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 %RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS CONTENTIOUS LEADERS ROOTS SIN+000724
   %DISAGREE UNITY COOPERATION DOCTRINE RITUAL GOOD+000723
 %DEVIL TRADITION INSTITUTION CHURCH CONFESSION GOD+000724
 %DICHOTOMY PARADOX MORALITY SITUATIONS ETHICS EVIL 000724
                                                          
     Religious  leaders  often are in conflict  with  each
other   because   of   unrecognized   and   unacknowledged
differences in regards to:                                
                                                          
     1.  Unquestioned convictions,  beliefs,  assumptions,
and  attitudes  ---in   terms   of   which  they  perceive
meanings  in  texts which are central to  their  religious
lives.                                                    
                                                          
     2.  Unquestioned  criteria  in  terms  of  which they
accept or  reject various  affirmations,  realities,   and
experiences as being important.                           
                                                          
     3.  Accepting   traditions,   institutions,    and/or
literal  interpretations of texts  as  absolutely  binding
upon them; or as suggestive guidelines,  or somewhere "in-
between".                                                 
                                                          
     4.  Accepting    diverse    personal     perceptions,
experiences,  intuitions,  desires,  hopes,   aspirations,
dreams,   visions and revelations as meriting careful  and
thoughtful consideration.                                 
                                                          
     5.  The   importance   of  internal   coherence   and
integrity within persons, communities, and teachings.     
                                                          
     6.  The propriety of coercion,  violence,  arrogance,
self-righteousness    and   dominance   within    personal
relationships.                                            
                                                          
     7.  The natures of: truth, righteousness,  salvation,
redemption,  good, evil, sin, health,  integrity,  heaven,
hell, security, law, order, chaos, morality, love and God.
                                                          
     8.  The  senses  in  which  the  texts  of   accepted
scriptures  are true,    reliable,    trustworthy,  and/or
worthy of respect and honor.                              
                                                          
     9.  What  are  proper and what are improper  ways  to
resolve   conflicts  between  diverse   ideals,    values,
principles, commandments; and people who honor them.      
                                                          
     10. The  ways in which some people can be better than
others, how  they can know who is better than others,  and
what  differences  such  ways and knowledge  can  make  in
our  lives together  on planet Earth and thereafter.      
                                                          
     Central  to many people's kinds of preoccupations are
their conceptions of the nature of God,  and how they  try
to be like their of God:                                  
                                                          
     1.  Like a domineering King  who reigns with absolute
power, knowledge and authority.                           
                                                          
     2.  Like  a  wonderful father who loves all  children
graciously  and  gently  ---   while  firmly  guiding  and
nurturing their development of healthy relationships.     
                                                          
     3.  Being One, whole, without factions; demonstrating
healthy integrity with authentic power.                   
                                                          
     4.  Being   focused  on  maintaining   law,    order,
discipline and proper conformity to how things should be. 
                                                          
     5.  Being the most powerful One in Control of All.   
                                                          
     6.  Excelling   in   facilitating  daily cooperation,
peacemaking  and conflict resolution  among  complementary
kinds of different people.                                
                                                          
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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