Nothing New Under the Sun, or Why Religion/Faith Counts

We live in Modern times (but what new generation doesn’t?).  So we think we are more sophisticated, more knowledgeable, and more equipped, and better able.

Yet, little has changed over the centuries.  Say what!?

The truth is—as in the Ancient World so in the Modern World—human trafficking, torture, oppression, and other cruelties and injustices, as in the rich growing richer at the expense of the poor, weak, and needy; as in “might makes right” and so-on and so-forth.  “There is nothing new under the sun,” said the Wise One of Ecclesiastes, and he is so right.  Humans continue to battle the same social evils that any and all civilizations have ever had, since the birth of civilization.

So, for example, when it comes to war and taxes and international commerce, what has changed?  Nation continues to rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  Around the world tax policies continue to favor the wealthy while weighing down moderate income people. Similarly the wealthy powerful continue to dominate and control scarce precious resources—land, water, food, minerals, and precious gems.

We say that all humans are equal—equal in significance and value.  But the reality is that only a small percentage of humanity actually enjoys the highest privileges and benefits that civilization offers.  We actually function as if most humans are useable, expendable and replaceable—commodities in the world of national and international commerce.

Yes, we are more technologically savvy.  We have industrial power (as far as that goes, the Romans did pretty well in their time).  Yet, humanity itself has not changed.  Human industry has progressed.  Yet, human civilization continues to know no sustained peace and justice.  Human technology has developed.  Human nature has not.  Human capacity for power has increased.  Yet, we humans continue to inflict injustices, oppressive acts, warring factions, hateful sectarianism, social imbalances, and a sundry of other social ills upon each other.  So, where is the so-called improvement of Modern Times?

As a human race, collectively speaking, are we actually better off in Modern Times?  Are we more secure, safer?  Are we more protected from the elements—less vulnerable from Mother Nature’s “mood swings” as it were—earthquakes, famine, drought, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other blights and plagues?  Do we have more peace, less wars?  Do we have fewer broken families and damaged children?  Is there less hatred, more mutual respect?  Are we more united or more divided in this world?  Thus, comparing Modern Times to Ancient Times, can we really say that we are better off than our ancestors were, when it comes to human social, relational, community, dynamics?

Religion/Faith teaches us that there can be no final actual peace, justice, and righteousness on earth without God’s intervention.  It teaches us that the core of human nature itself is in need of renewal.  As Jesus put it, “Good fruit can not come out of a bad tree.”   What humanity needs is spiritual transformation and enlightenment—not just in a small handful of special saints, but in humanity as a whole.  Otherwise, we are killing ourselves and the planet along with us.  There is no getting around this fact.  Staying in denial about this truth simply perpetuates the problem and makes the point more poignant.

Of course it is true that religion and faith itself can be part of the problem.  But that’s because religious faith can easily be twisted and manipulated, used and abused like any other human social/political institution.  There is a difference between shallow, naïve, foolish, unrealistic, and superstitious faith or even good faith misapplied that results in oppressive, mean-spirited, and cruel acts against others compared to truly enlightened faith that leads to spiritual awakening, resulting in wisdom, love, and peaceful constructive behavior and attitudes towards others.

“Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them.  Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” – Jesus (Matthew 7:15-20)