Worthy Sin?

Intolerance. 

I am so irritated by people who believe that their way is the only right way. Their culture is the best culture. Having such an attitude creates an elitist mindset. The eventual sentiment is that they are better than everyone else. Therefore, they deserve better than everyone else.

Wars have been fought over religious differences, each believing their religion was the correct one. People have been kidnapped and forced into slavery because their race was considered inferior. Hate crimes have cruelly injured, and killed people because they were different. 

People ban together to support their singular belief that they are superior. They will not discuss, entertain the thought, or expose themselves to any new ideas. As the segregated group grows, their refusal to let others in mushrooms.

I was part of such a group for 30 years. Once I began to attend community college classes, I was exposed to new ideas, cultures, and philosophies. The more open I became to new ideas, the more I was criticized by the group. They could not tolerate my open desire to learn more.

In my quest to learn, I realize how much I do not know. A great way to learn is to walk with someone who is not ‘just like me’. To see things from a new perspective, I have to frame the scene differently.

 

I suppose there is some truth to the saying…for all have sinned. For I have trouble not committing  this  eighth sin. I am intolerant of intolerant people. 

“There are hundreds of paths up the mountain, all leading in the same direction, so it doesn’t matter which path you take. The only one wasting time is the one who runs around and around the mountain, telling everyone else that their path is wrong.” Hindu Teaching

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/the-eighth-sin/