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      %RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE ABUSE POWER CORRUPTION+941216
       %CHRISTIAN MUSLIM JEWISH CATHOLIC PROTESTANT+941216
        %FUNDAMENTALIST FANATIC LEGALISM JUDGMENTAL 941216

     Most  religions have adherents who are intolerant and
abuse  such  power  as  they  have,   whether  the   power
originates in secular affairs or in religious affairs.

     It  is  tragic when believers  in  a religion  become
intolerant in  the process  of seeking to affirm what they
believe.    Such intolerance is a clear sign  of  personal
insecurity on the part of believers in the religion.

     The  intolerant  insecure   religious  believers  are
saying that  the religion has failed to bring  peace  into
their lives.    Their intolerance is  a declaration of the
lack  of  integrity  in the religion  as  they  personally
understand their religion.

     When  intolerant religious believers alienate  honest
gentle  people  because of their  complementary  religious
beliefs---religion is being abused as a manipulative tool.

     True religions are not manipulative tools.

     True  religions  are integrative fellowships of  open
and honest people who are in dialogue with each other  and
with   those  people  who  are  not  of  their   religious
persuasion  in  regards to what they view as essential  to
personal and communal integrity.

     True religious leaders seek to help people who differ
with  them   to understand how  the  framework  of   their
religious:  symbolism,   language,   beliefs, convictions,
assumptions,  rituals,   practices   and fellowship---will
promote personal and communal: integrity,  health,  mutual
understanding and cooperation.     True religious  leaders
understand   that   fanatics   and   extremists   dishonor
integrative  religions.    It is important  to  reveal the
disintegrative  consequences  of insecure  extremists  and
fanatics  who share your own religious beliefs  with  you.
They do not honor your  religious  beliefs  through  their
demonstrations   of   insecurity,    defensiveness,    and
intolerant convictions.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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