In his For Faith and Freedom, Charles Howe wrote, how in Warsaw, Poland, “On the morning of December 16, 1611, Iwan Tyszkiewicz, a member of the Minor church, was beheaded in the great marketplace of Warsaw as a rebel. Prior to the execution his tongue had been cut out as a punishment for blasphemy; afterward, since he had been convicted of throwing a crucifix on the ground, one hand and foot were cut off; and finally, since he had been convicted of heresy, his body was burnt.”
Tyszkiewicz appears to be the first member of an organized unitarian church to be executed expressly for his faith.
He was a Socinian, that is he believed that Jesus was a human being and not God.
We who call ourselves Unitarian Universalists stand within the same stream as did Tyszkiewicz. And I think we and, actually, not only religious liberals, but also those who hold minority religious opinions, should pause and think about religious liberty.
Now we live in a pretty safe environment. We UUs suffer some disdain from members of majority faith, but rarely anything more. But, also, there are in our culture those who think atheists should not be allowed to serve on juries. Religious tolerance is always fragile. And, I’m aware how in the beat of a heart minorities, if they become majorities, can become just as intolerant and persecute just as easily as their former persecutors…
There are constant challenges, intolerance lies just below the surface of things, and we need to be diligent. Indeed, we need to search our own hearts in this, and redouble our efforts to be kind, to be generous, and to remember, we in the matters that matter most we might not be right…
I think it wise to recall, religious tolerance is a fragile thing, and that it was a democracy that killed Socrates.
And how in our American nation it is the constitution that protects minorities from majoritarian tyranny. But custom counts nearly as much, and it is also custom that needs to be protected.
So, as a very small example, last year majoritarian Christians took public offense at the term “Happy Holidays.” They wanted “Merry Christmas,” regardless of the fact this season belongs to many, including Jews, pagans and Buddhists, not to mention secular folk. And some of these majoritarian religious advocates made it very unpleasant for those who resisted.
No tongues being cut out. No one burned at the stake.
But, I suggest we’re on a continuum in this, and public rebuke for a symbol of religious tolerance like “Happy Holidays,” is merely at one end of a range…
Think slippery slope…
So, I find myself thinking about all this, searching my own heart, being careful, but also, mostly thinking about our society and where we all stand, and, I think, need to stand…
And, so, somehow, with Iwan Tyszkiewicz hanging in the back of my mind, wanting to wish everyone,
Happy Holidays!
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