It is thus silly that some factions of Christian clergy may say that only Christians can go to heaven. It is clear from the scriptures that good deeds get folks to heaven and not their religion. It makes no sense that the accident of birth must be the determination of the ascent to heaven or descent to hell.
Most countries in this world have an admixture of religions, races and language variation. People who immigrate to other countries adapt to the cultures and language of their new country and not try to have the country adapt to them.
However, in some countries, there are different ethnic groups with different languages (and different dialects within a language) and religions for thousands of years that make it difficult to govern unless there is a common language of communication and a respect for other religions. Left alone, each ethnic and religious group makes conflicting demands on each other but peacefully negotiate around their differences.
However, it is when governments enforce a national priority of language and religion that discriminate against other ethnic groups (language, race or religion) then internal strife oscillate and sometimes end in civil war. India with 33 main languages and 1,650 dialects uses English as a common language of communication. If India had promoted a nationalist language policy, it would have been in political turmoil. Every village child in India wants to learn English as a gateway to economic prosperity. [End note 1]
To be successful, countries should think beyond the boundaries of national particularity and customs. Any norms of neo-nationalism should challenge the political titles and orders of religious barriers and national prejudices. Ideally, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus and even Muslims must get about their business of trade and commerce away from the censure of religious extremists and national chauvinists. People must coexist in peace and mingle smoothly with freer trade and greater harmony with respect to all religions and races.
One major barrier to peaceful coexistence of races and religions in a particular country is politics. The other day, I was talking with a friend about a political solution in a particular country. He agreed with what I said, but then correctly pointed out that such a solution will not have political appeal, as the majority will not vote for the candidates that bring forth such an idea. Some times, democracy can fail when the majority votes in the wrong candidate or party or the wrong political agenda. Only if it is standard government policy exists that each person in the country, irrespective of race or religion is as important as anybody else is the standard norm, that can lead to a respect for a person who is as human as anybody else is regardless or race or religion. Especially, when we now see that no person had a choice in picking his or her race or religion or color for that matter.
End note 1.
In 1872, William White, talking about the many languages of India, comments:
"As we link Calcutta with Bombay, and Bombay with Madras, and by roads, railways and telegraphs interlace province with province, we may in process of time fuse India into unity, and the use and prevalence of our language may be the register of the progress of that unity." Source: Stories of English by David Crystal.
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