The logo may be new, but the Coexist Foundation‘s aims are strictly old school. The popular bumper sticker is meant to represent the synthesis or harmonizing of the major world religions and/or worldviews. Here’s what each letter is supposed to represent.
C = Islam
O = Pacifism
E = “Gender equality”
X = Judaism
I = Wicca / Pagan / Bah’ai
S =Taoism / Confucianism
T = Christianity
The aim of the Coexist movement, however, is not to delineate what distinguishes world religions, but to erase those distinctions. Tolerance is the objective of Coexist, not Truth. But Truth is exactly what each of these religions claim to possess, to a certain degree, to the exclusion of the others.
So in order to coexist, most of these religions must deny basic tenets of their belief system. And these tenets are specifically what makes “coexistence” rather difficult. For instance:
- Islam (C) wants to eradicate E, X, T, and (ultimately) O, I and S.
- Pacifism (O) lacks the will to resist or defeat C, or any other hostile force.
- Gender Equality (E) openly opposes C, X, and T, viewing resistance to itself as intolerance and hate speech.
- Judaism (X) is openly threatened by C (on the outside) and O (on the inside).
- Paganism and Taoism (I and S) blur any distinctions between C, X, and T, rendering them philosophically moot as well as vulnerable to violence or aggression.
- Christianity (T) is viewed as the greatest enemy of coexistence, but poses no physical threat to any of the others.
Christianity has done more to actively bring about tolerance than any other movement (especially of you consider its part in the framing of democracy, the eradication of slavery, its early role in education, the furtherance of civil rights, hospitals, homeless shelters and orphanages, and relief efforts around the world). Furthermore, Christianity contains a framework that allows for both rigorous philosophical exchange and societal good will. It is the only one of these aforementioned religions that, not only tolerates, but encourages the open expression of different faiths without requiring their eradication or marginalization.
So, to answer my question, can world religions really coexist? Only if they follow the lead of Christianity.
There is Christianity and then there is Everything Else.
Christians should make no distinction. One religion is no worse or no better than the other. You either follow Christ, or you worship the world, the self, or the devil. Period.
I believe that there are sincere people who desire peace and coexistence and I'm all for it. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a peaceful world? However, the heart of man is depraved, and not everyone will follow Christ, so it won't happen. Uunless, of course, the world is ordered to coexist at the point of a gun by a totalitarian government. And that would be a false peace.
Besides, the world will always hate the remnant, no matter what.
True Christianity can be held up as an example, but true Christianity is hard to find anymore. The horrid things that have been done in the name of Christ down through history bears that out.
So the answer to your question is no, unfortunately, although it's a nice idea and I applaud those who wish to live in peace and harmony. It's a noble goal, but it ain't gonna happen.
I echo Suzan's comment…coexistence/peace can only truly happen through enforcement, which is mostly likely isn't peaceful. I'm wondering what a social movement like this is really effective, since peace is a personal decision, not something that we can be pressured into.
Either way, I put my stamp of approval on this non-politically correct post.
Good post, Mike. I've seen a few of those bumper stickers but I didn't know their source.
"Christianity has done more to actively bring about tolerance than any other movement"
Ha! I guess the Crusdaes and the Inquisition don't count.
Uh, they don’t. Fascinating to me that the most relevant, go-to, only Christian “atrocity” the critic can employ are a) as recent as – ahem – 500 years ago and b) one of which was a defensive strategy against an invasion and c) the other of which, if rising to the level of an atrocity (I propose that it did not) was an atrocity _against Christians._
Pick something from yesterday, last week, or at the very most, last century, and we’ve got a dialog.
Sheesh. “Inquisition and Crusades” should have some sort of Godwin’s Law corollary.
SimSon — Some physicists are abusers. Does that invalidate physics? Some math professors are racists. Does that invalidate math? Every movement and belief system has its aberrations and extremists. Theists and atheists alike. Besides, no one group or historical event validates or invalidates a doctrine. Hopefully, truth is determined by its claims not its claimants. If how people act determines the truth of what they believe, then nothing will ever be validated.
Why would you even bother responding to a ridiculous comment?
Although I am also a Christian, I think your own Christianity has put blinders upon you, at least for this article. I believe almost any non-Christian would dismiss this blog as Christian bias. Coexist? Yes – but we ALL have problems doing so – because of those biases.