Divisions And Subdivisions

Divisions And Subdivisions

So often we assault each other with seemingly insurmountable obstacles to understanding. Language is limited by words and often the same words can have very different and/or conflicting meanings or application between one group of people and another.

For example: the word “bad” in mainstream America is thought of in a negative context. Among school youth the word “bad” can be a compliment, appreciation or acknowledgement of approval.

“Gay” is a prime example of rapid change in world usage. Again, the meaning has shifted within a few decades from being happy, joyful and fun loving to something quite different. Ask the question,” are you gay’? And it most likely would be considered an accusation of homosexuality.

Often friends will ask me if I am a “Christian”. This question in itself has little meaning without knowing the context in which it is being asked. People labeling themselves “Christian” have all sorts of meanings attached to it, ranging from styles of Baptism, the Eucharist, Christology, the Trinity, Virgin birth, etc. The dictionary meaning is,” follower of Christ”. If this is accepted than anyone who believes he/she is following the Teachings of  Christ can be called a Christian. Interestingly, this does not necessarily include in any way deifying Jesus of Nazareth or accepting any form of church doctrine or any particular interpretation as expounding by Christian authority figures. It simply means “following the Christ.

Another step some take is to separate the Christ spirit from the man named Jesus. Christ means “anointed” in Greek. From this it can be reasoned that Jesus and Christ were two separate realities. There is much allegory in the bible to support this. See http://onenessbecomesus.com/JesusGod.pdf In other words, one could be a follower of the Christ anointing Jesus with His Authority but not feel the need too worship the name Jesus or theologize him at all.

In this deepest sense, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Zoroastrians, Buddhist, Baha’i; and any other faith professing God as the Supreme Authority can legitimately call themselves Christian. Christ is simply a Greek word expressing the mystery of the “Word” or “Spirit of Truth” described in many Faith traditions around the world. For a listing and comparative analysis taken directly from Holy Texts from different faith visit http://onenessbecomesus.com/Faithslisting.html

We are so caught up in our own little sphere of thinking. Upon moving to Kentucky I quickly discovered the general population did not think of a road as “Highway #60” or “County Road #89” rather, the name of the road was tied to its destination. Highway #60 between Winchester and Lexington is, from Winchester heading West, is called “Lexington road. Eastbound from Lexington the same highway is called “Winchester road”. County Road #89 between Irvine and Winchester is either Winchester or Irvine road depending which direction you are traveling. Thus, when a Winchester friend received instructions from a Irvine resident on how to get to Irvine the Irvine native said,” its easy, you just follow Winchester road”. Obviously, taking “Winchester Road” from Winchester to Irvine makes no sense. All the Irvine resident saw was her own point of view. The poor Winchester driver had no idea where the road was until I pointed out it has Highway #89 heading south to Irvine.

This kind of parochial thinking is found within a much broader range of applications.

Below you will see dictionary meanings for the word infidel. It appears everyone is an infidel. From the Orthodox Christian view, all nonbelievers are infidels. If you are currently of the Muslim faith, Christians themselves are infidels.

People, it is time to extricate ourselves from this faulty way of thinking. Look at the other person’s point of reference. Realize the allegorical driver from Winchester needs too know directions that are meaningful to her. Let us reach across the barriers that divide us.

David

To see a site about “serving the case for world unity” visit

http://onenessbecomesus.com

in·fi·del /ˈɪnfɪdl, -ˌdɛl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-fi-dl, -del] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun

1.	Religion. a. a person who does not accept a particular faith, esp. Christianity. b. (in Christian use) an unbeliever, esp. a Muslim. c. (in Muslim use) a person who does not accept the Islamic faith; kaffir.

2.	a person who has no religious faith; unbeliever.

3.	(loosely) a person who disbelieves or doubts a particular theory, belief, creed, etc.; skeptic.

–adjective

4.	not accepting a particular faith, esp. Christianity or Islam; heathen.

5.	without religious faith.

6.	due to or manifesting unbelief: infidel ideas.

7.	rejecting the Christian religion while accepting no other; not believing in the Bible or any Christian divine revelation.

8.	Also, in·fi·del·ic /ˌɪnfɪˈdɛlɪk/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-fi-del-ik] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of unbelievers or infidels.

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[Origin: 1425–75; late ME < LL infidélis unbelieving, L: unfaithful, treacherous. See in-³, feal]

—Synonyms 1–3. See atheist.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source

in·fi·del (ĭn’fĭ-dəl, -děl‘) Pronunciation Key n. Offensive An unbeliever with respect to a particular religion, especially Christianity or Islam. One who has no religious beliefs. One who doubts or rejects a particular doctrine, system, or principle. her·e·tic /n. ˈhɛrɪtɪk; adj. ˈhɛrɪtɪk, həˈrɛtɪk/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[n. her-i-tik; adj. her-i-tik, huh-ret-ik] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun 1. a professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church. 2. Roman Catholic Church. a baptized Roman Catholic who willfully and persistently rejects any article of faith. 3. anyone who does not conform to an established attitude, doctrine, or principle. –adjective 4. heretical. [Origin: 1300–50; ME heretik < MF heretique < LL haereticus < Gk hairetikós able to choose (LGk: heretical), equiv. to hairet(ós) that may be taken (verbal adj. of haireǐn to choose) + -ikos -ic] —Synonyms 1. apostate, backslider, recreant, protestant. 3. dissenter, skeptic, freethinker. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source her·e·tic (hěr’ĭ-tĭk) Pronunciation Key n. A person who holds controversial opinions, especially one who publicly dissents from the officially accepted dogma of the Roman Catholic Church. adj. Heretical.

