Siege of Islam

Sunni, Shi'a, Sufi, oh my! There is much talk lately about the future of Islam as well as the future of the major religions in general. There are more "sects" of Islam than just mentioned, and the tension within the Islam collective could either explode or, on the brighter side, morph into a more efficient and respectful pool of worshipful, spiritual believers. And that goes for any of the major religions.

I have mentioned before, the only true religion is based on a faith which is grounded in Love: that respectful, altruistic attitude which counts your neighbor as more important than your own navel-gazing, always hungry ego. Why? Because God is Love. God pours out the Divine Essence without reserve, in order to create this amazing universe. And we, we are God's children, and we are encouraged to be Love in this world for the sake of our own well-being and the continuation of life in general. Be like your Father in heaven. N.T. Matt 23:9., Matt 5 44-46.

Contemporary stress is related to the increasingly fast-paced evolution of our species and the culture we live in. Technology and economics drive the wheels of progress, which sometimes create greater problems for us who only want to be in step with this progress.

Enter the fundamentalists, stage right. Their faithful focus is commendable, but their reluctance to adapt to the changing landscape creates even more tension in the world. God does not change - but the world is in constant upheaval. Deal with it.

And it is not religion that needs to survive, but its raison d'etre - to remind each generation that they are spiritual in nature, not just material, and that materialism can be a trap which robs us of the beauty of life - a life infused with the spirit of God. What do you really need to be happy?

Don't get me wrong. I do not reject the world - it is God's creation, and an incredible world. I am constantly amazed by human creativity, ingenuity and invention. But I am cautious to follow the mind of the material world which sees no further than the created thing in front of it - the house, the car, the warm body, the money. We must not forget the source which powers our being. We must keep life in perspective: we are eternal, spiritual beings in temporary, physical bodies.

Islam is not the only religion struggling to interface with the modern world. Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Baha'i and other spiritual communities stand awestruck in the midst of a world which idolizes individualism and selfish interests. These things destroy communal unity. Love builds community, it doesn't seek its destruction. One of the greatest truths anyone can come to understand is that all things are connected.

Perhaps religion has served its purpose? Religion exists not for itself, but as a resource for continuing to help each new generation to remember the source of their being, and to encourage every being to live to their fullest potential. And this, not just for one's own pleasure, but for the good of the whole. A community of one is the goal of materialism, but the goal of faith is to create a united community with one mind and one spirit. "May they be one, Father, as you and I are one." N.T., John 17:21