“Since nobody can interfere in the realm of GOD, we should tolerate and live side by side with those of other faiths” (Haile Selassie I, THE LION OF JUDAH).
It was this very quote spoken by Haile Selassie I, the Lion of Judah, King of Kings of Ethiopia, that caused me to realize that there must exist an ALL POWERFUL, ALL KNOWING, ALL SEEING, OMNIPOTENT and ALMIGHTY GOD that transcends every conception the human race has come to acknowledge as GOD. This quote also prompted me to seek the true meaning of what it means to “tolerate and live side by sides with those of other faiths”. Basically speaking the definition of religious tolerance is . . .
“. . . the willingness to accept and permit religious beliefs and practices which disagree with one’s own”.
I must say I have been most fortunate to travel the world which gave me the opportunity to experience many different faiths and cultures, and to actually witness to the concept of “unity in diversity”. These experiences have led me to know and accept that there are many people in this world who acknowledge there is only ONE ALMIGHTY GOD (1GOD) who is bigger than all of our theologies.
Personally, I can clearly see the ALMIGHTY GOD revealing Himself each and every day in all of our lives – nature alone reveals this to us. The very air we breathe is all the proof we need to see the ALMIGHTY GOD manifesting in the lives of every man, woman, child and even the animals. The fact that the ALMIGHTY GOD, regardless of how we choose to see Him, gives to us all “the breath of life” undoubtedly reveals a love that is unconditional beyond measure. The sun and the rain, without discrimination, serve their purpose according to the very reason why they were created; for as it is written: “In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
We need not look any further than Nature itself to see the vision the ALMIGHTY GOD has for all of us. That vision is obviously likened to a vision of a garden where every flower, in all of its uniqueness, makes that garden to be one of divine beauty. Every faith and every religion, in all of their uniqueness, represent a flower in the GARDEN OF GOD. In many of our religious traditions there is a story of a GARDEN or a PLACE where everything is beautiful; everything is perfect. Yet, that beauty and perfection is not based upon uniformity; but to the contrary that beauty and perfection is based upon the diversity that exists in perfect harmony.
One of the major pillars in the Rastafari faith is the concept of “unity in diversity”. In many of the speeches delivered by Haile Selassie I, who is seen as a Messianic figure among most Rastafarians, a devout Christian, and the Defender of the Christian Faith, the concept “unity in diversity” is exceedingly magnified. One of my favorites quotes among many is:
“Human beings are precisely the same, whatever color, race, creed or national origin they may be.”
This quote clearly echoes the message of Saint Paul in Acts 17:26, when he said:
“GOD made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings.”
Contained in these aforementioned quotes is the clear revelation of the 1CREATOR, the 1ORIGIN , the 1SOURCE, the 1GOD, who is the Author of every faith and of every religion that has manifested amongst humanity. We can look confidently to the future with hope knowing that there are a growing number of enlightened human beings from every faith and culture among us. That number is destined to reach a critical mass which will ultimately usher in that day when lasting peace, world citizenship, and the rule of international morality will no longer be a fleeting illusion, but a living reality. Yes my brothers and sisters, that day will come on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Yes, my brothers and sisters, that day will come, for that is the original vision of the 1GOD for all humanity. 1GOD! 1AIM! 1DESTINY!
HOLDING THE VISION!
UTD = UNITED = UNTIL THAT DAY!!!
