Universal Brotherhood and Humanism

As a catholic priest I was invited, this week, to an inter-religious seminar. I was briefed that I would have to speak about my faith. On preliminary enquiry, I was not given much detail concerning the programme and the theme.  The theme at the entrance itself, read loud and clear: Revival of universal brotherhood and humanism.  Though this may not shock many, I was shocked. 

When I saw the theme I realized that I did not fit in with the so called pseudo-intellectuals who would display their merchandise and have scant regard for the truth.

At the outset itself, I was introduced to one of the key figures, who was an ex-IAS (Indian Administrative Service and still active), considered to be a well read man. In our preliminary discussion it was evident, that in his conviction and zeal to achieve this goal, he was willing to suppress every form of resistance through strong intellectual assertions, and he had a willing audience to accept it. 

He held a view: “When people believing in different religions will get united and cooperate for reviving global brotherhood and humanism there will be no problem in bringing about world unity.” He even had a view about every religion and what they are and what they should.

I was suggesting to him that true unity could consist in not ignoring the differences but by recognizing diversity and differences, and yet respecting the rights of each one to hold on to what they think as right. (This I did put into practice there, even though I was insulted and disrespected and yet responding with kindness and respect).  I chose to be gentle to them through enduring tolerance, and by not walking out of the seminar.  Ultimately, was this attitude of mine, viz. that of respect, kindness and gentleness considered as being an approval of their mindset and thinking, by them???  They seemed to know my religion better than me, and were keen on teaching me and interpreting it as they thought it fit, as if they had my stamp of approval to whatever seemed right to them. Alas for their zeal to unite religions!

I had only to fit in with their scheme of things: Revival of universal brotherhood and humanism – in what way is this not a new religion?

No doubt, the goal of moving towards a universal brotherhood and humanism, by bringing all religions together on a common platform, in order to get them to agree on being united in common purpose, sounds noble and very appealing but nevertheless belongs to the ideological world of ideas; it is not a new trend among humanity.

The aim of this article is to expose the hypocrisy in such thought patterns and analyze the underlying cause of such longings, and the reason for its seeming success with possible solutions. 

Years ago when I was serving in a particular parish there were emissaries sent by some priests to invite me to participate in a seminar on humanity, where the aim was to bring all religions on a common platform and help them realize humanity as the uniting factor for religions.  I was told that some prominent personalities would be there too. After having listened to their insistence I asked them; “Isn’t this goal of bringing people of all religions together on a common platform, in the name of humanity, and uniting religions under one banner was as good as starting a new-religion?”

I have seen such foolish participation by the elite class, the Judases of the faith, who may never have realized the disservice they were doing humanity in the name of humanism (Hindi/ Sanskrit: Manavta).

Overall Analysis of the problem:

Achievement factor:  The focus of this exercise should by now be clear: Bring people of all religions together on a common platform so as to unite them under the banner of humanism. The fruit thereof would be the establishment of a new world order based on humanism; one world, one government.

The reason for this exercise, on their part, is on account of the frustration with religion or could be their personal ambitions. Besides this, religions binding laws, the internal and external conflicts, the growing religious intolerance and the rise of religious terrorism may also be a cause for such a demand.  Such ideology may also be sown in human hope;  of achieving something credible. 

Though what is proclaimed by these is that every religion teaches one to love and respect and there is good in every religion, and that we must seek what binds rather than what divides - this in itself is a contradiction: If there is good in every religion then why seek what binds and not learn to respect and deliberate on what divides?  “There shouldn't be the dividing factor among religions”; as per their reasoning. 

The normal trend is to see all religions from one perspective and from one window, this sometimes holds true even in Catholic circles among priests and religious. When there is a manifestation of any form of fundamentalism or fanaticism in any religion, even if it is broadly manifested in a few religions, then the condemnation issued is towards all; "all religions are bad," - is what they would boldly assert.

On the other hand, the positive contribution of Christianity towards the development of cultures and people are all forgotten. Holding on to Christian fundamentals can only lead to a service of love and self-sacrifice.

For those who are working towards the goal of universal brotherhood and humanism, this new approach, to them, is the need of the hour, because they are tired of the many conflicts in the name of religion, the growing trend of religious terrorism and the division in society. 

Is it a new phenomenon to unite religions of the world? At least, to seek the unity of man is not new  a new trend and many think that it is religion that has been an obstacle towards achieving this goal. By what seems noble in his nature man always seeks unity, the goal does not matter to him or how this unity is achieved. At the ordinary level it is even unity for the sake of unity!.

I have seen and experienced for myself, how people with such mind set have been brutal in suppressing those who raise a prophetic objection to their scheming's  Hence, what I speak here is not based on armchair theories or ideas.

This unity which they normally seek is one of blind agreement on any issues, at any cost, irrespective of the truth concerning the issues; whether it is the issue of peace, religion, humanism, brotherhood, development, progress, health or business.

