Thankyou for this I think perhaps you may have mistaken what I was referring to in my earlier post,
I may have mistaken your point. It sounded as if you had a concern about Christians trying to convert Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims. And being a threat to those communities.
let me explain there has been a long tradition in xtianity which feels the need to set up a paralell community due to the dichotomy of good/evil which is present within its religious doctrine,
This not always true. Parallel Christian communities are very rare actually. They are more likely to be found and established among fundamentalist Christians who want to preserve the purity of their lifestyle as they define a pure lifestyle. Around the world, Christians live intermingled with people of other faiths just as often as they live separately and distinctly from people of other faiths. Yes, often there are "neighborhoods" of mostly Protestant, Catholic, Jewish peoples. But the divisons are more along ethnic and cultural lines, as in - the Jewish neighborhood, Pakistani neighborhood, Irish neighborhood. Immigration patterns and country of origin are more responsible for this tendency to live in ethnic groups; not religion. At least in the US and Europe this is the case. As people become economically stable they move out of ethnic enclaves into very diverse communities.
the "other" is made out to be a threat, the "threat" of yesteryears was judaism and this was mediated through historical incidents (crucification of jesus", in fact any self-determination of jews is seen as - "how can these people who crucified our lord be successful",
There are still Christians who believe what you describe. There are also many Christians who believe themselves to be Jews who follow Jesus. And the tendency to blame Jews for the crucifixion of Jesus is as you say dying out. But it is not completely dead yet.
yes you are right it stems from the totalitarian creed in xtianity
I thought I spent a lot of time showing that Christianity is very diverse -- not totaliarian.
but unlike xtianity sikhism sees all religions as equally co-valid "depending upon their time space variables", after the holocaust many xtians enjoyed great relations with jews they said "its time we met",
They did?
this left a cosy new space ,which, as we see, is to be filled by the muslims, they are the xtians "new jews".
Muslims are having a hard time in this post 9/11 world. What makes it harder is the lack of information about other faiths, knowledge of other religions, and upbringing that favors compassion and open-mindedness. This is something that all religions need to address -- and I am not talking about the beauty of all religions, I am talking about the curative effects of expressing an honest desire to know more, to overcome ignorance.
As I read through your comments I gather that you are also living in a fair amount of ignorance about other religions and cultures. You are not alone. You have company. I myself need to learn more every day. It is always easier to have the answer before you know what questions could be asked. Finding out what questions should be asked is very difficult.
This forum however is a good place to start the kinds of dialogs where learning can happen. It happens here for me everyday.
