This section of our web site contains an eclectic mix of essays written and
donated by our visitors.
Almost all of the essays elsewhere on this web site attempt to portray
all points of view on a given topic. We also try to avoid criticizing the
religious beliefs of any group. The essays below sometimes deviate from the
standards that we use. Quite often, they will express a single opinion and
reject all other interpretations of the Torah, Christian Scriptures, Qur'an,
etc. as being in error and without merit. Read them with care.
If you are distressed at the contents of any of these essays, we
invite you to write a rebuttal and submit it to us. We will seriously consider it
as an addition to this section.
Disclaimer:
These essays do not necessarily represent the beliefs of any or all of
the staff of the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. In fact,
since we are a multi-faith group, it is quite likely that the beliefs expressed in these essays
will differ from at least some of our staff's opinions.
We reserve the right to reject any entries for a range of reasons, including:
Essays that we feel exhibit hatred
against others on the basis of their gender, race, skin color, sexual
orientation, religion, etc.
Essays whose primary goal is to
attack individuals or groups.
Essays which attack religious beliefs other faith groups. However, we
will generally accept essays that compare beliefs of two or more religions,
or which compare the beliefs of one faith group with scientific findings.
We have also decided to not publish essays which advocate
corporal punishment of children. This is because of
long term studies involving many thousands of individuals from childhood to
their 20's. These studies show that rates of clinical depression, alcohol
addiction, drug addiction and anxiety attacks in adulthood increase with the
frequency of spanking. We don't want to be even partly responsible for the
suffering that an essay advocating spanking would generate.
