Published in Toronto Star, Nov.1, 2012
Changing interfaith dialogue
Interfaith dialogue will change when we no longer feel the need to market one religion as better than another and think instead that we are on a common journey but taking different paths. The problem has been disagreements over dogma and creed rather than looking to what holds us together in this modern, secular world.
We need to come together over the one concept that is common to our religious beliefs; ethical monotheism. Many today are not aware of the connection between ethical monotheism and our culture, here in Canada.This ethic of compassionate action is the foundation of all Western culture. It is the root of our social, political and judicial systems. One need not be an observant Christian, Jew or Muslim to follow the ethic that was given to us more than 3500 years ago.
Returning to that ethic, teaching it in our schools and places of worship, this ethic will bind us together and will act as a bulwark against secular fundamentalism which like all fundamentalist ideologies preys on fear.
