I can still recall some thirty-odd years ago when my four siblings and I gathered at the home of our recently deceased mother. She had died very young and unexpectedly. We were there to share stories, support each other and to divide her belongings. In that intimate time, we found that we had each known her in very different ways. Our memories varied more than we thought possible. Most wonderfully, we each had known we were her favourite. There was no competition when it came to her possessions. Each was precious to one of us. It was a wonderful day that reformed us.
If a loving parent can mean so many things to children, uniting and enriching them even more because of the differences among their relationships, why can’t we humans learn that there should be no strife between the various paths to the More we experience? Why can’t we understand that the variety of ‘holy’ paths proves instead of threatens the very concept of God?
The paths to exclusive fundamentalism has little to do with the basic faiths of the world, and more to do with our insecurities and the need of many to make our God as small as we are. It’s much easier to try to make God into our image than it is to accept the reality that we are all siblings, no matter what path we are on.
People have been killing each other for religious reasons for at least 1800 years. (See The Unspoken Cause of Auschwitz.) Humanity has survived. But now that even our life-support system is threatened, we simply must learn to live together. Violence can no longer be accepted. Given the upturn in sectarian violence, it is easily assumed that the more ‘religious’ a person is, the more narrow- minded and condemning they are. Christians are supposed to believe that all others will go to some Hell. Many other faiths hold similar beliefs. These gut reactions are not built into these understandings and simply must be done away with. They must be challenged, lovingly but firmly and publicly by others of that faith.
The doctrine of non-violence covers most faiths and must become the common focus of all who would grow spiritually, and survive physically. Nothing else matters. Any who claim to be ‘spiritual’ and still supports violence and the use of force to achieve their way, must be challenged. They are perverting the message. We are all welcome to share our understandings, but only in a manner of love. I know my wife is the most wonderful woman in the world, but that doesn’t mean that all other women are terrible.
We each instinctively want to share what is important to us. And we’re easily disappointed when friends don’t adopt our views. In times of crisis, differences seem to become more important. Molehills easily become mountains. Any ‘Others’ become more threatening. We humans have the ability to meet any challenge, if we band together. This ‘time around’ we can’t go just part way. It will take the adoption of non-violence itself if we are to continue as we hope. Only by putting our individual faiths under the banner of love, will we have a chance. It’s very doubtful that this will happen. The movement won’t come from the churches; each has too many singular traditions that are put it before all else. But we must try.
If often blog about this because it is the over-riding awareness that drives me. It covers all else that I do and think. I need to share it with you to keep hope alive within me. Thank you.
Anthony, trying to remain non-violent in an increasingly violent world. —
189 Agreeing that the only necessary agreement is to make peace
I can still recall some thirty-odd years ago when my four siblings and I gathered at the home of our recently deceased mother. She had died very young and unexpectedly. We were there to share stories, support each other and to divide her belongings. In that intimate time, we found that we had each known her in very different ways. Our memories varied more than we thought possible. Most wonderfully, we each had known we were her favourite. There was no competition when it came to her possessions. Each was precious to one of us. It was a wonderful day that reformed us.
If a loving parent can mean so many things to children, uniting and enriching them even more because of the differences among their relationships, why can’t we humans learn that there should be no strife between the various paths to the More we experience? Why can’t we understand that the variety of ‘holy’ paths proves instead of threatens the very concept of God?
The paths to exclusive fundamentalism has little to do with the basic faiths of the world, and more to do with our insecurities and the need of many to make our God as small as we are. It’s much easier to try to make God into our image than it is to accept the reality that we are all siblings, no matter what path we are on.
People have been killing each other for religious reasons for at least 1800 years. (See The Unspoken Cause of Auschwitz.) Humanity has survived. But now that even our life-support system is threatened, we simply must learn to live together. Violence can no longer be accepted. Given the upturn in sectarian violence, it is easily assumed that the more ‘religious’ a person is, the more narrow- minded and condemning they are. Christians are supposed to believe that all others will go to some Hell. Many other faiths hold similar beliefs. These gut reactions are not built into these understandings and simply must be done away with. They must be challenged, lovingly but firmly and publicly by others of that faith.
The doctrine of non-violence covers most faiths and must become the common focus of all who would grow spiritually, and survive physically. Nothing else matters. Any who claim to be ‘spiritual’ and still supports violence and the use of force to achieve their way, must be challenged. They are perverting the message. We are all welcome to share our understandings, but only in a manner of love. I know my wife is the most wonderful woman in the world, but that doesn’t mean that all other women are terrible.
We each instinctively want to share what is important to us. And we’re easily disappointed when friends don’t adopt our views. In times of crisis, differences seem to become more important. Molehills easily become mountains. Any ‘Others’ become more threatening. We humans have the ability to meet any challenge, if we band together. This ‘time around’ we can’t go just part way. It will take the adoption of non-violence itself if we are to continue as we hope. Only by putting our individual faiths under the banner of love, will we have a chance. It’s very doubtful that this will happen. The movement won’t come from the churches; each has too many singular traditions that are put it before all else. But we must try.
If often blog about this because it is the over-riding awareness that drives me. It covers all else that I do and think. I need to share it with you to keep hope alive within me. Thank you.
Anthony, trying to remain non-violent in an increasingly violent world. —
