tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347639.post1634192371588506753..comments2024-01-25T13:27:53.114-05:00Comments on In Support of Raytracing and Public Health: Accusations of religious totalitarianism (by philosophical totalitarians)Greg M. Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09527153240694650547noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347639.post-92093756986786127732009-03-03T20:52:00.000-05:002009-03-03T20:52:00.000-05:00I must make it clear that the first few paragraphs...I must make it clear that the first few paragraphs of my blog post are my reaction to Rev Marty's editorializing, and is not anything said by Rev. Marty himself.<BR/><BR/>I'll also point out that I *thought* I was also bothered by Mr. Patel's words, but upon going back to listen more carefully, it was Rev. Marty's spin on them, one passage of which I quoted in my blog. Mr. Patel had very reasonable position upon a second hearing. :)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your affirmation of how one can be a complete anti-relativist and still be committed towards working for the common good.Greg M. Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09527153240694650547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347639.post-64576320337512996512009-02-24T11:14:00.000-05:002009-02-24T11:14:00.000-05:00Hi Greg,I work for an organization called the Inte...Hi Greg,<BR/><BR/>I work for an organization called the Interfaith Youth Core based out of Chicago (www.ifyc.org) - your blog popped up in my google alerts since Eboo Patel (mentioned in your quote from Rev. Marty) is the founder of IFYC.<BR/><BR/>I was moved by your response to Rev. Marty; I feel like he misunderstands what we at IFYC mean when we talk about religious totalitarians. Pluralists are those who - in spite of holding sometimes exclusive truth claims - want to work together with those who are different from them for a common good. Totalitarians are those who believe the only response to someone with different beliefs from them is isolation or annihilation. There are people of all faith backgrounds who might be described as totalitarians, but it is not because they believe they hold the truth; it is based instead on how they choose to live with those who hold a different truth from them.<BR/><BR/>If religious pluralism is only those in every belief system who are willing to concede that their perspective holds no more truth than the next perspective, interfaith work becomes only a watered down relativism. Further more, it actually ends up excluding the vast majority of deeply religious people who are not willing to compromise their faith for cooperation. This must be a false choice; if we truly want to build a world where people of deep and different convictions can live together in equal dignity and mutual loyalty, we must find a way to do so that speeks from our deepest convictions, rather than obliterating them.<BR/><BR/>peace,<BR/>Cassie Meyer<BR/>Director, Outreach Education & Training<BR/>Interfaith Youth Core<BR/>cassie (at) ifyc (dot) orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com