Resolutionaccepted by the Gregorian Study Circleat its Annual Meeting in Houston on Dec 12, 2001(Prepared and presented by Dr. Molly Mathew)As we get closer to the end of the first year of this new millennium, we have to accept the hard reality that our life has changed drastically during the past few months due to the happenings around us. An increased sign of patriotism is visible in every aspect of our daily life; still a dark cloud of fear remains in each one of us. What to expect next? This is the question we ask.If we analyze any horrifying act, we can understand that it originates in the heart of someone in the form of hatred, fear, insecurity, jealousy, revenge, or intolerance. Often such an evil thought process is covered under the beautiful blanket called "religion". The basic purpose of any religion is to ensure the well being of the humanity by helping people understand themselves, their creator, and the world better. The very purpose of religion will be defeated if people start fighting on their beliefs. The creator does not want His beautiful creation to fight with one another in the process of knowing Him or worshipping Him. It is our blindness and fanatic mentality toward religion that makes us intolerant toward our fellowmen of other faith. Only when we have self-respect, we can exhibit any level of respect toward others, or tolerate their beliefs. Self-respect comes from the integrity of a genuine human mind. Lack of this virtue will lead to destruction. Terrorism, and other such antisocial activities are in fact another form of self destruction—a clear evidence of the destruction of our own principles, values, morals, faith, love, and concern and fear of God. We cannot change the whole world, but we can make a change within ourselves, which can be reflected to people around us. We, as the members of Gregorian Study Circle, would like to make this resolution today, that we will make this change within ourselves—having self respect, respect and tolerance toward our fellow human beings of other faith, and show love, care, and concern for others. We condemn any kind of hatred, jealousy, revenge, intolerance or any antisocial activities of any forms, and we commit ourselves to the promotion of peace, love, and harmony in this society we live with the help of our creator, almighty God. |