Now the Bible is littered with statements about love. In the Old Testament they seem, more often than not, to be about the individual and God. In the New Testament such statements are more about love between individuals. "Love one another as I have loved you" for example. This does, however, raise certain questions.
How does one obey an injunction to love? How can one love to order? If it is indeed possible to do so then clearly, love is something other than what is usually meant by that often misused word. And what about, "Love your enemies." What does that mean? For me it can only mean treat others with the respect that you would like to receive from them.
On a broader scale, the idea that one can love the whole world, interpreted literally, is totally beyond me if for no other reason than sheer impracticality. It makes little sense to me, a flawed human being, and seems to be asking for the impossible. How then has this idea found its way into our culture? I would suggest that it has done so through the agency of religion. Christianity, and I will speak for no other religion, has imposed a belief system on its followers which appears to be impossible by taking the sayings of Jesus the Nazarene [and some of the apostles] completely out of context.
Did the Nazarene ever say that we should love the world? No. Whenever he and other New Testament writers talked about this matter they were inevitably talking to particular groups of people, and how they should treat each other within that group. Often the group was no larger than Jesus' disciples; sometimes it was simply a church community battling for spiritual survival in an ideologically and physically hostile world. We see the same kind of injunction of loving one another in Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-anon, Narcotics Anonymous and other groups. There, within the narrow confines of a group working for its own spiritual recovery, it works and can work very well.
Is there a way that we can get out of that seemingly impossible injunction to love everyone? Perhaps the word that stands out most, when I think about love for one another, is "kind". Let us be kind to one another, for we are all of a kind. That kind-ness is shared with the rest of the animal kingdom for we are all part of that kingdom. Indeed, we share much with all the other and various life forms on this planet.
Perhaps by paying focused attention on our own psycho-spiritual condition and recovery we will, as a result, allow the rest of the world to heal. How wonderful it could be to believe, as a guiding principle, not in a brotherhood of man or a sisterhood of woman but.......... in the "Kind-ness of Creation." We might then be a little more respectful of the living world around us, and even humbly come to love it.
Hi Tom,
ReplyDeleteFrom my perspective I also think the idea is reasonably straightforward, as Christ asked his followers to love one another as he has loved them.
This is different to the idea of reciprocity encompassed in the widespread idea of the golden rule.
Rather, it is as the Christ revealed in the parables and experiences during his brief ministry. So it leaves a lot to the imagination. The idea of the Good Samaritan was an example of how the then hated Samarians were just as capable of good deeds as anyone else. So what took root was the idea of the Christ fearlessly proclaiming GOD for all nations, and so the invitation was to go out the world with the story all are loved. Be kind to all nations, as we all belong to just the ONE race, which is called the human race.
Best wishes
Tom, when I read about the depravations of ISIS or the Boko Haram or some of the vicious animals that have killed hundreds in my own country, I feel compelled to disagree with the principle of loving everyone, or even being kind to everyone. The world has grown too large, I fear, with too many divergent views and opinions. I fear even an Un-Civil War again in the U.S.A., thanks to hatred spewed by the far right. But enough. I'll shut up.
ReplyDeleteI think that Christ's statements and actions concerning the difficult subject of love were a lot more radical than is generally assumed, so radical that they led to his crucifixion. He was essentially saying that it's possible to change human nature. even to the extent of going contrary to what our evolutionary history has built into us. Love, in the radical sense that he preached, is not merely being kind, being good neighbours, doing good deeds whenever possible and so on. The really radical bit is that famous "turning the other cheek" and the idea of forgiveness. Apart from non-violent demonstrations, such as Gandhi's in India (nothing to do with Christianity), conscientious objectors and other individual actions such as certain people forgiving criminals for terrible actions done to their loved ones, there hasn't ever been a major revolution in human behaviour based on love, in the radical sense that Christ was teaching. Because that sense is not "natural" to us. It's natural and normal for us to say, as you and Bruce have said above and as we all say: it's impossible to love everyone or be kind to everyone or to forgive everyone even if they commit unforgiveable crimes. We're not built that way, it's contrary to human nature, to justice, to fairness, etc.etc. But there you are, it's what Christ was saying we can and should do. Think about how unacceptable that idea is to everything in our society! If Jesus were back today, preaching the same message, he'd be killed again, for sure, and quicker than before. I don't know how to solve this conundrum but I'm pretty sure love is the answer. A radical kind of love.
