My book Why Religions Work explores religious tolerance issues. It could not be more relevant at the moment with the world in its present state.
This blog has concentrated recently on the wonderful pilgrimages I have been on - to the Holy Land and to Turkey and more recently to Holy Georgia , Greece "In the Steps of St Paul" , Ethiopia and most recently my experiences in Iran.

"If I was allowed another life I would go to all the places of God's Earth. What better way to worship God than to look on all his works?" from The Chains of Heaven: an Ethiopian Romance Philip Marsden

Thursday 1 September 2011

9/11: The Day that Changed the World

"Tolerance, a term which we sometimes use in place of the words respect, mercy, generosity, or forbearance, is the most essential element of moral systems; it is a very important source of spiritual discipline and a celestial virtue of perfected people."
M. Fethullah Gulen Turkish writer and spiritual leader

More from his website:

"Fethullah Gülen is an authoritative mainstream Turkish Muslim scholar, thinker, author, poet, opinion leader and educational activist who supports interfaith and intercultural dialogue, science, democracy and spirituality and opposes violence and turning religion into a political ideology. Fethullah Gülen promotes cooperation of civilizations toward a peaceful world, as opposed to a clash:"

“Be so tolerant that your bosom becomes wide like the ocean. Become inspired with faith and love of human beings. Let there be no troubled souls to whom you do not offer a hand and about whom you remain unconcerned.”

"He was the first Muslim scholar to publicly condemn the attacks of 9/11 (in an advertisement in the Washington Post)."

I am writing this as I watch the ITV documentary tonight on 9/11: The Day that Changed the World
    Posted by Eleanor Stoneham at 21:41
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    2 comments:

    1. Martin Willoughby2 September 2011 at 15:18

      Sadly, there are some parts of the media that get a kick out of demonising people and ideas in order to sell papers or get viewers. Fethullah Gülen is similar in mindset to most of the muslims I have ever met.

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    2. Eleanor Stoneham2 September 2011 at 18:55

      The media have an enormous responsibility which they often do not care about - as you say - it's all about sales! I guess you are saying they demonise Gulen and muslims generally? Yes and that is our problem - the misconceptions about Islam are many and mostly unhelpful. But then Dawkins doesn't understand Christianity too well either! Understanding requires education.

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