FROM: Terry Lynch@aol.com; POB 241035; Montgomery, AL 36124-1035
Phone: (334) 272-4217 voice, 270-0926 fax 

DATE:  Feb. 9, 1998

TO:  Letter to the Editor      WORD COUNT: 250 

REF:  Bill Givens' Montgomery Advertiser Letter Fallacious

SUBJECT:  Truth, Goodness Is In All Religions

The letter by Bill Givens appearing in the Montgomery Advertiser
on Feb. 9 suggesting that, "There is no 
Buddha, Mohammed, or number of other 'good things' you do that 
can lead you to God in Heaven," is a slap in the face at the 
majority of good, decent people in this world who do not practice 
a zero tolerance brand of Christianity.  It is not factually 
correct to deny the true and righteous religious beliefs of the 
vast majority of the world's population who practice Hinduism, 
Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, Islam or more tolerant 
versions of Christianity!

Anyone who studies religion and theology realizes that all the 
world's great religions have one thing is common, a belief in a 
higher being, a greater spirit, a supreme consciousness and 
unimaginable creative power, a state of perfect peace and 
happiness, what some call "Allah," what others call "nirvana," 
and what still others call "Almighty God," and what is 
universally known as LOVE!

Who are we as Christians to deny how any people see or define 
God?  To do so sets man against man, causes rivalry, leads to 
conflict, murder, death and ultimately war.  In the Islamic world 
this conflict is called "jihad" or "holy war."  In the western 
civilizations that madness which exists without God, without love 
between people, without tolerance is associated with such 
concepts as "the anti-Christ," "the Apocalypse," or satin 
worship.  People of any faith who adapt hatred and intolerance 
as part of their religion are anti-God, anti-Love and anti-human!

If people want to learn to live together in a modern world of 
exploding population, they better start learning to accept each 
other's religious beliefs.  It is very probable that only through 
love does one enter the pearly gates and come unto God.  In fact 
the recurrent principle and theme underlying the teachings of 
Jesus Christ is to love thy neighbor as thy self and to practice 
living in harmony with your fellow man -- very much a Buddhist 
concept and a high moral standard stressed by Confucius.

Separating mythology from fact in regards to each of the world's 
primary religions is difficult.  But it is wrong to deny that 
there is truth, goodness and God in all major religious beliefs.  
In fact what is so great about the concept of God is that it is 
universal, larger than life, inclusive of how all people worship 
or chose to believe and practice their religion.  There is, in 
fact, not just one way to see God, not just one way to worship 
God -- but many roads to Heaven.  It is not important which one 
you take, so long as you love your neighbor and respect their 
religious belief along the way! 

Sincerely, Terry Lynch
 Montgomery, AL