A matter of Global Unity and Peace

Much is spoken of the challenging times humanity has endured in the twenty-first century, the 9/11 assault on the twin towers and the rise of ISIS and terrorism, the Global Financial Crisis, the challenge to democracy and the Trump phenomenon, the covid-19 pandemic, and now the Ukrainian Invasion.

While many of these disasters so badly divided us; the twin towers split Western democracy from the Muslims, the GFC split the wealthy from the poorer, and the Trump government split the Democrats from the Republicans, but the pandemic and the Ukrainian experiences spawned a unity. Humanity united in a search for a vaccine and a unity in a global push-back for peace and justice in Ukraine against Putin.

The latter is spoken of as the greatest threat to world peace since the Second World War. This may be so, but that is to overlook the many smaller wars since the 1950s. The number in this century steadily growing with significant damage given the sophisticated weaponry.

Raimon Panikkar, an Academic, priest, and interfaith mystic has addressed the issue of war and peace, indicating his concern that humanity has lived with a mythos of conflict from the beginning of time and unless we discover a new mythos of peace to live by, we will destroy ourselves with our stockpiles of nuclear weaponry. The challenge of war significantly changed when weapons extended beyond an arm's reach. Strategic systems developed that spread control over vital decisions way beyond the influence of one. And when politicians hold massive numbers of shares in armament industries the loop within the system has closed and becomes self-fulfilling. Leaders who think bully tactics are the so-called strength of leadership to foil others' attempts are so misguided. They are the self-fulfilling prophets of inevitability. Thank goodness America is presently being led by Biden and Blinkin.

For Panikkar, the heart of the crisis in our day will be the clash of cosmologies (ie. One’s comprehensive understanding of all life). Its’ tentacle-like roots spread deeply into the human psyche and so many domains of life. Science and Spirituality shape values. Interfaith and interracial identity bridges our differences. Cultural wars between the conservatives, liberals, and progressives colour our search for meaning. The globalised world presents challenges never faced before. Co-operation, diplomacy, and dialogue is the only way to build a pathway to the future. The human community deeply committed to a vision of peace can unleash resources of energy that will build a global lifestyle that benefits all. But it requires the deepest of commitments from one and all.

In the period of history identified as the First Axial Period spanning the years of 800BC to 300BC, several scholars note that across the major cultures of the world a new value in the human person emerged even though the connection between cultures was minimal. The Buddhist, Confucian, Greek, and Jewish prophets each developed their own version of the ‘Golden Rule’, to do to others as you would want them to do to you. Of course, the Jewish version placed it in the mystery of God, ‘To love God and one’s neighbour as oneself.’ This truth still stands as the core vision of unity for humanity.

Gareth Evan's new book, ‘Good International Citizenship: The Case for Decency’, looks like a good practical place to start one's reflection.

Unity does emerge out of misfortune and we witness many inspirational acts but the unity that emerges by committed visionary intent elevates a community to history-shaping outcomes awaiting our commitment.

“Love one another, for love is of God.” 1 John 4:7