FR REMI HOMILIES/REFLECTIONS AND SERMONS

RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE: THREAT TO PEACE AND LOVE Acts 14:19-28; John 14:27-31 According to Harriet Sherwood, “religious intolerance is a bigger cause of prejudice than race, ethnicity or nationality”. He maintained that study has proven that most people are tolerant of those from different ethnic or national backgrounds, but many have negative attitudes based on religion; for religion is a ‘red line’ for many people. The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us: “Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead” (Acts 14:19). Following the establishment of new teaching, a new doctrine, a new community of believers, and a new religion (Christianity), some Jews became jealous and irritated by the teachings of Christianity, the spread of the new religion and the number of converts it gathered. Consequently, some Jews became indignant, intolerant of the teachings of Paul and Barnab...