TOLERANCE | MAY 15, 2017

If Religion is All Greek to You

I was raised Jewish, and I remember going to temple and reading from the Torah when I was 11. Unfortunately, I could read the Hebrew symbols, but had no concept of what those sounds meant. So I gave up studying the Torah.

Do you understand the meaning of: .,$$#@$%^&*((? There is no meaning.

What about these symbols: سلام , 和平, שָׁלוֹם? They spell out “peace” in Arabic, Chinese and Hebrew. For those not taught those three languages, these words would be impossible to understand. But the real danger happens when you can read what is written but do not grasp its correct meaning.

Several years ago, I delivered a lecture at a Christian church on the subject of education and the effect of going past words you don’t understand. L. Ron Hubbard wrote: “The misunderstood word is the most important of the barriers to study because it is the one that can stop you from learning anything at all.”

Exhibit A: One man at that church had not been to a service in years and had given up reading the Bible. I knew he very likely had misunderstood words. I asked him where he was last doing well when reading and he showed me. I asked him if there were any words he did not fully understand there and he found three. After I helped him understand those words, he went home with a renewed enthusiasm for his faith. He could learn it again.

One of the root causes of religious discrimination is a failure to understand the beliefs and tenets of a religion, precisely because of misunderstood words. Since you don’t understand it, it’s perfectly OK to discriminate against it, right?

One of the root causes of religious discrimination is a failure to understand the beliefs and tenets of a religion, precisely because of misunderstood words. Since you don’t understand it, it’s perfectly OK to discriminate against it, right?

I invite you to personally observe and understand for yourself the principles and practices of any religion—including Scientology—ensuring you actually understand the words involved. Then draw your own conclusions. Don’t be influenced by other’s misunderstandings, and certainly don’t be influenced by the fabrications of individuals with an ax to grind. Instead find out the true meaning for yourself.

KEYWORDS

AUTHOR

Bernard Percy

Author, educator, international lecturer, proud dad of three adult daughters, husband (for 45 years), and a Scientologist (since 1968). He has had eight books published on education and family relationships; he was a New York City elementary school teacher for 12 years and he has a master's degree in childhood education from Columbia University.

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