Huff Post: by Christine Organ.
You don’t need to look far to see all the damage that religious differences can cause. The media is awash with news of violence, anger judgment, anddiscrimination stemming from religious disagreements. We have become so focused on our own religion, our own spirituality, our own faith that we have forgotten the importance of the respectful acknowledgement of the faiths of others. We have forgotten to consider the importance of another’s religion to their culture. We have forgotten to practice those all-important acts of empathy and compassion. And interfaith relations have suffered as a result.
When we think about spiritual practices, things like prayer, introspection, meditation and worship come to mind. Although crucial components of spirituality, these activities tend to focus on internal behaviors or activities conducted in the company of like-minded individuals. Unfortunately, these activities often lack the recognition that we are part of larger web of connection that binds us all together in our shared humanity, despite all of the inherent cultural and religious differences.