(New Beginnings, No.18)
We live in a world divided by race, class, colour, ideology, financial position, educational attainment and religion. The perils of such division are evident when we look at recent history, such as the ethnic divisions in the Balkans and Rwanda, the ideological insanity of Pol Pot in Cambodia, the tribal divisions of Afghanistan, sectarianism in Northern Ireland, and many other situations. When, in addition, we look at some of the problems facing the world, we can see how they call for united human action to face them.
Environmental destruction
The consequences of our ecological sins are catching up with us. Our destruction of the environment, our squandering of even the most basic natural resources, is breath-taking. For example:
Our supply of oxygen is being reduced through deforestation, such as in Indonesia, Siberia and the Amazon basin. Africa lost 10% of its forest between 1980 and 1995. Tropical forests are being cut at a rate of about one per cent per year.
Only three per cent of all water on earth is fresh and available for human use; the rest is salty. But, to take just one example, the Yangtze River in China has forty million tons of sewage and industrial waste poured into it daily. It has been said that while the wars of the twentieth century were fought about, or with oil, water may have that role in the twenty-first. The late King Hussein of Jordan has said that only a dispute over water could break the peace between his country and Israel. And world demand for fresh water doubles every twenty-one years.
The wealth of the earth’s forests and fresh water has declined by a third since 1970. If every person consumed natural resources at the same rate as Americans or Europeans, we would need another two Earths to survive.
Population
Today, 98% of world population growth is in the developing world. World population grows by 160 people per minute, and they all need resources.
Several countries in the so-called First World have declining and aging populations, while the growth of others is sustained only by immigration. For instance, President Putin said that, if present trends continue, Russia will lose 22 million of its 146 million people by 2012. And Spain, by the year 2020, will have the oldest population in the world, with more than half the people over 65. It now has the lowest birth-rate in the world, with only 1.2 children per woman, while about half of those between the ages of 15 and 49 say they intend having no children.
Since 1998, fertility has dropped below replacement levels in some 51 countries which, between them, embrace 44% of the world’s population.
Global warming
The 1990’s were the hottest decade on record. Ireland, among other countries, has not honoured its commitments under the 1997 Kyoto agreement on reduction of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, which cause global warming. Only Spain has a worse record in the EU. At present forests are able to absorb only 30% of emissions resulting from human activity.
A likely result is that weather conditions will be more extreme. The insurance industry is worried, describing global climatic change as the single most important issue facing it today. Global warming is a global warning.
Weaponry
Highly destructive weaponry – atomic, biological and chemical – is available to weak states as well as powerful ones, and to guerrilla groups with their own, sometimes dangerous, agenda, and who operate without the normal constraints of government. The testimony of history is that if people have a weapon, they will use it.
The human agenda – survival
It is a long time now since we saw a cartoon depicting the religious crank wearing sandwich boards that declared, “Doom is at hand. The end is nigh”. Now it is scientists who say it. Are we moving into a situation where the only item on humanity’s agenda may be survival, and that all other considerations will be forced into second place?
Can religion help?
Religion has often been the occasion, the excuse, or even the cause of social division. Can it provide common ground for human unity? Just imagine what the world could be like if adherents of the large religions followed their teachings:
Baha’i: Blessed is he who prefers his brother before himself. (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, 71)
Buddhism: Love all that lives. (Vatthupama-sutta, Majjhima-nikaya, Sutta no. 7)
Christianity: Jesus said, ‘Love one another as I have loved you’. (John 15.12)
Confucianism: Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. (Analects 15.23)
Hinduism: This is the sum of duty: do nothing to others which would cause pain if done to you. (Mahabharata 5.1517)
Islam: None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself. (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Hadith no.13)
Jainism: In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self. (Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara)
Judaism: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. (Leviticus 19.18)
Native American: Respect for all life is the foundation. (The Great Law of Peace)
Sikhism: Don’t create enmity with anyone, as God is within everyone. (Guru Arjan Devij 259, Guru Granth Sahib)
Taoism: Regard your neighbour’s gain as your gain, your neighbour’s loss as your own loss.
