Heaven Called–And You’re Not Omniscient

One of the most troubling stumbling blocks of interreligious engagement (and interpersonal interaction) is the postured stance that we possess omniscience. Well, we do not. We can’t read someone else’s mind or know their feelings or intentions. We can barely figure out what’s going through our own minds and nail down our own feelings and intentions. So why do we claim, usually unknowingly (ironic), that we possess the capacity to read the mind of Jews and determine their Jewishness? We can’t claim to know the minds and hearts of 1.3 billion Muslims. Same with Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Mormons, and, for that matter, your wife, husband, children, neighbors, co-workers, and so forth. We simply are not omniscient. It is in everyone’s best interest if we individually and collectively abandon the idea that we possess even a speck of omniscience.  Coming to know a person of another faith boils down to personal association. No shortcuts. And definitely no omniscience. Now, I know what you’re thinking about this post . . . oh wait, no I don’t.