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The Anthology
Tolerance
In the estimation of God all men are equal. There is no distinction or preference for any soul, in the realm of His justice and equity. God did not make these divisions; these divisions have their origin in man himself. Therefore, as they are against the plan and purpose of God they are false and imaginary. This variety in forms and colouring, which is manifest in all the kingdoms, is according to creative wisdom and hath a divine purpose. The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.
('Abdu'l-Baha: The Advent of Divine Justice)
There is no coercion in matters of faith
(The Holy Qur'an)
Temple and the mosque are the same, Hindu worship and Muslim prayer the same, All humans are one, Our misunderstanding creates difference.
(Dasam Granth)
If my Hindu, Buddhist or Muslim neighbour is as much a child of God as I am, and if nothing that either of us does to reach or know God can fall outside the mercy and the providence of God, then we are indeed brothers and sisters. We are pilgrims, not strangers. We have much to learn from each other. We belong together to God, our common creator.
(Wesley Ariarajah)
One should not honour only one's own religion and condemn the religions of others, but one should honour others' religions too. So doing, one helps one's own religion to grow and render service to the religions of others too. In acting otherwise one depraves one's own religion and also does harm to other religions. Whosoever honours his own religion and condemns other religions, does so indeed through the devotion to his own religion, thinking, 'I will glorify my own religion. But on the contrary, in so doing he injures his own religion more gravely. So concord is good. Let all listen, and be willing to listen to the doctrines professed by others.
(Emperor Asoka)
The strong and wise man who welcomes with consideration a suppliant, whether the followers of truth or untruth according to Law Divine, and/or out of love and humanity, he is the follower of Asha and his life is full of rectitude and righteousness.
(Yasna)
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