Sometimes, words cannot suffice to describe or explain things. Take God's stance on certain issues we debate on, for instance.
Just this morning, I wondered why do we have to force our beliefs on non-believers, to the extent of committing violence? To gain more power? To keep our enemies at bay? To cause chaos? For profit? It is so complicated!
After watching movies how famous historical rulers exercised their knowledge of statecraft and how some notable warriors tipped the scales to their favor- all in the name of their cause(s), I could not help but revisit my earlier opinion of them.
You see, in my youth I thought that if I were God, I would have gladly shoved them to hell. Then, these days I began to think, what could have God done to them? If we cannot be punished by killing in order to preserve our life, can we not also be punished for waging war to protect our people?
I do not want to further think about what God thinks about this issue by doing more research.
I can be wrong, but all I want is peace.
If terrorists claim to be extreme believers of a certain religion and sow religious intolerance, I do not think they are inspired by God. (Sorry, my traditional Catholic friends, although I love the old rite, but I do not embrace religious intolerance that you cling to).
I believe all of us are entitled to relish freedom--- the freedom to worship our own God, the way we believe is right. In the same manner, I believe we should also let others worship God their own way. We may bash each others' religious practices among our own communities of worship, but please do not do so on each others' faces. More importantly, please let us not kill each other just because we do not share the same belief.
In my younger years, how I love to listen Catholic; Christian; and Muslim prayers intoned during important occasions in the university and then later on in government celebrations. It was also heart-warming to see priests, pastors and
imams (Muslim priests) greeting and talking to each other like old friends. Ironic it may seem, but some Muslims used to light candles by their windows during Catholic processions and greet their Christian friends, "Merry Christmas!" and some Christians hang streamers saying "Happy
Ramadhan!" and "Happy
Eid-el-Fitr!". That is the Mindanao I grew up in--- at least, our side of Mindanao.
Yes, our human nature may fail us at times and say "Muslims are like this" or "Christians are like that". But then, at the end of the day, we are all human. We are brothers. We are sisters. We are all related, maybe not directly by blood but through the very silent and very patient Supreme Being who created all of us.
We are all placed in this planet for three very good reasons: LIVE, LEARN and TEACH! We all have been learning the same lessons over and over from history to the present, and yet our self interests keep us apart. Worse, although we have learned that we can live in peace with each other, we still let the past prejudice, that our forefathers handed to us, dominate our actions--- even though the sad truth says we became violent because we wanted to serve our own purpose. We also do the same thing, through the influence of some self-serving people, and forget the friendship we worked so hard for in the past.
So, what are we teaching the new generation if we go on like this? The same old ax plus our own agenda that we refuse to bury and let go!
Queen Elizabeth I ruled England to its golden years as the world's most powerful country through religious tolerance. The cities of Davao, Koronadal and General Santos flourished further by acknowledging and respecting cultural and religious diversity of the peoples in their area. Why cannot we do the same in our whole island to achieve what we all want, and pass it on to the next generation?
Please take note, blowing up places of worship and communities does not bring back lives lost and destroyed. In addition, killing non-believers does not make you any holier than they. Above all, when you do these things, are you sure it is your God you saw smiling at you in approval?
Let us not destroy each other. Do not further hamper our quest for progress. Stop participating in any act against any religion! Let us help each other especially in times of trouble and work harmoniously! Let us not let others unwind the bonds of brotherhood to let war and chaos rule our land! Let us all live in peace!
Without His guidance, we cannot act to have peace. Without His peace, we cannot go on loving. Without love, He is not with us. Without Him, we are nothing.
