Oath of religious non-exclusivity

Submitted by Concerned European (Lithuania), Sep 8, 2007 at 17:54

In my opinion every religious group, not just Muslim, should be made to swear the oath stating:

"On behalf of the religious group/church/sect/community X, I solemnly swear, that our group/church/sect/community does not considers itself an exclusive way to salvation and that salvation can be obtained in other religious groups as well.

I also solemnly swear that every member of our religious group/church/sect/community has right to convert out of our group and that our group will never try to intimidate or harass anyone who opts out of our group and that our group does not believe that he/she will suffer any detriment in afterlife."

A group whose representatives refuse to make an oath on behalf of the group should be banned immediately, while if the group violates the terms of the oath, the legal action could be taken against it leading to banning.

Every religious group which teaches that Muhammed/Jesus/Buddha/Krishna/ Wotan/Amaterasu etc. is exclusive and the only way of salvation, while other ways lead to hell/perdition should be banned, but group which teaches that while we prefer and love our own prophet/guru/god, other people may prefer theirs should be accepted and encouraged.

The law should also prohibit certain practices of religious harassment, as door-to-door evangelizing, or approaching passers by in street in order to preach a religion, preaching religion in a workplace, public statements that "disbelievers will go to hell" and similar. If the law does not tolerate sexual harassment which it should tolerate religious harassment?

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".