Individuals may hold diverse viewpoints, including religious beliefs, influenced by genetic and environmental factors.
Bridging the gap between individuals with different religious perspectives requires fostering mutual respect and consideration, engaging in dialogue, and striving to deeply understand each other's religious truths.
Genuine Christians should embody the commandments of loving God and neighbor, demonstrating their faith through actions and experiencing spiritual renewal. This approach can inspire individuals of other faiths.
It is natural for there to be differences between traditional customs and religious beliefs among ordinary people.
How can we reduce conflicts arising from differences in religious beliefs?
What kind of attitude should a true Christian have?
Differences between traditional customs and religious beliefs among ordinary people are natural. Even among children of the same parents, there are rarely cases where they share the same thoughts, behaviors, and values. In fact, it has been revealed that even identical twins can have significant differences in intelligence and values if they grow up in different environments (Dong-A Science, 2022. 5. 17). Therefore, it is natural for there to be differences in traditional customs and values related to religion among ordinary people.
The causes of differences in people's thoughts and values can be classified into internal and external factors. Internal factors include biological genetic elements, while external factors include family or social environment and education. Internal factors are genetic phenomena, making them difficult for individuals to overcome on their own. However, external factors can be influenced by human effort to reduce the differences.
How can we reduce conflicts arising from differences in religious beliefs? What wisdom is needed to maintain good relationships with people who have different traditional customs or religious beliefs? To develop into a lasting friendship, it would be beneficial to acknowledge the differences in external factors such as religion and tradition, and instead focus on discussing questions like, 'What can we learn from the other person's religion?' and 'What are the challenges in practicing it?'
This effort requires patience. Many religious people have engaged in superficial religious practices without delving into their own understanding of truth. As a result, they often only see the external differences in conversations with other religious individuals and, at times, have inadvertently fueled misunderstandings and conflicts due to these differences. Therefore, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the teachings of one's own religion and introduce them with consideration for others. In other words, human-centered interaction that prioritizes care for others should precede discussions about religious beliefs.
After gaining a deep understanding and enlightenment from the teachings of their own religion, engaging in conversations will allow individuals to grasp the essence of their beliefs. Consequently, even when differences in religious views are discovered, there can be areas of common ground and understanding. In the New Testament (新約 聖經) of Christianity, the Apostle (使徒, apostle) Paul, witnessing the division within the Corinthian church, urged them to 'be united in mind and thought' (1 Corinthians 1:10).
When dealing with other religions, Christians who worship the one true God (唯一神) should reflect on what true faith entails. Regarding faith, the Book of Hebrews (Hebrews) in the New Testament states, 'Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen' (Hebrews 11:1).
What kind of attitude should a true Christian have? It is essential to be reborn through one's life. To achieve this, one must follow the first commandment given by Jesus, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' In other words, they must live a life of obedience to the Lord's will by thoroughly understanding the scriptures. The second commandment is 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' which means that one must share and practice the love received from the Lord with their neighbors. Only then can they be considered truly reborn. Only then will they truly transition from being a Christian in name or appearance to being a child of God who lives according to the word of truth.
Perhaps any religious person would be touched by such a life lived by a Christian. Ultimately, it is crucial not to remain merely a religious person but to live according to the essence of Christianity and the gospel of truth. True Christians should remember the words, 'faith without works is dead' (James 2:17), and continue to strive for it.
