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   %ALIEN ESTRANGE ENEMY CONFLICT RELIGION GOD LOVE 930408

     It  is  not  prudent to assess or  judge  a religion,
profession,  philosophy,   set of teachings or  any  other
embodiment  of  ideals,  values,  rituals,  or  their like
primarily in terms of a set of:

     1.  Expectations
     2.  Theories of cause and effect
     3.  Traditions
     4.  Unchanging teachings
     5.  Unchanging power structures
     6.  Compulsive beliefs and requirements

     It is  more prudent to assess and judge  a  religion,
profession,    philosophy,   set  of  teaching  or   other
embodiment of ideals,  values,  rituals,  or their like in
terms of the character,  intent and quantity  of  dialogue
among  those  people  with  which they are most intimately
associated.   It  is important to attend to how well  such
people  listen  to  each other,  and  to  people  who  are
different.

     It is imprudent to  respect people who excommunicate,
disfellowship,  reject,  alienate,  condemn,  or otherwise
exclude from their community  members of the community who
fail   to  conform to their expectations or  requirements.
Their  intentions   may  be good and  sincere,    yet  the
consequences  of their actions be  tragic.    The  essence
of   tragedy  is  found  in  disintegrative   consequences
flowing  from   sincere intentions  and  from  the  belief
that   one's   ideals   and values  are  truly  worthy  of
respect.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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