Zoroastrianism: That nature only is good when it shall not do unto another whatever is not good for its own self. (Dadistan-I-Dinik, 94.5)
Religion as a force for unity?
Is it realistic to hope that all religions may unite and become one? Are all religions essentially the same? One who thinks so is the Dalai Lama of Tibet. He said, ‘My opinion is that, except for differences in the names and forms of the various religions, the Ultimate Truth is the same.’ And the Hindu scripture, the Rig-Veda, says, ‘What is but one the wise call by many names.’ (Rig-Veda, 1.164.46)
Personally, I cannot see how theistic religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam can find doctrinal unity with non-theistic religions like Buddhism. Perhaps, in any event, it is unnecessary to seek this, since people already have common ground in a shared humanity. Maybe religions can enhance respect for human dignity, develop a sense that we share a common origin and destiny, and that all have a right to an equitable share of the world’s resources. There may be the possibility of an underlying vision of humanity shared by the world’s religious traditions, despite substantial, perhaps insuperable, differences on other grounds. Can such a vision help to enable moral conduct, not forcing us to do what is right but motivating us to choose what is right? Can it help to free us from what limits or diminishes our humanity? Can it help to create a climate of trust in which the fears that lock us into narrow loyalties can be outgrown? The history of inter-religious relationships does not give great grounds for realistic hope in this area, but need that bind us regarding the future? If religion is essentially about relationships, motivation and conscience, then maybe they can find a way forward together for the sake of all humanity.
The Decalogue of Assisi
On 24 January 2002, religious leaders of many traditions gathered at Assisi, Italy, in response to an invitation from Pope John Paul II. They adopted the following ten commitments, stating:
We commit ourselves
- To proclaiming our firm conviction that violence and terrorism are incompatible with the authentic spirit of religion, and, as we condemn every recourse to violence and war in the name of God or of religion, we commit ourselves to doing everything possible to eliminate the root causes of terrorism.
- To educating people to mutual respect and esteem, in order to help bring about a peaceful and fraternal coexistence between people of different ethnic groups, cultures and religions.
- To fostering the culture of dialogue, so that there will be an increase of understanding and mutual trust between individuals and among peoples, for these are the premise of authentic peace.
- To defending the right of everyone to live a decent life in accordance with their own cultural identity, and to form freely a family of his own.
- To frank and patient dialogue, refusing to consider our differences as an insurmountable barrier, but recognizing instead that to encounter the diversity of others can become an opportunity for greater reciprocal understanding.
- To forgiving one another for past and present errors and prejudices, and to supporting one another in a common effort both to overcome selfishness and arrogance, hatred and violence, and to learn from the past that peace without justice is no true peace.
- To taking the side of the poor and the helpless, to speaking out for those who have no voice, and to working effectively to change these situations, out of the conviction that no one can be happy alone.
- To taking up the cry of those who refuse to be resigned to violence and evil, and we desire to make every effort possible to offer the men and women of our time real hope for justice and peace.
- To encouraging all efforts to promote friendship between peoples, for we are convinced that, in the absence of solidarity and understanding between peoples, technological progress exposes the world to a growing risk of destruction and death.
- To urging the leaders of nations to make every effort to create and consolidate, on the national and international levels, a world of solidarity based on justice.
The European Union a role model
Perhaps there is a role model that can help. Out of the ashes of World War II came moves towards European unity. In the space of fifty years, despite centuries of hatred and warfare, countries like France and Germany have been reconciled. As a result, through organizations like the EU and NATO, Europe has enjoyed what is probably the longest period of peace in its history. The move towards European unity began with relatively small-scale cooperation in the production of coal and steel. Step by step, it has moved from there to the present point where Europe has a common currency, open borders, a single market, and many institutions for enhancing cooperation and understanding.
Cooperation
Like other people, believers in religion have a choice between being part of the problem and part of the answer. Turning away from the world’s problems in denial is no answer. Or believers can let those with a secular agenda set the pace and be content to follow where they have led. Or all of us humans, believers and unbelievers alike, can recognize our common humanity, and work together in a partnership of mutual respect for the sake of all our futures.