Religious Intolerance - Doctor Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla

Extract from Ardeshir Cowasjee’s column ‘A brief, happy interlude’.

Ardeshir Cowasjee

‘Intolerance and bigotry and dogmatism are the bitterest enemies of religion upon earth. They make religion a tyrant, a persecutor....

‘All religions come from one and the only God, who makes Himself known by many a name … All religions make man equally good upon earth … All open their hearts to the same God ... Man has no right to demand that his neighbour shall address God after his pattern and shall pray in his own way and worship according to his liking and sacrifice unto God in the manner he does....

‘Teach me, my God, to see that I have no right to impose my own way of thinking upon others. Teach me to acknowledge and honour the right of all to pray and worship and sacrifice in their ownway ... Teach me to discern true religion from religiosity. Fill my mind and heart with the spirit of toleration.’

Sunday, 24 May, 2009 Source: The Dawn