TOWARDS HARMONY

  DIALOGUE OF RELIGIONS: A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE Dr M. D. Thomas ------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BIBLE IN GENERAL 'Bible in general' would mean a symbolic understanding of the Bible, which could be applied to any religious Scripture. This understanding would harmoniously situate various Scriptural symbols of the human society. Bible is the 'word' of God. The word 'Bible' comes from the Hebrew word 'biblos', meaning 'book' or 'the books'. This general meaning proposes broader alternatives and paves the way for Inter-Scriptural Dialogue. Even though it is the 'Sacred Book' of the Christian community, its content has a unique message in store for the entire human society. It has originated from the super-natural power, which can be expressed in a variety of ways, like 'the Infinite', 'the Ultimate Reality', 'the Absolute Truth', 'the Real', 't

        A DIALOGICAL RESPONSE TO FANATICISM Dr M. D. Thomas ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fanaticism is a phenomenon, which marks the negative psyche of the human society. It is unpleasant reality of human life. It refers to the sad possibility of the human mind to get obstructed in the way of progress and growth. It underlines the reversed inclination of the mind, to get stuck up and to be fossilized. It proves the utmost degree of human tragedy, even to the point of being abnormal. Fanaticism is the characteristic of the one who loses one’s power of concentration in driving the life on, and who eventually gets derailed. Fanaticism is a deep attachment to certain theories and practices. It is an inordinate passion for certain patterns of thought and behavior. It is characterized by an over-enthusiasm for as well as exaggerated conception of certain things. It is a rigid mind-set. It is a great degree of stiffness in habits. It is a