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Intolerance of Religious Intolerance2 min read

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Hindu news reports that an Archbishop of the Russian Orthodox church has called Krishna some bad things.  Echoing the Apostle Paul’s admonition

Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.
– 1 Cor 10:20

the Archbishop said

"[Krishna is] an evil demon, the personified power of hell opposing God, and a livid lascivious youth…"

The Archbishop further requested the Mayor to ban construction of the proposed Krishna temple in Moscow saying it would otherwise become "an idolatrous disgrace erected for the glory of wicked and malicious ‘god’ Krishna". "Construction of the temple (a satanic obscenity destined to be built right in the heart of the Orthodox Christian country of Russia) to Krishna offends our religious feelings and insults the thousand-year religious culture of Russia where the overwhelming majority of people, Christians and Muslims including, consider Krishna an evil demon, the personified power of hell opposing God"

What’s really interesting is the very "open-minded" liberal response of the Hindus

Aside from displaying stunning ignorance of the world’s oldest religion, it is also evident from the statement that the Russian Orthodox Church is still embedded in the dark ages of religious exclusivity, which has no place in today’s increasingly pluralistic society.

Their interesting claim at being the oldest religion is dubious, but more importantly, it’s interesting that they repeat what I consider to be a liberal canard, that religious exclusivity is mark of "dark ages" theology.  Such a blunt and inexact statement is a nice way to broadbrush everyone else who does’t agree with the anti-intellectualist sycnchretist world view.  The deception in this accusation is that it lumps together fanatics, who are usually exclusivists, and usually violently so, with those who believe that it is intellectually reasonable that not all religions can be right, and perhaps theirs is.

I do think the Krishna folks have a right to build their temple (freedom of association), just as Christians have a right to call Krishna a demon (freedom of speech).  But the Xians don’t have the right to use political pressure to suppress the Krishna religion.  Bad.

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