ST. NICHOLAS PIECK AND COMPANIONS

Few topics can create a more heated argument than that of religion . What may start out as a policte discussion can rapidly disintegrate into discord . Many times religious differences have even led to violence .
In the summer of 1572 , St . Nicholas Pieck and eighteen companion priests and religious were hanged . The martyrs of Gorkum , as they are calls , died simply because they were catholics . One of their number , St Antony Van willehad , was ninety years old .
Countless pages of history have been stained by the blood of martyrs . No group is above reproach . Non- Christians have killded Christians . Christians have killed non-Christians . protestants have killed Catholics . Catholics have killed Protestants . All because of the lack of religious tolerance .
Somtimes we get the mistaken notion that to tolerate means to accede . We believe that unless we demounce someting vehemently we may be seen as agreeing wholeheartedly . Yet practicing religious tolerance doesn't mean that we have to give up our own faith . It doesn't mean we have to believe that all religions are interchangeable . It doesn't even mean that we have to pretend there are no differences . Religious tolerance means that we treat other people's belieft with respect , not because we believe thay are right or even because we think they are reasonable .But because to do anything less would be uncharitable .A good rule for any discussion , but particularly when it involves religion , is to never say anything about another's beliefs that you wouldn't want said about yours .

Have I ever been discriminated against for my beliefs ?
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I am willing to discuss my convictions , and I let others discuss theirs .
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