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Dear Mark,

Thank you for the mail sent to me through Ruth Harring.

I fully appreciate your thoughts on monotheism and idolatry. You also mentioned Islam, Christianity and Judaism in that context. According to you all these three Abrahamic religionists are monotheists and are willing to slit the throat of anyone who believes otherwise.

The consequences of this kind of irrationality and intolerance are palpably evident in what is happening these days in Iraq. Innocent people's throats are slit in the name of Allah. Jews were instrumental in killing the pious Jesus because he spoke of God differently than the Jewish leaders could tolerate. Christians killed fellow Christians who spoke differently than the official papaI line about Jesus' relationship with God. It is estimated that more than six million Christians, (forget the Muslims and other so called heathens who were killed), perished in the hands of zealot Christians.

I don't think, Mark, a good and honest Christian like you, who follow Christ whose overarching teaching was to ' Love your neighbor as you love God" would accept such horrible consequences of intolerance and fanaticism involved in monotheism.

The dispute here is not about the oneness of God, the dispute is about the the 'Idol', that is means, through which God is revealed and worshipped in turn. Hindus believe that God reveals in many ways and can be worshipped in many modes, through many channels. That belief is what you, erroneously, condemn as 'idolatry'.Be a little more reasonable and try to understand what others have to say about their experience of God.

Abrahamic religionists are only 3 billion in the world, other three and half billion of the world choose to worship God differently. You don't have to act as the wholesale agent of God. God is more encompassing for you to smother Him/Her in your little box, come on, Mark! Mark my words!

You say my 'hodge podge' is confusing, I feel your certitude is alarming and dangerous to humanity's peaceful co-existence.You say that I am guilty of idolatry, I say you are guilty of genocide. You say that the Abrahamic religions that I endorse condemn idolatry, but I say that all religions including the Abrahamic are idolatrous. The cross, the kabba, the tabernacle, the person of Jesus, Moses and Mohammed, the books - are all idols which signify meaning and transcendence. The idol signifies the ideal.

The first amendment to the American Constitution gives me the right to profess and peacefully practice any mode of belief and worship that I choose. I hope you will respect my constitutional right. I come from a religious tradition in which we are taught to respect all modes of worship and all conceptions about God. To see oneness that holds maniness. That is the only way to ensure peace on earth and survival of humanity. Not to slit each other's throat in the name of my God versus your God.

I wish you meditate on this vedic dictum: "One God - Many paths."
Thank you once again Mark. You said you love me, let me assure you, I too love you.

Good Wishes!
Swami Bodhananda