I believe that religious fundamentalism is the cause of many of the world’s wars. Here in America, most of us think that only applies to radical Islamic teaching, but a broader view would recognize that bigotry, intolerance and fundamentalism underlies the strife — which can arise from any of the world’s religions.

In a recent editorial in the Village News, Mason Weaver stated, "What will give Israel peace is the Prince of Peace." Rev. Billy Graham’s son Franklin, who is a preacher in his own right, is quoted as saying that Islam is "a very evil and wicked religion." These are examples of the kinds of religious bigotry that cause religious wars.

There are violent passages in the Qur’an, but there are also passages in the Bible that we would rather not acknowledge as part of Christianity. In Deuteronomy there are instructions for stoning women to death who are not virgins when they marry, or stoning a woman to death who is raped in a city (for not calling out loud enough).

Islam has been hijacked by politically motivated fundamentalists, and the whole religion should not be judged by the actions of those who use their religion to spread fear and hatred, just as Christianity should not be judged by the radical fundamentalist fringe. There are many Islamic teachers who speak out against the distortions.

There is also a growing movement within the evangelical church to distance itself from ultra-conservative politics. Recently, new books have been published on the subject, including "Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America — An Evangelical’s Lament" by Randall Balmer, a professor of religion at Barnard College, and "The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power is Destroying the Church" by Rev. Gregory Boyd, an evangelical pastor in Minnesota.

We should try to accept other people’s religions as genuine and valid paths to God. Mere tolerance suggests that the other religions are false. Acceptance suggests that we honor the values and experiences of those other religions, all of which teach the principles of the Ten Commandments, offer redemption and deliver salvation for leading righteous lives.