Religion and intolerance

Religion seems to bring out dogma -- which makes sense seeing that religion is belief and opinion and where the word dogma is derived (from Greek δόγμα "that which seems to one, opinion or belief" and that from δοκέω, "to think, to suppose, to imagine").

Of course here I am using dogma in the Marxist, and negative sense, and not to refer to things like عقيدة in Islam or the Nicene Creed for Eastern Christianity.

Sadly, when discussing religious differences even some Canadians can show an inflexible intolerance.

Some recent online discussions that some readers have seen have made this last point very clear; and put me in mind of a debate between Symmachus, a pagan aristocrat, and St. Ambrose.

I always felt Symmachus (see a translated passage below) had the better of St. Ambrose but, of course, St. Ambrose won the war:

"We ask, then, for peace for the gods of our fathers and of our country. It is just that all worship should be considered as one. We look on the same stars, the sky is common, the same world surrounds us. What difference does it make by what pains each seeks the truth? We cannot attain to so great a secret by one road; but this discussion is rather for persons at ease, we offer now prayers, not conflict. "
James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4