At this time of year, the long nights are upon us. The need to be kind and caring to others is essential, since most of us would rather be cuddled up beside a warm fire next to a glowing xmas tree drinking hot chocolate and listening to carols.
This is the time to reflect on the beauty of our world and how far our human species has evolved. We are waking up to the fact that the world is very small and maybe more fragile than we thought it was. The economic, social and environmental upheaval we are in requires bold moves, not just from our leaders but from each and everyone of us.
The US is to have its first black president. We in Canada are seeing the power of coalition government or the threat there of. I know as democracies we the people are the government and we make the laws to ensure that our societies are just and humane. But outside the government, people still need to have guidance and insight into their own morality. That is why, with such turmoil around us, the great religious leaders of the world should meet and pronounce in unity that the traditions and teaching they espouse are from human insight and thoughtful reflection. They should all come forward and say that what we have referred to as God or the Holy Spirit, Mohammed, Buddha, Zeus, Mithra etc. are manifestations of our own belief that there is a higher intangible force that binds us together. This force, this social sharing and deep conviction to help and feel empathy for others is real. That these feelings have been manifested into a supernatural being that is real is not so.
I am watching a lot of Xmas movies. Many of them have as their main theme the reality of Santa Claus. Modern shows with Whoopi Goldberg or Tim Allen make this very clear. I love these movies and I love the feeling I and my family get from watching them. Do we believe in Santa? No, but we believe in what we feel and care for. Santa, Christ, Easter Bunny, Thor are all wonderful creative solutions to encapsulate why we feel these loving and caring thoughts. We now know that evolution of the human species, along with all species has made these needs to share and care for each other "hardwired" into us.
So for Xmas I want all religious leaders to come forward and say, We no longer need to believe in God (there isn't one and believing in something does not make it so) but believe in each other and the kindness that is within all of us. That would be wonderful and even a miracle!
