So, I got the idea of writing this essay after watching a documentary about people who were persecuted by their own family after leaving a certain religion. I realized that religious faith can be a double-edged sword: while it can help a person to endure trials patiently, it can also make him/her closed-minded and intolerant of those who have a different worldview.

My thoughts also turn to those who, a few centuries ago, became the victims of this closed-mindedness and intolerance: Jews living in medieval Europe who often became scapegoats whenever some disaster struck, Anabaptists who were persecuted to death by both “Catholics” and “Protestants” alike, the victims of the Spanish Inquisition, etc. etc.

As someone who holds a Master’s degree in theology from one of the most reputable Catholic universities in the world, I truly wish to use my knowledge to help make this world a more tolerant and harmonious place. So, a few weeks ago, I decided to write this essay: For a More Peaceful World. Since this essay was written for a secular publication, I tried to put myself in my readers’ shoes (many of whom have also endured intolerance and hatred from the “religious” people around them).

Whenever an act of violence was committed by a “religious” person or group, other similarly “religious” people are usually quick to deny any link between the violent person’s intolerance and their religion: “That violent criminal only claims to be a member of our religion, but in reality he/she is not.” In religious circles, there is too much denial of the potential of any ideology, including religious ones, to foster hatred and intolerance. I hope to atone for some of those wrongs by doing something in the other direction: using my faith to promote tolerance, peace and harmony instead of hatred or intolerance.

May the Lord bless all of our efforts to create a more peaceful and compassionate world!