It never ceases to amaze me how "the media" can make a mountain out of a molehill. Case in point the recent "Quiet Birth" announced by Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. It must really be a quiet news period if this story can garner so much media attention. What's next? Here are a couple of ideas if the media bigwigs run out of them:
- "Thirteen year old boy forced to wear uncomfortable suit, prayer shawl and head covering while chanting ancient readings in front of his friends and family."
- "People line up to be fed wafers and wine at church service."
- "Factory production closes down while workers all kneel on rugs facing the same direction."
My intention is not to make less of anybody's religious practices, but to show the folly of the news media. How you can take a simple religious belief or practice and blow it up into the story of the day is beyond my comprehension. First of all, I respect everybody's religious beliefs, whether (as in the examples above) Judaism, Catholicism or Islam. As a Scientologist and a Jew, I have experienced religious bigotry firsthand and would never even think of questioning somebody else's religious practices. As a Scientology Volunteer Minister, I am committed to helping all people, no matter their religion or race.
How can you help? First of all, if you are guilty of joking or spreading rumors about others' religions, stop doing so immediately. If you hear others doing the same thing, ask them if they're religious bigots. Most people would say no and would realize the potential damage they're doing by passing on bigoted statements or joke.
And, most of all, respect others' religious beliefs.