ReplyDeleteLindsay, Bruce and Natalie;
ReplyDeleteI am going to try to reply to you all in one response. I too am appalled by the atrocities carries out around the world, and feel no sense of love and kindness towards the perpetrators. But there is a very big difference between what one feels and what one does. Feelings arise because they are a natural part of our ego base. There is nothing wrong or spiritually unhealthy about that. The same applies, in my opinion, about one's approach to the rest of the world.
The actions we take are a different matter, and one of those actions is how we focus on our feelings, our sense of injury, our anger and so on. Do we accept our feelings and take appropriate action, or do we let them fester and turn into bitterness and resentment?
We are not required to be door mats for everyone who chooses to walk all over us. We can 'wipe off the dust of a town that rejects us.' Neither is it appropriate to vent our feelings unthinkingly when and where we choose to do so. That solves nothing. Rather, it puts control firmly in the hands of those who do us wrong, and in so doing damages us spiritually, psychologically.
We need to 'repent' that is find a new way of thinking. The old ways have not served us well. The old mindsets are no longer appropriate. Love and kindness do not have to be some woolly, sentimental approach to pseudo-holiness. They may need to be tough; tough kindness; tough love; not lashing out because we dare not face our own possible involvement.
I am not saying other people's actions are always acceptable. They're not. I'm not saying we should simply pat the terrorist [and there are many forms of terrorism!!] on the head and say don't do it again. Responsibility must be owned and accepted, as must our responses. None of us is so powerful that we can control other people's thoughts and urges. That does not mean that we cannot use some wisdom now and then.
As I have said elsewhere, my experience of the Christ is that that presence is humanoid yet alien. Is it surprising, therefore, that we need to evolve into beings that can think in radically new ways? If we do not choose to do so, we will in the end be forced to do so.
But as Bruce said, 'But enough. I'll shut up.' Thank you all.
This is going to be a bit rambling, because I've never attempted to synthesize these thoughts into a whole. Keeping in mind that these are my ideas and we aren't going to start a new religion here ...
ReplyDeleteWas there ever a more complicated issue for those who care about the world? To me, as a teacher by calling and profession, I see the world as a very large class to care for. That means a higher power, and any who think of theirselves as an ally to that power would act as a kind (there is that word) and judicious (not everything our sisters and brother do should be allowed to pass without correction) parent.
It is how one sees the world that is under test here, and one could go on and on about that. It begs questions, such as "If one believes in eternal life, why is it we are so afraid of death?"
If we can imagine that we are part of an eternal Is, using incarnation as a way to entertain ourselves, then the part we play while on this stage called life isn't quite as dire as we think. Love can then be seen as our acknowledgement that our fellow traveller (who might be our most hated adversary in this life) is in fact part of us in the spirit.
Thank you for asking such stimulating questions Tom!
Hello Halle;
DeleteIf I could be a little cheeky for a moment, would it not be fair to say that you would know every student in your class, and that you all would have some common goal? I draw a parallel here between your group, the disciples and perhaps a church congregation. When it comes to the world at large, I feel we are in territory too large to know intimately. Having said that, I believe we must be open to listening to the world and responding appropriately and kindly. Maybe, an appropriate response is to stand back and disengage. There are areas surely that are in the purview of some higher power, but not within ours.
I like and agree with you concerning the parts we play on the stage of life. For all our illusions of control, we may well be doing just what we are supposed to do. Maybe that is necessary so that the higher power can learn. Are we not all part of the process of becoming?
Pity we're not starting a new religion here, Halle. I thought we were on to something. :) Incidentally, ramble on at any time. Much can come from that kind of approach, because everything is not yet done and dusted.
I would love to know what that common goal is. If there is an eternal singular power, at the head of this unruly class, we must be known intimately by that entity. That way they can get the most out of observing the shenanigans we get up to here!
DeleteAs one of the actors strutting about here, I can separate the other actors from the part they play, however, while I am in character, I'm only human! I cannot manage to tolerate, never mind love a lot of the fellow participants! My particular character pretends to be kind, and yes, she listens and tries her best to be generous.
I like to think that we will all get together and discuss our part in the 'process of becoming' along with those who played the part of people who cause us to cringe or even feel hatred "in life".
Y-e-e-e-s..... that's something to look forward to.
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