Tuesday, 1 July, 2003

The opening text will come from a book by Abraham Joshua Heschel (God in Search of Man - A Philosophy of Judaism). As you are able to see by the title, the language may be a bit dated and therefore, I will, when able, make the language inclusive.



For all its preciousness and intensity, religious insight is susceptible to doubt. What gives us the certainty that the substance of our insight is not a projection of our own soul...What is the standard by which to test the veracity of religious insight?

Such a standard would have to be an idea, not an event. It would have to be an ultimate idea, worthy of serving as an identification of the divine and at the same time the supreme idea in human thinking, a universal idea. Such an idea is oneness or love, which is an expression of oneness.

All knowledge and understanding in science, art, ethics, as well as in religion, rest upon its validity. Oneness is the norm, the standard, the goal. If in the afterglow of a religious insight we can see a way to gather up our scattered lives, to unite what lies in strife – we know it is a guidepost on (God’s) way.



Isn’t it amazing how easy it is to overlook this simple yet essential insight within the life of religious people? When we look out at the landscape of world religions and the impact they have on the societies and cultures of our world, it is quite clear that we too often teach less of this love and oneness and more of a single story that works to keep us separated and at odds with one another even to the point of warfare. No “side” is exempt from such lack of a loving vision and a loving life. This is a standard that has the power to inspire awe when it is hear and when it becomes put to life. It is also the standard of those who are brutally silenced in every age.



Connection: Do we unite or do we cause division? Yes. And yet we are always being inspired by the Holy Spirit to seek the way of God’s Reign in which all people are one.



Lord of Life, your love is pulls us into lives that carry the potential to make for a new day. Ignite that love so that we may encourage a raging fire of loving kindness that will transform our world and continue to make your love blossom among us. Amen.