your religion. It is fine to share as long as you do not let other people’s beliefs
interfere with yours. Tolerance is good as long as you do not assimilate to this
culture because it is not your ways! So, to be tolerant is not to treat everybody the
same way; it is to treat everybody differently but in a just and equitable way.
Western people have forgotten that, especially Americans who finally mixed the
tradition of Santa Klaus with the religious event of Christmas. Everybody is able to
recognize the truth when they see it, but everybody makes different choices in life.
We are Muslims, we do not choose to be assimilated, and we do choose to respect
other people, whoever they are, as long as they do not interfere with our own beliefs!
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I see, too much tolerance can hurt my religion and my convictions if I do not keep to
myself. We are not like them, and they are not like us, and our ways are different and
cannot mix!
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That’s the idea!
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See, Americans like intervarsity of faith groups. These groups are great as long as
you just exchange ideas, not when you begin making concessions! You are not going
to pray like a Jew because you want to show your interest or your respect! The same
way, intercultural exchanges at school are wonderful ways to discover each other’s
ways and become more tolerant and respectful of others. But when you are invited to
join and participate in non-Islamic activities, it is not tolerance anymore, it is
assimilation, and assimilation in Islam is a great sin because we believe our religion
have been perfected by Allah in the Qur’an, the last holy book on earth!
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So, religion is very serious, mom?
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Sure! It is because Allah knows what is best for us and only He can guide you to the
right path where you will be most happy and most humanly developed! So, if you
mix your religion with something else, your religion is not pure anymore and you get
yourself mixed up! It is like mixing the words of Allah with the words of somebody
else. Can you do something and its contrary at the same time without feeling strange
or mixed up, Su?
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No, I guess not. I prefer to agree with myself and keep my own balance even if to
have fun is so tempting!
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I’m proud of you Su that you are so smart and thoughtful! Keep up the good work!
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