MEDIA WATCH | PATHEOS.COM

Bigotry of Hemant Mehta’s at Patheos.com

The original purpose of Patheos.com, as I understand it, was to present information from authoritative sources and thus to help people learn about the world’s different faiths. Since falsehoods and bigotry in no way lead to greater understanding, Mehta’s presence on your site violates and betrays that purpose.

February 6, 2018

Editor
Patheos.com

Dear Sir,

While Hemant Mehta claims to be “friendly,” his writings show him to be a bigot.

His recent article attempting to smear the Church of Scientology—one of the world’s fastest growing religions, and one he obviously knows little or nothing about—is an abuse of a website claiming to “bring together faith communities, academics, and the broader public into a single environment….”

As I am sure you are aware, Mehta’s attacks upon other faiths have met with outrage from members of those religions.

In seeking out the negative on his subjects, Mehta’s built-in biases have no place on a site whose slogan is “Hosting the Conversation on Faith.”

In short, use of your platform as a stage for someone who forwards religious bigotry, falsehoods and hate is an abuse of its reason for being.

May I suggest you let him establish his own platform? Something like, “Hosting the Voices of Bigotry.”

And in this time of tension, conflict and turmoil, do you not think it would be wise to return to and reinforce the original vision that led to the establishment of your site, to collect and spread truthful information, and help to bring about an increasing measure of peace and harmony to the peoples of Earth?

Sincerely,
Edward Parkin
International Director STAND