We seek renewed reverence for the biosphere as
the ultimate context for human existence....
We seek renewed reverence for the biosphere as
the ultimate context for human existence....
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Pantheism and Politicsby Harold W. Wood, Jr.
Someone once said, "Everything begins in mysticism and ends in politics." Meditating alone along a craggy ridge, Pantheists frequently achieve a self-awareness which recognizes that one's own body includes not only our own bundle of bones and skin, but the rock we sit upon, the air we breathe, the electromagnetic radiation which falls upon our shoulders, and the intricate web of organic and inorganic relationships of which each of us is a part. Unfortunately, most political systems in the modern world today fail to grasp this crucial understanding of the way the world works. But that is not an excuse to stay on the mountain top, ignoring the problems of our culture. A mystic named Kahlil Gibran once said, "Your daily life is your temple and your religion." Can this be any less true whether you are perched on a mountain top, surveying the ineffable beauty of Nature, or standing in a polling booth, ready to cast your vote for one candidate or another? Among traditional religions, observers point out that adherents are often divided into two categories: those who stress belief , and those who stress action . The fundamentalists of every denomination represent the first sort, while the liberal Christians and some Eastern religions provide examples of the latter. Thus, religious folk are divided into the prayers and the doers. Yet, while we must recognize that various individuals will prefer one emphasis to the other, it seems clear that both contemplation and action are necessary to permit a full expression of any religious undertaking. Belief is important, but it is consummated only through action. Belief motivates the action, and gives it meaning, and enables us to obtain inspiration from acts which would otherwise seem mere gesture. The action may seem to be what is ultimately important, but the motivation behind the action may be equally important. Someone who meditates solely in the belief that doing so will enrich his karma for the next re-incarnation, or a person is "loving", only because she believes that will enable her to get to Heaven, has a selfish motive, and is not really being true to his or her faith. As Pantheists, if we are true to our faith, we love and respect the world, not out of any selfish desire, but because its beauty and glory commands love and adoration. Belief is important; but by itself it is insufficient. To the extent meditation, reading, contemplation, and ritual help us to enact religious deeds in our daily life, these things are beneficial. But when they cease to have meaning for our daily lives, they should be cast aside. In our modern world, action or public service is largely political in nature; we improve the lot of the underprivileged and the dispossessed, whether human or non-human, through lobbying for legislation and voting for responsible decision-makers. Even privately sponsored altruistic efforts depend largely upon the political environment. The conclusion of these considerations seems inescapable. Those who feel a religion, who believe in a religion, who enact a religion, should be doers and not just believers. Pantheism represent a religious view which is wave of the future. It it is up to each one of us to express that faith in a way that it becomes a reality. Pantheists must participate in the decision-making which affects the welfare of Planet Earth. That means more than just voting, more than a passive involvement in politics. It means lobbying for principles, values, and programs that recognize that mankind is not the center of the universe after all, but is responsible for ensuring that the Earth will be a better place after this generation of humans -- and even the human species itself -- has completed its part in the never-ending stream of creation. Henry David Thoreau makes a suggestion which provides a beginning: "Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it." |
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