When I was a boy in Tibet, I felt that my own Buddhist religion must be the best \u201d\u201d and that other faiths were somehow inferior. Now I see how na\u00c3\u00afve I was, and how dangerous the extremes of religious intolerance can be today.<\/p>\n
Though intolerance may be as old as religion itself, we still see vigorous signs of its virulence. In Europe, there are intense debates about newcomers wearing veils or wanting to erect minarets and episodes of violence against Muslim immigrants. Radical atheists issue blanket condemnations of those who hold to religious beliefs. In the Middle East, the flames of war are fanned by hatred of those who adhere to a different faith.<\/p>\n
Such tensions are likely to increase as the world becomes more interconnected and cultures, peoples and religions become ever more entwined. The pressure this creates tests more than our tolerance \u201d\u201d it demands that we promote peaceful coexistence and understanding across boundaries.<\/p>\n
Granted, every religion has a sense of exclusivity as part of its core identity. Even so, I believe there is genuine potential for mutual understanding. While preserving faith toward one\u2019s own tradition, one can respect, admire and appreciate other traditions.<\/p>\n