Boys will be boys and girls will be girls. 

        It is not necessary to promote inter-religious marriage.  It is not even called for.  In fact before the young marry it is every parent's right to express their views of their wishes for their children including the right to forbid the child from marrying a person of a different faith. However, after the marriage is done this right ceases and the family addition must be embraced with love (or lost if you so choose). 

        The path toward intermarriage begins by the elders of all faiths speaking to each other of politics and religion. In these conversations we would strive to find that which is common between us.   This will reduce the fear of each other. It is better to accept each other and tolerate each other’s ideas than to accept each other and pretend to tolerate ideas through silence. Conversation leads to consideration leads to understanding leads to reduction of fear.
         The old of the world must talk in order to put dogmatic exclusiveness aside.  Many of the old have progressed through the steps of life until everything they know is doubted and the fear of doubt has been replaced by the wonder of doubt.     With wonder it is enough to know what might be rather than what is.  It is enough to trust your heart as it understands your faith. 
        They understand “Tao Te Ching, One” through its end.  They understand that when they are small enough to be gone and completely at peace (an ideal) that insistence upon that which is cannot be spoken and reduces to belonging.  They understand, however, that within reality they begin with the named and the ten thousand things.  These old talking Brahmin are the hope of peace.
        How should we meditate? With peace in our hearts and smallness of self.
        How should we talk? With peace in our hearts and smallness of self.
        How should we consider? With peace in our hearts and smallness of self.
        How do we get small and peaceful? Meditate and live through the steps of life.
        That is all well and good but we must now deal with the 10,000 things.  The reality of our own prejudice and the practicality of what we may gain or lose.  Let's assume all the meditation and wisdom that comes with age has made it possible for us to overcome our prejudice.  Now we must sell our children and grandchildren.  But what?
        The only way a faith can die is if no one chooses it.  "Keep the faith" means "keep both faiths". 
        When the young intermarry ask that they keep both lineages. Within the love of a couple there is room for two traditions.  Show appreciation that they have not left your faith.
        To both the newlyweds and their parents stress the point that the prize is family. Sooth egos by pointing out the virtue of peace in our hearts and smallness of self.  Have them face the hard alternatives; do they want the joy of family love of the emptiness of isolation?
        Above all love, be patient and persevere.

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