A facebook friend – Dauda Ayodele – recently shared a status update posted by a friend of his. It featured responses posted by two groups of people to the same potentially provocative statement.
One group (which I’ll call “A”) was from a society in which freedom is highly cherished. Not just freedom of speech or movement, but also of religious affiliation, and sexual preference or orientation.
The other group (which I’ll call “B”) belonged to a society that is – for the most part – split between two main religions – Islam and Christianity. And most times, adherents of each faith believe they owe God a duty to diminish the ranks of the other movement at any cost.
This makes the relationship between them like that of cats and dogs. Constant bickering tends to occur whenever people from both faiths meet. You can therefore imagine what happened when the die-hard Christians amongst them read the statement that suggested the Bible was a collection of half-truths!
That Provocative Statement Triggered a “Facebook War of Words”
Basically, the statement challenged the authenticity of the Bible, stating that research findings contradict its claims.
Specifically, it began by calling “anyone that believes in the biblical stories” – a “joker”! It then asserted that science offers no confirmation that snakes spoke during “prehistoric times”.
It also claimed key figures like Moses probably never existed, since no archaeological proof of their existence has so far been found!
And t here was more. Enough in fact to make the blood of most overzeloius or fanatical believers boil. And that apparently happened judging from responses posted in the coments by people from Group B!
In case you’ve not yet done so, click here to read the original post – complete with the two contrasting groups of comments.
It can be seen from the responses, that members of both groups apparently held strong opinions about the subject, and actively chipped in their points of view. It was however the massive contrast in the “tones of conversation” in the 2 different groups, that made the entire post worth giving a closer look.
You see in one group, people gave their views, including relevant details to support their claims. Even in disagreeing with one another, care was taken by discussants to be polite and friendly.
In other words, they were prepared to – and some did – agree to disagree on the matter.
Sadly, in the other group, right off the bat, insults were hurled like missiles at the person who “dared” to post the “blasphemous” statement. Among other things, he was told “Satan” was using him. And that he would be punished for even daring to question the authenticity of the bible.
Then amongst themselves they engaged in bitter exchanges. The conversation rapidly degenerated, and one person even promised to delete the person who posted the statement.
All this because of a statement someone posted?
If truth be told, many of those in group B can LEARN a lot about tolerance and self-restraint, from Tibet’s exiled leader, the Dalai Lama – who is neither Christian nor Muslim!
Even When You’re Wronged, Seek Redress With Tact (If You Must) – Or Respond With LOVE!
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not endorsing anyone casting aspersion on another person’s faith or religion. What I am saying instead is that people need to REMIND themselves to STOP and think, before acting.
I recall reading a sign someone made and went around selling to Bible believing Christians in Nigeria. It simply read “What Would Jesus Do?”…and that phrase was formed into an acronym: WWJD.
It is my considered opinion that ALL who truly practice Christianity, and who feel strongly about protecting it, need to emulate Jesus, who they follow. We all know Jesus would never resort to insulting another. The admonition he gave his disciples even when evil was directed at him, was to ALWAYS act in love.
“Forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
“Love your enemies”.
These phrases were said in a simple manner by Jesus. Yet the action they require one to carry out requires tremendous power to do.
Little wonder many who claim to follow Jesus’ teachings today often miss it!
(NB: if you’ve been reading my writing for a while, you’ll know I do not do religion. So this is not some sermon).
To you reading these words, I say this: Understand that you will meet many with different beliefs, and biases, differing from yours.
It is the way the world is. People will always differ. Apart from Islam and Christianity, so many other religious movements exist.
It has always been so. Get used to it!
In places like America, most practitioners of a religious faith, learn to get along with non-believers.
And in many cases they adapt to conversing competently, to the point that they can disagree without being disagreeable.
You would be wise to develop the ability to do that as well – and coach your child to do the same.
Sadly, in the other group, right off the bat, insults were hurled like missiles at the person who “dared” to post the “blasphemous” statement. Among other things, he was told “Satan” was using him. And that he would be punished for even daring to question the authenticity of the bible.
Then amongst themselves they engaged in bitter exchanges. The conversation rapidly degenerated, and one person even promised to delete the person who posted the statement.
All this because of a statement someone posted?
If truth be told, many of those in group B can LEARN a lot about tolerance and self-restraint, from Tibet’s exiled leader, the Dalai Lama – who is neither Christian nor Muslim!
Even When You’re Wronged, Seek Redress With Tact (If You Must) – Or Respond With LOVE!
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not endorsing anyone casting aspersion on another person’s faith or religion. What I am saying instead is that people need to REMIND themselves to STOP and think, before acting.
I recall reading a sign someone made and went around selling to Bible believing Christians in Nigeria. It simply read “What Would Jesus Do?”…and that phrase was formed into an acronym: WWJD.
It is my considered opinion that ALL who truly practice Christianity, and who feel strongly about protecting it, need to emulate Jesus, who they follow. We all know Jesus would never resort to insulting another. The admonition he gave his disciples even when evil was directed at him, was to ALWAYS act in love.
“Forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
“Love your enemies”.
These phrases were said in a simple manner by Jesus. Yet the action they require one to carry out requires tremendous power to do.
Little wonder many who claim to follow Jesus’ teachings today often miss it!
(NB: if you’ve been reading my writing for a while, you’ll know I do not do religion. So this is not some sermon).
To you reading these words, I say this: Understand that you will meet many with different beliefs, and biases, differing from yours.
It is the way the world is. People will always differ. Apart from Islam and Christianity, so many other religious movements exist.
It has always been so. Get used to it!
In places like America, most practitioners of a religious faith, learn to get along with non-believers.
And in many cases they adapt to conversing competently, to the point that they can disagree without being disagreeable.
You would be wise to develop the ability to do that as well – and coach your child to do the same.