No other Gods...

Christians are convinced that the only way to live an ethical life – and ensure heavenly bliss in the life yet to come – is by accepting Jesus Christ as their lord and savour. They are unlikely to entertain the idea that St Peter will open the pearly gates, and offer an uncritical reception, to pious Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Jains or the members of any other religious tradition. Even religious tolerance has limits. Christians must confront God’s definitive commandment, in Exodus, for his followers to “have no other gods but me”. This isn’t just some throw-away line, tucked away towards the back of the good book; it’s the very first – and therefore, we must assume, the most important – of God’s commandments. Equally, Muslims hoping to extend the hand of friendship to those of other faiths must confront a slew of equally dogmatic statements in the Quran and Hadith about the supremacy of Allah, the treachery of Jews and Christians, and the dangers of fraternising with kafirs, infidels and members of other faiths. 

     Though some individual clerics may promote religious tolerance, their laudable aims receive no divine endorsement. If God had wanted the members of all the different religious traditions to coexist in ecumenical harmony, he would have emphasised tolerance, diversity and inclusivity. Demonstrably, he didn’t. The doctrinal differences between the religious traditions seem to be emphasised more often than their many – and very obvious – similarities. Though any ceasefire in the ongoing wars of religion is to be welcomed, the foundational tenets of the Abrahamic religions lean away from – not toward – any genuine acknowledgement of our shared humanity. Despite the best of intentions, most multifaith campaigns are little more than window-dressing.