Make the world a better place

Good morning.
Tonight and tomorrow is a special day in the Muslim calendar, known as Lailat al Miraj, celebrating the Prophet's night journey and ascent.
This marks the night journey of the Prophet Muhammad to Jerusalem and through the heavens to the presence of God, when the command that Muslims should pray five times a day was given to the Prophet. Muslims mark this night by reading the Qur’an and saying additional prayers.
Many years ago I was at a meeting and the importance of Jerusalem was raised. One expert who was present, and I should point out that he certainly wasn’t a religious expert, stated assertively that the importance of Jerusalem in Islam was exaggerated because there is no way that the night journey could have happened!
I was Livid. Who did this person think he was to repudiate the belief of Muslims (and others) that the night journey happened?
I am often asked how people of other faiths can believe some of their traditional miracles or wonders - I have often pointed out that other faiths’ and people’s beliefs are no more far fetched than some of the things that we, as Jews, believe happened. If we believe some of the weird and miraculous things in Torah and the Hebrew Bible, what right do we have to challenge or question the beliefs of other people.
I fully understand why some people are convinced that religion is nonsense, with some of the things we believe. But religion and faith are not about proof of our beliefs or logic - they should be about goodness, kindness and compassion, promoting love, justice and peace.
So today I pray that I learn more about those I may not understand, and that I never denigrate the beliefs and customs of others. I pray that I may always celebrate the wondrous and miraculous, whether seen and understood by me or others. I pray that all our journeys of faith help make our world a better and more compassionate place.