Once upon a time, or was it this morning?

Once upon a time........ How many stories start that way? In this case, or story, it could also start out with “Just the other day”. Some things just don't change. Shame on us.

Two communities lived in close proximity. They shared sons and daughters, defended each other in times of conflict, supported each other in hard times and shared bounty in times that were good. They were good neighbors and respected the boundaries that make good neighbors.

In times of war the two communities would take prisoners and hostages. With the applied trials of time and personality, these prisoners and hostages would be given their freedom and in many cases adopted into the communities to become productive citizens, husbands and wives. If a conquered enemy was found to be implacable respect was still given and the beliefs of that person honored. Strength of personal conviction was valued.

The people of these communities respected the land, the beasts of forest and field and gave thanks each day for the lives they were given and for the lives of those around them, great and small. Through individual ways and sometimes in groups homage was paid to the powers of the universe. In each was the recognition of how small an individual is and how great is all creation.

These people were not perfect. There were those among them who wanted more than what was due, were jealous of the success of others. There were also those who had twists and quirks of mind and spirit that could make them dangerous to others. For the most part the people of the communities would accept and watch over these folk with kindness and humor while keeping watch so that no harm was done. For the most part. There were still petty differences and spiteful acts. People will always be people.

Then one day a stranger came to one of the communities.

This stranger came telling of a man from the far east who spoke of love and kindness and of his father in heaven. He related stories and parables spoken by this man, stories about a loving father in heaven, parables of respect and kindness to even the least among us. He also spoke of the dominion of man and how it was mandated by a single god in the heavens. He spoke of the need and power of evangelical acts, of rewards in the afterlife for those who would spread the message of this god and his son.

To make the message more accessible the stranger incorporated the tales and legends of the local people. Some, at first a very few, began to believe in what the stranger had to say. These people became vocal and in some cases aggressive about spreading the tales of this new god and his son. The views of these people were respected and honored for the citizens knew from the teachings of youth and the lessons of life that from diversity comes strength.

The followers of this new religion in time grew more numerous and more adamant about the rightness of their belief. Singly and in groups they would try to convert their neighbors from their earlier heathen ways in an effort to save their souls. In time the lessons of this new god drove out the beliefs of youth and began to divide the communities.

The ones who held to the old beliefs welcomed the followers of this new religion. They listened with humor and respect but still kept their own beliefs. These were neighbors, after all, useful members of the communities, sons and daughters. To each their own and peace to all who would give it. To the converts of this new way the beliefs of the hold outs were considered wrong and a threat to their new god and his son. Conflict broke out in the communities.

The converts of this new religion took up arms against their neighbors, knowing that their actions were right and would be rewarded by their new god and his son. Good people on both sides of the conflict were maimed or were killed. Property and chattels were taken, homes and lives destroyed, all in the name of a loving god and his son. And the story continues.

To this day, as can be seen by all who would look, a Pagan can live with a Christian or Muslim, but a Christian or Muslim cannot suffer a Pagan to live in peace. My question is this; who in this conflict of beliefs shows mercy, love, acceptance and respect?

Again, back to the beginning of this tale. Once upon a time there were two neighbors..............