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Point of Departure
Today's scientific world is acclaimed for its rapid accumulation of material knowledge and accelerating progress. But with the
same speed the great majority of people are moving away from non-material spiritual knowledge. This term, Spiritual knowledge, should not be confused with specific creeds and sects. All around us we see the social fabric being ripped apart by religious fundamentalism, intolerance, and narrow-mindedness. The acts of violence motivated by religious fanaticism could not have been committed by minds inspired with genuine spiritual knowledge. Those who cultivate the fire of hatred and prejudice in their hearts are imprisoned in the narrow cells of their religions, or what they have interpreted their religions to be. They look upon the followers of other religions with distrust and even malice. Such spite cannot be what the founders of the various great religions had intended as their gift to humanity. Hatred and exclusivity bring harm not only to those who are directly targeted, but also—and to a greater degreeviolent fanatics spoil their own spiritual state.
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