We the people. What wisdom in such a simple yet meaningful concept. Unfortunately, the promise of equality too often falls short to profit and segregation. Too often we make short-sited decisions in favor of personal greed instead of providing a foundation for a healthy, happy and sustainable society. Too often we forget that we are a part of a community. We forget that we are a people. We forget that we are one world.
Fear has often driven this forgetfulness. Fear of not having enough. Fear of being wrong. Fear of others. Fear of the unknown which keeps us complacent. Fear often proves to be a motivating factor in establishing laws that protect what financial gains we have. Fear keeps the wealthy…wealthy. Fear keeps us from understanding those that are not like us. Fear sends us to war and keeps us at war. Fear builds fences.
Historically speaking, fear has caused massive bloodshed. Take a look at Somalia, Kosovo, Rwanda, the Holocaust, Aboriginal Child Removal Policy (Australia), Indian Removal Act (North America), the Inquisition, Witch Trials, etc. Unfortunately, this is only a short list. After reading the list, what do you think? Are those all things of the past?
On December 12, 2011, Amina bint Abdel Halim Nassar was executed for sorcery and witchcraft in Saudi Arabia. She was beheaded for blasphemy. Unfortunately, that’s only one example of the destruction fear causes in the daily lives of worldly citizens. It’s unfortunate that these things have happened, but it’s unfathomable as to why they continue to happen. How can we put a man on the moon, discover the double helix, or describe quantum physics and still be so utterly ignorant?
Knowledge of what is good is nothing new.
“To see what is right and not do it is want of courage.” – Confucius
“I am not Athenian or Greek, but a citizen of the world.” – Socrates
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” - Edmund Burke
Yet too often, we do nothing. Too often, we choose to be blind and dumb. Too often, we find bliss in reaffirming ignorance.
It’s reaffirming to find a congregation that thinks the way we do and oh what a coincidence that it’s exactly what god wants. The town of Keyser, WV has a population of 5,303 as of 2000. It also has 4 different United Methodist Churches (let alone all the other denominations). They were, and primarily still are, the Methodist Episcopal Church, The Methodist Episcopal Church South, the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the United Brethren Church. Each one maintains a slightly different socio-economic status and viewpoint, yet each one supports the “true” meaning of god’s will. Keyser is not an anomaly.
Some doctrines claim that homosexuals are living in sin. Some say blasphemy should be punished by death. Some say people of a different race are inferior. Some say god blesses the wealthy. Some think god helps a sports team win a game. Some believe in stoning sexually active women. Some believe that anyone who doesn’t believe like them should be killed. All are confirmed to be most righteous. All are living the true desires of their god. Based upon personal affirmation all of them can do as much good or bad and claim to be right.
This is the danger of allowing religious beliefs to govern society. In this type of society, people make laws not because it’s right, but because a book or a person tells them to do so. If it takes a book or religious belief to convince our political representatives that it’s wrong to cheat, steal or kill, then we should be ashamed to foolishly elect them.
We know what is right. We know what is wrong. We can see…but will we speak?
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