and lesbians to the mosque to pray.
Such is a blasphemous act, some holier-than-thou religious scholars might say.
Based on maximum scenario calculation, such an act is enough to get the imam labelled as heretic (kafir), and possibly charged in the court, which will result in being jailed.
Why are some of us so intolerant to others that do not fit within the framework of our system of belief?
That aside, I strongly believe that every faith should make its teachings open to anyone who is professing or intending to do so, without being discriminatory and embrace reconciliatory?
After all, being religious is also about being tolerant, inclusive, caring and loving towards another human beings.
And discriminating another human is actually a sinful act, and contradict to the teaching of the religion that you are professing, no?
Why can't we all care and love one another without being discriminatory and stereotype?
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| Source: The Economist, October 18th, 2014 |
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