Signs of Hope and Progress

(Revised 10-21-2009)

Despite all the signs of conflict, division, bigotry, greed, corruption and violence which have caused so much despair and decline in the human condition in our country and world, we should keep in mind that there have been and are great signs of hope and progress.

The most obvious and latest sign of progress is the victory of Barack Obama, which shows that at least 52 percent of the Americans who bothered to vote understand that significant change is needed. Unfortunately, having yet another partisan president perpetuates the partisan conflict and division, and it will not produce the real and lasting changes that we need. And, after all, 100 Million eligible voters in the U.S. did not even bother to vote, probably because they are disgusted with partisan politics and cannot endorse even the lesser of the two evils that divide us. But, nevertheless, I see Obama’s victory as a sign of hope and progress. And there have been many others.

Right now we need to realize that there are signs of hope, that many things are getting better, and that everything will get better in due time. In fact, the future will be bright, if we understand history and have the correct vision of our future and destiny. (See the pages on The Future; A New Declaration of Independence; How the Meek Shall Inherit the Earth; and Little Known American History.)

The fact is that science and technology are making great strides in discovering how we can enhance and improve our lives and improve our environment in a myriad of ways, and when our government truly represents us and has the political will, we will see great improvements.

It’s but a matter of time before that happens, because increasing numbers of people are realizing that they must stand up and speak up to give voice to the humanitarian Spirit of truth. We must do that in order to counter the selfish and corrupting spirit of greed; the ugly spirit of racial, cultural, nationalistic and religious bigotry and prejudice; the arrogant spirit of nationalism; and the self-righteous spirit of partisanship, all of which have created terrible conflict, division, violence, death, destruction and suffering in our world.

In due time it will be politically incorrect and socially unacceptable for anyone to claim that their culture or religion or nationality or ethnicity or race is superior to all others. Our diversity will be appreciated and celebrated. Mutual respect, equality, freedom and pluralism will be the natural order, and unity will be the common theme of human interaction and dialogue.

In that respect, a fairly recent sign of hope and progress in America is that mainstream progressive Christians finally began to speak up after more than two and a half decades of remaining silent while bigoted, hypocritical, aggressive right-wing conservative leaders of the "Christian Right" used their pulpits for partisan political grandstanding.

In fact, progressive Christians were in large part responsible for the victory of Democrats in the 2006 mid-term election and the 2008 presidential election, because they began to point out true Christian values, which naturally contradicted what the right-wing hypocrites had long been claiming. That was a positive sign of truth winning over falsehoods, and I trust that will continue and increase.

But I want to point out that there are and have been many other signs of hope and progress, some of which were shown long ago.

In the 1960s many spiritual teachers were quite effective in spreading the word that there are many core universal truths common to all religions. And they were in fact renewing the efforts that many wise people had made back in the 1700s. After all, many of the founding fathers of America and many European and American poets, philosophers, and writers had begun advancing that knowledge. And in the 1960s those efforts were renewed by many wise and caring people. (See the page on Little Known American History.)

But even more traditional religious leaders also started to try to do the right thing as well. For example, throughout his papacy, Catholic Pope John Paul II preached a message of peace, hope and the bringing together of all religions. He established a dialogue of friendship and understanding between Christian denominations, and non-Christians. He tried to bring reconciliation between all religions, visiting and praying with many, and even preaching in a Lutheran church. He was the first Pope to visit a Synagogue, and he established diplomatic relations between Israel and the Vatican. In Assisi, Italy, he held prayers for peace, inviting spiritual leaders from 12 of the world's major religions.

For the first time in history, leaders from all the major religions assembled in one place, bringing Jews, Buddhists, Shintoists, Muslims, Zoroastrians, Hindus, Unitarians, traditional African, and Native American religions. They all prayed for peace, and the Dahli Lama even placed a statue of Buddha on the altar. Pope John Paul II stated that they were all praying to the same God for the same purpose, and that their spiritual energy was bringing about a new climate of peace. Catholic-Muslim dialogue also expanded under John Paul the II's leadership, and he tried to create a bond between Christianity and Islam.

