No 219 of Living Life Series 1
Every sect and religion must reach out to meet the spiritual needs of society. No one sect or religion can meet the needs of all in society. This is a reality which is best accepted by all. Synergism and some competition can be wholesome by enlightening more people in wide spectrum of diverse ways. This is in contradiction to antagonism, monopoly and upmanship which will negate the good works of other fellow religionists.
For any sect, there is need to innovate in the approach or form to present the substance of divine values. This way, humanity will be able to reach out to more people in society and meet their needs.
This can be in form of more places of worship and better uses of time and facilities
We can value add by stratafication, that is, by sharing of one place by different groups or strata.
Every sect and religion must reach out to meet the spiritual needs of society. No one sect or religion can meet the needs of all in society. This is a reality which is best accepted by all. Synergism and some competition can be wholesome by enlightening more people in wide spectrum of diverse ways. This is in contradiction to antagonism, monopoly and upmanship which will negate the good works of other fellow religionists.
For any sect, there is need to innovate in the approach or form to present the substance of divine values. This way, humanity will be able to reach out to more people in society and meet their needs.
This can be in form of more places of worship and better uses of time and facilities
We can value add by stratafication, that is, by sharing of one place by different groups or strata.
Perhaps, time sharing of a premise by different religions via apportioning time slots should be encouraged. This would be ideal and at same time realistic reflection of multi-religious society. This would endear us to divinity and to all sections of society. Such scheme would be the norm in time to come.
Perhaps, there would be separate prayer or shrine rooms but with time sharing halls, auditorium, internet cafe, inter religious cultural enclaves and meeting rooms.
Governments could build generic spiritual premises (multi-religious centres) for shared use by all religions and for all functions like wedding, funeral and birthday observances. Coercion for cohesive live and let live and harmonious inter-religious understanding could be effected. This may appear remote now but will come to the fore with time. In time, perhaps there will be regular monthly multi-religious services, joint sermons and observances e.g. mass charity drives, weddings and memorials.
All of these innovations would prevent seeds of spiritual terrorism, monopoly, sensitivities, exclusivity, extremism, alienation from taking root and spawning endless and needless problems in any nation.
They inject realism, sense of proportion and better understanding of divinity, one's own sect or religion and better perspectives of others religions and sects by bringing together various faiths, sects and persuasion under one roof.
The realisation of the commonality of inner truth behind all sects and religions as reminded to us by Lord Bo Tien could motivate people of various religions to seriously take on such innovations.
This Mission of Heaven of which the lord saint is a messenger is a heavenly initiative to obviate or at least minimise the seeds of spiritual terrorism, monopoly, sensitivities, exclusivity, extremism, alienation from taking root like cancerous cells invading and gnawing up and destroying the spiritual wholeness of humanity.
It is not far fetch to conclude that fundamentalist approach which sticks to literal direct interpretation of the written word without adequate mutual respect for others differing styles will likely be moderated so as not to border on fanaticism which may let ill-will to fester and ignite pockets of terrorist traits. Terrorism will wane and fade into oblivion and belong to the past when there is no extreme obsessional fundamentalism. Then the past truly will be history and the present is a present indeed and the future will be promising.
Perhaps, there would be separate prayer or shrine rooms but with time sharing halls, auditorium, internet cafe, inter religious cultural enclaves and meeting rooms.
Governments could build generic spiritual premises (multi-religious centres) for shared use by all religions and for all functions like wedding, funeral and birthday observances. Coercion for cohesive live and let live and harmonious inter-religious understanding could be effected. This may appear remote now but will come to the fore with time. In time, perhaps there will be regular monthly multi-religious services, joint sermons and observances e.g. mass charity drives, weddings and memorials.
All of these innovations would prevent seeds of spiritual terrorism, monopoly, sensitivities, exclusivity, extremism, alienation from taking root and spawning endless and needless problems in any nation.
They inject realism, sense of proportion and better understanding of divinity, one's own sect or religion and better perspectives of others religions and sects by bringing together various faiths, sects and persuasion under one roof.
The realisation of the commonality of inner truth behind all sects and religions as reminded to us by Lord Bo Tien could motivate people of various religions to seriously take on such innovations.
This Mission of Heaven of which the lord saint is a messenger is a heavenly initiative to obviate or at least minimise the seeds of spiritual terrorism, monopoly, sensitivities, exclusivity, extremism, alienation from taking root like cancerous cells invading and gnawing up and destroying the spiritual wholeness of humanity.
It is not far fetch to conclude that fundamentalist approach which sticks to literal direct interpretation of the written word without adequate mutual respect for others differing styles will likely be moderated so as not to border on fanaticism which may let ill-will to fester and ignite pockets of terrorist traits. Terrorism will wane and fade into oblivion and belong to the past when there is no extreme obsessional fundamentalism. Then the past truly will be history and the present is a present indeed and the future will be promising.
Do note however that some degree of fundamentalism in a religion will allow correction to basics and is desirable as a reality check. But like it or not, somehow any over correction may result in distortion of the basics and less apt application to modern day realities and context.
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