"Nathan the Wise," was Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's last work. The play was an enthralling modification of the classic parable of the three rings. Lessing modified it so as to convey a call for religious canons and doctrines (Mittleman 366). The play is about intricate interactions among 3 individuals each who the 3 biggest monotheistic religions: i.e. a Jew by the name Nathan, a Muslim sultan by the name Saladin, and a Christian by the name Templar Knight. The Muslim sultan enquired from Nathan which among the 3 religions he thought was the best and most accurate (Lessing 243). Nathan shrewdly circumvented a straight forward reply and as an alternative gave the parable of the three rings. The parable was about three brothers were each given a ring by their father on his death bed and they soon began bickering and squabbling about whose ring was genuine. In the end they consult a wise judge who tells them to each believe that they had the genuine ring.
Lessing's play and its concept sounds remarkably like a context taken from the contemporary word. Just like in Lessing's era, there is prevalent cynicism about assertions by religions about being the best and most accurate. Religions are evaluated on the basis of their ability to generate morally reputable individuals. The only difference between Lessing's era and the contemporary world is that in the present day there is a much more massive religious diversity than there was back then. If Lessing's concepts in the play were restructured a little, they can fit perfectly as a manifestation of the contemporary twenty-first century context.
[...] As a corollary members from different religions always be urge to deal with any religious issue with clear and intellectual reasoning to avoid any tension. When the intolerance comes as a result of fear, it should be confronted on an emotional level. Just like the brothers in “Nathan the the arguing and wrangles among the religions is usually caused and accompanied by emotions such as disgust, contempt, hate and jealousy all which are related to fear. In order to counter this fear more constructive emotions have to be fostered among the squabbling parties just like the wise judge did with the three brothers. [...]
[...] Nathan the Wise (trans. Patrick Maxwell; ed. George Alexander Kohut); New York: Bloch Print Mittleman, Alan. Toleration, Liberty, and Truth: A Parable, Harvard Theological Review 95:4: Print Nussbaum, Martha. The New Religious Intolerance 2010. Web O'Brien, Joann., and Palmer, Martin. The Atlas of Religion: Mapping Contemporary Challenges and Beliefs Berkeley: University of California Press Print Smart, Ninian., and Denny, Frederick. [...]
[...] Religious, Tolerance and Intolerance “Nathan the was Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's last work. The play was an enthralling modification of the classic parable of the three rings. Lessing modified it so as to convey a call for religious canons and doctrines (Mittleman 366). The play is about intricate interactions among 3 individuals each who the 3 biggest monotheistic religions: i.e. a Jew by the name Nathan, a Muslim sultan by the name Saladin, and a Christian by the name Templar Knight. [...]
[...] Córdoba is a city in southern Spain which is admired by numerous nations and organizations as an emblem of phenomenal religious tolerance and acceptance for more than 1000 years. Nonetheless, a millennium later, the ‘Córdoba Initiative' proposed the construction of a 13-story Islamic mosque and center near Ground Zero and this has become one of the biggest emblems of religious intolerance in the contemporary world. Its construction has been pitted against by a very big percentage of New Yorkers. Regardless of the audacious opinion of Mayor Michael Bloomberg supporting the inclusion of different religions and the conformation of American values regarding tolerance and mutual respect, several establishments have given their support to the admonition of the initiative. [...]
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