In 1969, the World Council of Churches gathered with Christians and Muslims, setting the stage for future dialogue. A Christian-Muslim Seminar was held in Tripoli in 1976, as well as open dialogue engaged through the Royal Academy for Islamic Civilization Research. Pope John Paul II addressed Catholics in Turkey and said, "I wonder if it is now urgent, precisely today when Christians and Muslims have entered a new period of history, to recognize and develop the spiritual bonds that unite us."

Unfortunately, the rise of the "Religious Right" in the world, and particularly the rise of the "Christian Right," which gathered steam in 1979 in America with their support for Ronald Reagan, started to undermine such progress. But despite the divisive militancy of the misguided religious zealots who claim to be Christians or Muslims or Jews, good people from all faiths have still been trying to promote harmony, unity and peace.

The Catholic church has even been seeking a relationship with Islam. In 1994 the Vatican published a document titled "Recognize the Spiritual Bonds Which Unite Us," directed towards Muslims and Catholics alike. John Paul II was the first Pope to enter a Muslim place of worship, visiting the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria. He also visited Morocco at the invitation of some of its religious leaders, and in May of 1999, he kissed the Koran. At a later rally with thousands of Muslim youth in attendance, he said, "we believe in the same God, the one God, the living God" (which, by the way, is exactly what the prophet Muhammad said and wrote).

Of course, that certainly does not excuse the Roman Catholic Church from past offenses and crimes against humanity. After all, since it was established in the fourth century, it was responsible for the horribly oppressive theocratic "Dark Ages," the cruel Inquisition, and the bloody Crusades against Islam. Papal documents from the 1400s show the Papacy played a role in justifying the genocidal onslaught that affected millions of indigenous people in many areas of the world. One edict authorized Portugese "Christian soldiers" to"invade, search out, capture, vanquish and subdue all Saracens and pagans" along the west coast of Africa, which served to justify the enslavement of indigenous people and confiscation of their property and land. And that set the tone for European military conquest of many different indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere, where European Christians killed many and occupied their lands, a practice then continued not only by other European Catholic Christians, but by European and American Protestant Christians as well. Military imperialism, conquest, occupation, colonialism and, if necessary, even genocide, was considered the "Christian" thing to do.

Ironically, some "Protestant Christians" in America still believe that today. But the leadership of Pope John Paul II began the much-needed Catholic process of apology and making amends, and trying to do the right thing. He made some significant progress (even though he and his successor perpetuated the sexist, patriarchal traditions of the Roman Catholic Church).

Unfortunately, the hypocrisy of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, the Neo-Conservative Movement, the American "Christian Right," Christian Zionists and Jewish Zionists have undone or tried to undo a lot of that progress, and they have in fact damaged and worsened the relationship between Christians and Muslims. And, of course, misguided radical Muslim hypocrites have also damaged and worsened it, with their sneaky, violent, murderous reactions and theocratic tyranny.

Fortunately though, in spite of the religious bigotry of hypocrites who falsely claim to be Jews or Christians or Muslims, the United Nations and the European Union have participated and sponsored interfaith meetings, taking up the theme of religious pluralism and equality. In 2000, the United Nations held its first ever Millennium World Peace Summit. It brought together thousands of the world's preeminent religious and spiritual leaders. This was the first time such an event had taken place through the UN. A new declaration of peace created the beginning of an era of collaboration between religions. A Council of Religious and Spiritual Leaders was also established at this summit, which later led to some high-level international interfaith dialogue.

Increasing numbers of people are beginning to believe that in order to achieve a world where there is no conflict, feuds, or wars, there will have to be a dialogue between and reconciliation of all faiths. Even the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, in spite of his being a Zionist, has called for the creation of a world council whose representatives are from all major religions. While addressing the International Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace in March of 2006, he stated that bringing religious groups together to communicate in peace could "bring a bridge between religions."

In June of 2006, the European Union held a high-profile series of interfaith meetings. It was attended by Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist leaders, including the Dahli Lama, as well as some influential European politicians.

