Pluralistic Society 多元化社会

We are now living in a pluralistic society. And pluralistic society is diverse with people free to choose their beliefs. I once met a few friendly young adults at a buffet breakfast. One of them is wearing a shirt with a pluralistic logo. He didn’t mind I took a photo of him focusing on his shirt. He admitted that he has his own religion although wearing the pluralistic shirt.

How should we live with people and relate to them in our pluralistic society today?

First, we have to acknowledge freedom of belief is a universal value, and we can respect others for their choice of belief without the need of compromising our own conviction. Certainly we cannot expect other people’s beliefs should match ours. For example, if we are seated with people who have the practice of saying a prayer before taking meal. We can choose not to pray if it is not part of our belief system. However, we should respect the people who pray as long as they are not praying with loud voice or with gestures that may disturb or interfere our movement.

Secondly, we should understand every religion has its own claims and some claims are exclusive and different from other faiths. And we need to have a broad mind that allows people to make their own religious claims, as long as such claims do not conflict with the universal values such as filial piety and loving our neighbours. Also we should not feel offended by their claims. After all, most claims are not verifiable here and now in a strictly technical sense. For example, if a religion states that the only way to heaven is through its faith. No one can effectively dismiss it nor prove it as it is yet to take place. Even though the believers of such faith may claim that it has taken place, it should be regarded as only their conviction.

Thirdly, we have to learn to agree to disagree. We can dialogue with people of different faiths without the need of changing our conviction. Even if we change and it should be our choice. Certainly, dialogue or sharing our faith should never become an attempt to impose upon or compel others to follow ours. And it should totally be forbidden to use any violence to infringe the right of the followers of different faiths.

我们今天住在多元化的社会。一个多元化社会的人有自由选择不同的伩仰。我曾遇见几位友善的职业青年，其中一位穿了一件有多元化圖象的上衣。他大方地讓我対着他的上衣拍照，他自承有自己的伩仰雖然他穿了多元化的上衣。

我们要如何在一个多元化社会和人共處呢？

首先，我们要認同伩仰自由是普世价值，我们可以尊重他人自由选择伩仰而不必違反自己的伩念。当然我们不能期望别人的伩仰和我们的是一致的。举个例子，我们和一些在用饭前会先祈祷的人坐在一起，我们可以选择不祈祷如果那不是我们的部分伩仰系统。然而我们应尊重用饭时祈祷的人，只要他们的祈祷声量或样式没有影响到我们的行动。

其次，我们要明白各宗教都有自己的一些宣称，什至是特殊及有别於其他宗教的。我们要心胸开阔接受别人对其伩仰宣告的权利，只要所宣扬的不抵触普世价值如孝敬父母和爱護鄰舍。我们不必被他们的宣言触犯，事实上许多的宣告是不能在今时今日得到準确的证明。举个例，若一个宗教宣稱其是唯一到达天堂之道，没有人可以否定，亦不能证明。即使跟随该伩仰者表示这是事实，那只能说是他们的伩念。

第三，我们必须学习同意彼此是不同的。我们与不同伩仰者対话时不必放弃自己的伩念。如果我们要改变，那也应该是自己的抉择。的确，任何対话或分享我们的伩仰不可以变成一种强迫他人跟随我们的尝试。更要完全避免以任何形式的爆力觸犯不同伩仰者的权利。

The logo of the shirt that reflects pluralistic society.
衣服的标志反映了一个多元化的社会。