Peace
You can bomb the world to piecesYou can't bomb it into peace
--Bomb the World, Michael Franti
Labels: bomb into peace, michael franti
posted by Lisa at 2:09 PM
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
You can bomb the world to piecesYou can't bomb it into peace
--Bomb the World, Michael Franti
4 Comments:
Isn't Jesus Christ referred to as the "Prince of Peace" in many religious quarters? So why does it seem that many of those who most vociferously proclaim their everlasting fidelity to Jesus have a hard time understanding that whole "peace" thing?
Poor Jesus. Whether you believe in his divinity or not, ISTM this poor man who did nothing but preach good things deserves an enormous amount of respect and admiration.
So why is it that so many who claim to love him and who so loudly proclaim themselves to be his followers have such a hard time understanding his message?
Peace to everyone.
Very well said, Publius.
Off the top, I think our clannish mentality overrides His ecumenicalism. We figure He must be a team player, too. Our hubris disallows our ascending high enough above the madding crowd to see the reality of our sameness.
In a jest tonight, when Jim was discussing group affiliation, I told him he may as well affiliate with a sponge, close as we are chromosomally to them. None of the higher vertebrates differ by more than 5%, genetically-speaking.
Speaking for myself, I have nothing but respect and admiration for those prophets over the ages who dare to speak out on these truths, and who are often met with ridicule and much worse. I have little tolerance for an attitude of superiority in any of His children. Any.
As an aside, this is why "lower" animals seem so superior--they do not whine and seek their purpose or place in things. They simply are. And maybe cat lovers can be explained by their anthropomorphism: they think cats are haughty (like people who think they are our betters). And humans do like to have diety, so they can establish a pecking order.
This is the only reason I have come up with to for why so many folks do this "cat blogging" phenomenon. A form of deification?
My view is that Man makes God in his own image.
The type of religion a person chooses to embrace tells you the truth about that persons psychology but nothing about objective Truth.
Some people require an Old Testament type God, a strong Father figure (Patriarchal) who harshly judges what is good or evil, right or wrong and punishes those who are found lacking, a God who sets different tribes against each other and commands them to make war and kill each other.A god who says "kill thy enemy in My name"
This is a good diety for people who view the proper way to live life as more competitive than cooperative, who are fighters not lovers,and who want to identify with a narrowly defined social group.
Other people prefer a God of unconditional Love (Matriarchal) like New Testament Jesus who commands his followers to put aside their differences and love each other, who says "Love thy enemy". This is a good kind of God for people who view a proper life as cooperative more than competitive, who are more lovers than fighters, who are comfortable with a large, diverse social group.
Personally I think these personality traits evolved in our pre human ancestors as part of the psychology of the social animal, and that both inclinations have survival value.
An interesting illustration of this in other Primates is in the differences between Chimpanzee and Bonobo behavior. There is a PBS Nova transcript on line called Nova The Last Great Ape that is abut this difference.
Also, personally speaking , I don't see how anyone can claim to follow both The Old Testament and The New Testament. To me they seem to be mutually exclusive.
I know this is all oversimplified, but I'm not writing a book here.
Kevin,
You make some interesting points.
Yes, both the O.T. and N.T have "survival" value.
I do not know that they are mutually exclusive, save for the absolute commandment to "love"--thy neighbor, the stranger, etc. Jesus didn't command we love everyone--not even our kids or parents. But respect is called for.
Forbearance and forgiveness in the face of offense is also required, and to not count offense. "Forgive 70 times seven." No miserliness here, no tally. It is always right to turn the other cheek. I do not see many who can live that message, so many integrate the O.T. God of wrath when the going gets gets bad.
As you say, everyone creates their own version of theology which they can inhabit. This arrogance masquerading as true authority disqualifies anyone from imposing "values" upon another.
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