A Different Viewpoint: Investigating The Case For World Unity.

Recent discoveries in astronomy and cosmology bring to light inescapable conclusions and profound awareness. Ancient beliefs are being deprovincialized; our home is no longer seen as the center of it all. As the telescope shows, our world orbits a common ordinary main sequence star in an out-of-the-way corner of a galaxy containing billions of stars within a universe of galaxies beyond measure. From a cosmological perspective our home is but a seemingly insignificant speck of dust within a matrix of time and space forever beyond our ability to truly grasp. Physics wrestles with realms beyond the ordinary such as quasars, black holes, cosmic evolution, subatomic particles, quantum theory and beyond. Knowledge, thinking and world-views must deal with accepting realities in which everyday experience and logic no longer apply.

Yet, just the fact humanity is capable of accomplishing these feats proves that through our intellect, vision and capacities of the heart, mind and soul humanity is endowed with the gifts of reason and discernment. Our species is able to study, theorize (and in wonder) look upon the world he dwells upon with a unique level of understanding. In a real sense we are the eyes of the universe beginning to open in perception of itself.

The science of ecology, the study of the interrelationships of plants and animals and how they adapt to different environments, illustrates to the perceptive eye we are but a part of an interwoven web of creation that is marvelous to behold. Within this web of life individuals occupy niches and perform functions (jobs), which help the ecosystem (community) to function. As more is understood it becomes self-evident a diverse community is a healthy one. It is much harder for calamity such as storm, draught or disease to wipe out a complex population containing many checks and balances than say a crowded population of only one species such as found on a man-made artificially cultivated field of corn.

Take a walk outside. Don’t just hike down a trail to get to the end but rather be aware. look at the different shapes, habits, diets, colors, textures and hues of the myriad kinds of organisms observing the many roles they play within the natural ecosystem. Now try to think of what it would be like if all forms of life were the same. Of course this is impossible! For without diversity there would be no ecosystem. Little life, except perhaps the extreme simplest forms, could live.

Now lets apply this principle to humanity. Would it not be rather uninteresting, dull and not much of a challenge if all people were the same? As a matter of fact, if everyone had the same experiences, talents, understanding and opinion civilization would cease to function- there would be no social civilizing “ecosystem” for us to thrive in. Homo sapiens would be nothing more than a group of ape-like instinct driven robots all carrying out functions from an identical program. There would be little art, music, creativity, achievement and certainly no individuality.

 

Medicine teaches the individual body needs all of its organs to function properly and in harmony for good health. Also it is beneficial for sensory receptors such as eyes, ears, feeling, and smell etc. to be in good working order. In the same way, it is apparent that without trained craftsmen and professionals in specialized fields of service to the whole of humankind, civilization will cease to progress. The “ecosystem” of the human race must provide many niches or jobs that allow unique talents to be developed and expressed. Again, the natural working model shows us that diversity equals stability.

 

Now, expand this process to include all the people around the world; the Africans, Asians, Europeans, Innuit, North American Indians, Polynesians etc. Now add the different cultures and religions to the mix. What do you think of when you hear about Baptist, Catholic or say Russian Orthodox Christian sects? How about the Iroquois “Law Of The Longhouse” (a governmental matriarchal system from which it is likely our own US Constitution is possibly based) or the “Eightfold Path” of Buddhism? The name “Allah”: is this a reference to the God of Abraham and Moses or something else?

In a world knit together by the modern marvels of instant world wide communication there is no place for terrorist activities abusing religious creeds or doctrines in defense of the right to attack, torture and mutilate those following a different path. It is evident humanity must evolve and rise above these decadent divisive deeds done in the “name” of the One Creator of us all- be it God, Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, Vishnu, Amitabha, Ahura Mazda, etc. Instead, let us not focus and dwell on differences of sect and interpretative traditions but, more appropriately, turn to the original scriptures of these diverse yet valid faiths and, with an open mind, see if Hindu (Lord Krishna), Buddhist (Gautama), Christian (Jesus), Islam (Muhammed), Iroquois (Dekanawida), the Baha’i Faith (Baha’u'llah) etc. do indeed address the same essential truths.

 

Remember- we need what the entire worldwide “ecosystem” has to offer. We must open our hearts and minds to accept and learn from peoples of diverse races, cultures and creeds if we, as a global interrelated human family are to reap the most benefit and stability from one another.

For more on this kind of thinking and “serving the case for world unity” go to http://onenessbecomesus.com