We get beset by tyranny of 'one true faith'

ALTHOUGH I agree with Jeff Jacoby's thesis that without religion, this world would be a far more brutal and uncivilized place, unfortunately that is not the whole tale. Jacoby has overlooked the bloodshed in the name of religions - the Crusades, the Thirty Years' War, the Inquisition, the jihad phenomenon with which we have, regrettably, become so terribly familiar in recent years. The core problem, it seems, is the insistence of some religions and religious leaders that theirs is the one true religion; that all others are false or corruptions; that there is no salvation outside of the one true church or faith. As long as religions continue to insist that they have the keys to the kingdom and a monopoly on truth, we are not likely to witness the fulfillment of the dream we all share: shalom, salaam, peace on earth, good will to humanity.

Rabbi Gilbert S. Rosenthal
Director
The National Council of Synagogues
Needham

I AM writing to thank Jeff Jacoby for his column "Being good for God's sake."It really spoke to my heart.

What troubles me is why folks put so much energy into trying to convince the faithful not to believe and the nonbeliever to join the ranks of the faithful. Obviously if you think one or the other is responsible for all the trouble in the world, there is a compelling reason to change their thinking. But many of us believe the sources of all goodness and evil are just not that clear and simple.

Rebecca Berkowitz
Framingham