peaceful existence in social interaction

Submitted by Ralph C Whaley MD (United States), Sep 20, 2005 at 16:09

It is good that Muslims and Jews deal with each other peacefully. However religion can never be the basis for peaceful relations among men. The history of religious conflict from the Crusades to the Protestant and Catholic war in Ireland and the Shias and Sunnis in Iraq are evidence that men connot reconcile differences peacefully by faith. Reason is the only means of peaceful interaction among men. Using reason men deal with others by persuasion using facts and logic. If they cannot agree they leave each other alone. Religious differences are matters of faith not facts. There is no basis in fact for faith. Faith is belief in the absence of evidence or in controversion of evidence. Disagreements necessarily end in force as history so clearly shows. The only way for men of faith to live safely is in a government that protects every man from those who would initiate force against him whether in the name of God or Society. That is what makes America and Israel safe for men of different religions to live in peace.

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