Knowing that the late Pope John Paul II had sought to draw representatives of all religions into a greater mutual spiritual understanding and a respect of shared values and beliefs, his successor Pope Benedict XVI traveled to Turkey and openly called for further Muslim-Christian dialogue, preaching respect for the differences between both faiths, and emphasizing what they have in common. He became the second pontiff to visit a mosque. The ongoing dialogue throughout the years has been aimed towards contributing to world peace.

The Dahli Lama, who preaches a message of peace and unity, believes that peace can only be achieved through world, political, and spiritual unity. The World Council of Churches has stated that the practices and concepts from other religions must be introduced into the Christian faith in order to create greater understanding and dialogue.

Additionally, several books have been written to point out that there are remarkable similarities in the life and deeds of the Christ and the Buddha. If you are interested in those similarities, please read Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings, by Marcus Borg et al, or Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers, by Thich Nhat Hanh, or one of the many other books on the subject. There are also many other good books that point out the similarities and compatibilities of all religions, because they were all in fact derived and inspired by One Source, the Divine Spirit of Truth.

Now, all this is good news, and shows signs of hope and progress. But, unfortunately, there are some who don’t see it that way.

Ironically, there are very misguided, misinformed and malicious leaders of the right-wing conservative Christian Right who think all this is an attempt to create a "One World Religion" and a "New World Order." They have been spreading false prophecy and claiming that all this positive and progressive action to achieve peace and reconciliation is ominous and evil. Yes, as outrageously wrong as that obviously is, that is what they’ve been doing.

However, that shows how misguided these hypocritical religious bigots are, because they have been falsely indoctrinated and simply do not realize that they are actually the biggest and most hypocritical false prophets Jesus warned us about, who pray for the ears of men and claim to do wonderful works in the name of the Lord, when they in fact "work iniquity" and do wrong, knowing not what they do. They are under the delusion that they serve God, even though they actually betray God and instead serve Mammon.

I tell you truly that there will be no single world religion, not when real prophecy is fulfilled. But, many people who claim to serve God in the name of Judaism or Christianity or Islam have been fighting very hard to try to establish one world religion based on their false idea of religion. THAT is what was foreseen and prophesied, because genuine prophets foresaw that these hypocrites and false prophets would be fightinmg for dominant and exclusive power in the name of God/Allah. That is why we’ve been going through such a terrible tribulation, which was also prophesied and foreseen.

When real prophecy is fulfilled, there will actually be a family of religions, and a family of nations ... all honoring the values of mutual respect, equality, fairness, cooperation and collaboration, and thereby creating peace in the world.

All the positive things that are going on show great signs of hope and progress toward that. And as you may know, there are many other signs that more and more people are realizing the need for religious understanding, reconciliation and equality.

There have been many television shows devoted to that. Back in December of 2007, on the American CBS Television Network there was a two hour special titled, In the Name of God. It did not go nearly as far as it could and should have, and in certain respects they missed a good opportunity. However, it did express the views of many moderate religious leaders, including those representing moderate Sunnis, Shiites, Sikhs, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics, Lutherans, Russian Orthodox Christians, and even a somewhat moderate American Southern Baptist. And it was very good and pretty effective, as far as it went. And there have since been many other television programs, books, movies and documentaries along the same theme.

What we need is more good people speaking up, not only to express what is good in the world, and how we should treat each other, but also to say very clearly that people should avoid and reject leaders who claim to serve God but are in fact misguided.

Of course it should be in a nonviolent way and in a unifying spirit of goodwill and peace, but we must get serious about exposing and denouncing falsehoods and wrong-doing. Truth will prevail over falsehoods, but only when we make it so.

© 2002 - 2009 Joseph J. Adamson

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Here are other great signs of hope and progress. This is an article that I came across, and we should share it with everyone.

OpEdNews

Original Content at: http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_olga_bon_080220_see_what_the_young_a.htmFebruary 20, 2008

See What the Young Are Saying...and Be Moved

By Olga Bonfiglio

In my peacemaking class I challenged my 20-year-old college students to approach global issues by studying the conflicts they engender and then to seek the ways of peace and nonviolence by starting with themselves to "be the change they wish to see in the world."

Over the past six weeks we have looked at global warming, overpopulation, the "clash of civilizations,", and resource depletion (i.e., oil). I feared depressing them and even apologized for presenting them with such a glum picture of the future!

