Cromwell's rule

Cromwell's rule is derived from a letter Oliver Cromwell wrote to the synod of the Church of Scotland on August 5th, 1650 in which he said "I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, consider it possible that you are mistaken." The rule is, very simply, do not take anything for absolute; totality is wrong.

I am not Christian, in fact, I am very much Jewish, and certain parts of my anatomy will certainly show that, but I have a very great respect for that statement. The world is entering a very dangerous period. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, must consider the possibility that they are mistaken.

Very recently a small Danish newspaper published a set of cartoons making fun of Mohammed. They did it to show that the media is censoring itself on criticizing Mohammed. So, what happened. Well, the Muslim world went bizerk. They burned consulates, killed people, robbed banks, oh yes, robbed banks, marched, protested, burned flags, fired oozies in the air, chanted death to Israel, etc... An Iranian newspaper even created a competition for the best holocaust cartoon. Undoubtedly, numerous entries were submitted.

Everyone considers their position to be superior. No side understands or cares about the other. One side will tell you that the other does not understand or care. The other side will reverse the statement and tell you the same. Don't believe me. Here is an example. The greatest pain a person can feel is the passing of a loved one. That is the greatest fear and the greatest pain. A part of you dies as well. The more you love someone, the more you will understand this statement. On the other hand, one hundred Palestinian children being killed by a stray bomb will produce a quickly passing feeling of regret for their unfortunate passing.

Every culture, at every point in history that believed in totality brought about the greatest suffering up to that point in history. Consider Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Ferdinand and Isabella of Castile, Lenin, Mao, Christian Crusades, and so forth. This could be a very long list, but a few of these names should prove my point.

Someone has to be correct right? Maybe. This question seems extremely complicated. I don't know.

What I do know is that any culture or any person that believes something in such an absolute is dangerous and no matter how well meaning is horribly wrong. Nothing is simple and clear cut. Everything has multiple sides, and therefore any totality is always wrong no matter how well meaning.

I think Queen Margrethe II of Denmark said it best:
"There is, as said, something moving about people, whom to this degree surrender to a faith. However there is also something frightening about such a totality, which also is a side of Islam. There must be shown counter-play [interplay of an alternative / sparring], and once in a while you have to run the risk of getting a less flattering label stuck upon you. Because there is certain things before which one should not be tolerant."