It is fortunate for humanity that although established religion has its part to play, its mission to assist in the spiritual liberation of humanity, they are not the only interpreters, advocates and promoters of the spiritual reality.
There has always been a stream of humanity that has since our emergence on the planet, been genuinely in the search for self-knowledge, self–discovery, self-understanding, self–realization, connection with pure consciousness and spiritual liberation. These philosophers and thinkers were instrumental in changing humanity’s perception of reality and in leading us in a positive and progressive direction in all areas of human development.
These individuals represent genuine agents of peace, perfect love, tolerance and harmony. Some led non-violent movements which advocated for the freedom of the poor from exploitation and oppression, for divine justice, compassion and equality, for peace, love, forgiveness, generosity, tolerance and harmony among humanity.
This stream of humanity (and religion in their original root form) represents the direct opposite in manifestation to the counterfeit religion established by the warrior elite and which subsequently pervaded the world.
In the 14th Century B.C. Pharaoh Akhenaten (formerly Amenhotep) introduced monotheism, the belief in one God, to ancient Egypt.
He was subsequently persecuted and killed by traditional followers of the Egyptian God, Amon- Re. The Egyptian priesthood was highly respected on an international level, and wise men and students from Greece and elsewhere travelled to Egypt to study. Some were exposed to the pure teaching of religion in its original root form, including elements of the Dogon-Egyptian Mystery systems.
This religion/philosophy, the ancient secret wisdom, was known to the fakirs, mystics, seers, sages from the east (Vedic), Buddha, Confucius and other wise men. These spiritual individuals all taught the totality of existence and that God is One, is Unity.
Hinduism emerged in the Indus valley of Pakistan between 2300 B.C and 1500 B.C and was a fusion of beliefs traditions and philosophies. This Philosophy/ Religion espoused a belief that Brahman is God, is truth and its nature is Consciousness. It urges us to see Brahman in All and All in Brahman.
It motivates us to strive for the ideal of seeing All beings in one’s own self, and one’s self in All beings. (Advaita Vedanta tradition/theology of Hinduism)
The Judaic Prophets preached and espoused a commitment to Justice of an oppressed people and advanced an international perspective of divine compassion divine love of justice and equality.
Later in history, Christianity was established and espoused the above philosophy and that advocated by Jesus, the Christ– one of forgiveness and grace. He had preached of love of God, love of your neighbour, faith and works as the foundation of our humanity and world outlook.
Islam developed from roots in Jewish Christianity and preached the message of faith and works, personal salvation through righteous behaviour, peace and mercy.
In the United State of America, Black Prophetic Christianity emerged from and was inextricably linked to, the American communities. It played a crucial role in uniting Black people and people of colour, liberating their minds from mental slavery. It preached a message of liberation for Black people and the poor and marginalized in society.
Black Prophetic Christianity emphasized the link between religion and the struggle for social justice, human rights and equality. It preached a message of divine justice, divine equality, divine love, and compassion for all. Their involvement in the civil rights movement and the struggle for the Voting Rights Act in the 1960s brought them into direct conflict with the white supremacist imperial United States of America.
It was also during the period of the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s that Liberation Theology emerged as an instrument of change and progress in Latin America and the Caribbean region. Its emergence led to a re-reading of the Bible from the perspective of the excluded, the poor, the Blacks, the indigenous people and women.
It envisions and promotes a church that understands life, itself, its history and its mission, and which emerges from the poor. It believes in the transcendent dignity of the human person and is committed to the struggle for social justice, human rights and equality in the social order.
This theology was suspended by the Roman Catholic leadership in the Papacy until Pope Francis agreed to remove the suspension in 2014. Pope Francis has followed in the footsteps of a few popes who were prepared to honour their mission and to speak frankly.
As early as 1891, Pope Leo XIII produced his Catholic Social doctrine, which was endorsed by Pope Pius (1857-1939), who praised socialism for its policies and demands.
Pope Paul VI in his encyclical on March 26, 1967, condemned colonialism, neocolonialism and inequalities produced by the capitalist system for the tensions and tragedies suffered by the poor.
We must learn from history and always focus on this progressive “stream” in the world. We must know and understand the principles that are its foundation: joy, peace, mercy, love, compassion, tolerance and harmony.
We must recognise that the mission and purpose of humanity is to strive to achieve unity and solidarity, not to promote conflict, war, domination and exploitation of others.
The continuing conflict between the so-called Christian world and the Islamic world runs counter to the very foundation of the message espoused by the original, root Judaism Christianity and Islam, that is, to achieve a world of equality, humility and compassionate caring.
Today, the profound irony is the fact that the Palestinians and the Israelis, who symbolise the birth and growth of monotheism at a particular period of our history, continue to be locked in a continuous conflict and wars represented as a conflict between the Muslim faith and the Jewish and Christian faiths.
Their ancient connections are symbolized by their collective occupation of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. They were all exposed, and continue to struggle against, oppression, exploitation, and abuse. But they are still determined and compelled by circumstances to follow the path of war rather than peace, love, harmony, equal justice, and respect for human rights and equality.
The warriors have infiltrated religion and have made it their instrument and domain. This is the world today, where much cruelty, selfishness, nihilism and inequity prevails and is in evidence.
However, the world panorama reveals to objective and critical thinkers the intensification of the struggle between backwardness, reaction, conservatism and orthodoxy against the forces of democracy and progress.
The current struggles in the world: the Covid-19 pandemic, environmental and climate change, the struggle against class and gender inequality, patriarchy, racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia, the struggle in the United State of America for socialist policies to alleviate the plight of the working class, the poor and the marginalized has been intensifying.
The balance of forces in the world is gradually shifting in favour of the movement for systemic and transformational changes in our institutions and social order to overcome unfairness, inequality and injustice. These changes must be directed towards correcting structural power imbalances, injustices and inequalities ingrained in the social order.
The time has come for us to rely on the lessons, teachings and analysis of our innovators, positive change agents, progressives, men/women of wisdom, intellectual integrity and courage in the political, social, economic and scientific fields, in particular, to inform our approach to solving our problems.
We are now in the 21st Century and the new dynamic unfolding in the international order must continue to be advanced by the progressives in the world. The genuine, the socially conscious and the concerned must peacefully intervene in their societies to take back control from their leaders.
We must now insist on consultations, transparency, accountability and sanctions when necessary against our leaders so that we can play a significant part in our continuing struggle to build genuinely democratic nations.
We must focus on the communities, the workplaces, the public spaces and streets, and on electoral politics to achieve this goal. We must now call constantly and with determination, for consultations with our leadership on significant issues, for frank, frequent and respectful dialogue and debate, and to find solutions.
This is the period for society and in particular, its social activists, to re-adjust and to re-redirect our efforts to re-educate our citizens, particularly the youth. We must become critical thinkers who are aware, socially conscious, courageous, respectful, questioning, holistic, and determined to find solutions to our problems.
We must now all become reservoirs of the love principle, vital forces for good, engaged in our respective duty to advance our social order in a positive direction.
Let us now strive to advance the continuing struggle of the national liberation movement and humanity to achieve genuine transformative change and final realization of our inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