And then they surprised me.

As I read their journals, which reflect on the past week’s work, I consistently discovered that my students were far from being paralyzed by all these troubles. Instead they were facing the world with hope and courage and actively seeking practical solutions. Look at some of the remarks from their papers.

"I am depressed by the current situation, horrified by the possible future, and at the same time, completely inspired. As our conversation began to shift from how frightening the circumstances are at this point to what can still be done, I became very motivated to DO something."

"Yes, it is true that our generation will be facing some of the most challenging decades to come…….Yet, humanity is at the mercy of its own doings, and this is a beautiful concept in my eyes, because it means that there is a budding potential for change. If we look upon the history and disposition of civilization that produces such circumstances as human-made, they become influence-able. We have full responsibility."

"One person at a time will change the world little by little, even if our good actions aren’t seen instantly."

"I don’t know why I didn’t feel depressed or upset about our current and future state of affairs. Rather, it inspired a curiosity within myself to really think about how things are currently around the world and to learn more about what’s going on, to see what I can do and how minor ‘sustainable’ or ‘green’ changes in my life will affect it and the way I see myself living it in the future."

"Through all the dust and piles of dry wall, I could still see the progress we had made [in our Habitat for Humanity project]. It might be a slow process, but every shovel and every bucket full of dry wall is another step closer to the final product: a house for someone who could not afford one otherwise. And knowing that I am contributing to this product makes everything worth it. That is why I am willing to devote 3-4 hours every other Saturday morning."

"We have to understand and make changes within ourselves before we can make changes in our community. I think that is vital for everyone, without exception. I never would have thought that I could make changes without first realizing that I had the potential and the passion [to so do]."

"I feel that I have reached that point in my life where I have become aware that something I love [the earth] is currently being destroyed. I cannot simply ignore it, because if I truly love it then I have to do something to save it. I cannot simply give up hope and be depressed about our situation because that is what enough people are doing already."

"I think that my biggest downfall in my pursuit of the peacemaker lifestyle is my tendency to be overwhelmed by the feeling that I want to fix every problem of the world. This sensation of drowning in the problems of the world can often inspire feelings of apathy, and the notion that nothing you do will be enough to change the world. However, I have recently decided that what is important for me right now is taking the steps to enact change at home."

"I believe that seeing the immediate effects on my college and community will not only make me a more engaged citizen, but will also remind me why it is important to remain positive and start at the local level."

"How tired I am of having all the anger of seeing how others are more privileged, are better-off than I am and then to pretend that everything is all right…….I now understand that anger is good only when it is taken in a positive direction. This is what creates passion, passion for change."

And then here are some things they say they will do:

* Begin an urban organic garden this summer in my community.

* Join Building Blocks (http://www.kzoo.edu/servicelearning/buildingblocks.htm) a College project where students paint houses in poor neighborhoods.

* Reduce my carbon footprint (http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx)

* Slow down my pace of life.

* Double my efforts in conserving resources that I use and encourage those around me to do the same.

* Change the way I view production, the economy, and our consumerist culture.

* Make a conscious decision to walk when I can instead of driving and encourage others to do the same.

* Take cold showers twice a week during Lent to be in solidarity with the poor.

* Do more research on New Urbanism (http://www.newurbanism.org/) to reduce urban sprawl .

* Observe more closely the violence that is inherent by our inaction (i.e., Hurricane Katrina, Kyoto Protocol, allowing the Iraq War to continue).

* Apply for a job with Greenpeace (http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/) in order to fight global warming.

* Apply for Teach for America.(http://www.teachforamerica.org/)

* Organize College events for Women’s History Month, volunteer for the Amigos Tutoring Program (http://www.kzoo.edu/servicelearning/amigos.htm), work with College Democrats.

* Continue to work on alternative forms of energy. (Last summer the student built a solar oven and planted a first-time organic garden.)

Truly, the best part about teaching is being inspired by the students!

(This article was originally published on commondreams.org)

Author's Bio: Olga Bonfiglio is a professor at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and author of Heroes of a Different Stripe: How One Town Responded to the War in Iraq. She has written for several national magazines on the subjects of social justice and religion.

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