Hence, it is a strong current trend, a movement  towards uniting humans on the basis of humanism, which has seen its gradual rise and will definitely grow stronger and louder with time and even establish itself.  Unfortunately! We have reached a stage in human history whereby this ideological trend will grow and establish and even assert itself even in the church.

On the other hand there is a growing frustration due to various reasons, besides the religious conflicts; there are also the socio-economic factors, the growing fracture in all forms of committed relationships, lifestyles that are hostile to sound values, family and society, etc.  There are those who have made beating at religion their goal and also hit out at Christians who are already holding firm to the faith. Those agreeing with sound Catholic doctrine are already at the receiving end from such fundamentalists rooted in humanism and relativism. As Pope Benedict would call them; “dictator of relativism”

Consequences: This labor which is sown in hope today, viz,. the Universal brotherhood and humanism, will result in great unhappiness and destruction in the near future. For a little while everyone will rejoice and be happy. This will be looked upon as mankind’s greatest achievement. To help in the achievement of this goal there are already existing unions among nations on the basis of trade and development.

Why do these things happen in society? I see this as fruit of human aspiration and hope for a perfect society; an idealism. In which they hope to achieve peace and brotherhood, wealth and well being.  What one fails to realize is this; what we hope for and the outcome thereof is never the same, what we aspire for and what in reality we are is something which we have not fully comprehended about ourselves  We hope for a corrupt-free world, while we ourselves are corrupt. We hope for a society free of all kinds discrimination while we are ourselves discriminate. 

In my talk at the seminar I applauded this aspiration of the human heart to achieve universal brotherhood through humanism but at the same time pointed out the three basic flaws of humanity:

1)      Human beings are selfish and self centered; by nature they seek what suits best for them. They are greedy and ambitious and always, whether consciously or unconsciously, seeks their own gain. Their mortal nature seeks survival over sacrifice in a morbidly competitive world.

2)      Confused and the conflict within makes him 'want to do good but ends up doing what is evil: Even if they want to avoid evil they still end up doing it.' (cfr. Rm. 7:14ff)

3)      many a times, one does not know the difference between good and evil. This is a stark reality which stares at the face of every human being. Whether in the small choices of life or the big he is confused over his choices and sometimes looks to others for approval or create themselves a support structure to absorb the criticism or pain of the consequences of a wrong choice.  Even if he thinks he has taken a right decision in life, it is his value goal, his priority, which gives him a sense of satisfaction of taking right decision and yet may never be right: “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”  (Prov 14:12; 16:25)

In such a dark situation, I proposed Christ as the model. He is God who knew this reality of the human race and thus revealed himself and came in our midst to unite us under the perfect banner of the Fatherhood of God.  In other words: Not unity for unity sake, not unity by overlooking our differences or sinfulness, not a unity which would be sown in a false hope of human development, not the unity where man is the absolute centre; which would set him even above God.

Get me right: I am not against any form of unity or brotherhood but what I am definitely against is the reasoning’s and means that we are using to achieve it.  The way of humanism is neither the solution nor the way to Universal brotherhood. 

Jesus has already shown us the way and he himself, in human terms, can be termed as a failure in this cause. He was a perfect example of moral uprightness and perfection and yet never assures us that unity and perfection in society.  He has given us a way to unity in himself and under the Fatherhood of God and his failure is proved by the rejection he endured and ultimately his crucifixion:  “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." (Luke 12:51-53). Lest anyone misunderstand this statement of Jesus; what Jesus is reminding the human race is its sinful nature, which is selfish, unwise and foolish and gets carried away with that which pleases them. It will not easily accept that which is good for them in the long run, and hence will even reject his true followers and their teachings for their own criterion of life. 

Jesus can only unite us to the extent to which we are willing to allow him a say in our lives: How will they allow him that total Lordship over their lives? How many believe in the truth of his statement? If Christ came to establish a kingdom of justice, peace and brotherhood here on earth, as the humanist would have us believe, then he need not have proclaimed to the world, when he was brought before Pilate at the moment of his trial, that his kingdom is not of this world.

Therefore the only success achievable towards this end has to be through an adoption of devious means, false hope, poor logic, through the craftiness of men whose only goal is to unite and perhaps make a name for themselves as authors of a new world order.

Christian love on the other hand sees the difference and hence avoids a hypocritical approach to life. It recognizes the evil and yet tolerates but not without seeking a correction, it sees the hatred and yet loves, and it sees the discrimination and yet is patient. It only seeks the good of the other, even the eternal good. Thus in the history of the human race it can boast of a better ratio of love winning over hatred than any other major religion. There have been more deaths, in its long history, due to the self sacrifice and persecutions its adherents have faced rather than by seeking to vanquish others  .

Prayer:

God our Father, have mercy on the human race which seeks to reject you and your revealed ways in their quest for unity and a new universal religion of false brotherhood.