MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Our eldest son John had an enquiring mind; and still has it. When he was young a standard question was; “what if…?” He did not just accept things as they were presented, but looked at alternatives.
My question is “are we like conditioned robots or are we autonomous, thinking, learning, human beings?”
Some thoughts about how we might be conditioned:-
1. MOB MENTALITY:-
Political propaganda, news broadcasts, racial discrimination etc leading to unfair judgements (due to incorrect or biased information) For example; Adolf Hitler’s propaganda against the Jews. Unfortunately, we humans are gullible, we believe without thought, or proof.
2. LIVING OUT OF A ‘SCRIPT’:-
These were subtly imposed on us in previous years and still today, for example- the ‘inferior’ status of women and this resulting in the present creation of ‘masculine women’ rather than ‘strong females’
3. THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY INFLUENCE OF RELIGIONS:-
Jesus clearly taught us to love one another
“ A new commandment I give you: “Love one another as I have loved you”. (John 13; 34) This was an all-inclusive love. He even loved the Scribes and Pharisees, who plotted His destruction, and said from the cross “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34) However, they did not accept His love, and concern for the direction they were going in.
And it continues… what about the brutal “Holy wars”, misguided religious fervour, etc. e.g. Adolf Hitler’s brutal massacre of millions of Jews, whitewashing this atrocity by calling them Christ killers.
Today it is more subtle, mocking Christians and their beliefs; in the media, movies, and even in social contacts. Young people are often afraid to state that they are Christians, for fear of this judging and mocking.
4. THE PAST, AND PRESENT, HISTORY OF HUMANITY:-
Our history is dotted with brutal wars, some justified them as the only way to stop evil practices, and others stem out of greed, revenge, various disputes e.g. land ownership. Wars are devastating to all involved and one asks the question, “Was there not another way to deal with these travesties?”
There is a need to challenge evil practices that are still evident in our world today. For example, I recently read an account of human trafficking that is flourishing in our world today. This is unacceptable and the question is, and I do not have the answer, how do we stop this for the sake of the children being sold, and the de-humanising effect on the perpetrators?
The good news is that there is as much good, and hopefully more than evil, in this world. Think of the outstanding figures of the past, and I call them the ‘bright lights”. There are so many. I love to read biographies about significant positive people. Of course top on my list is Jesus Christ who taught “My command is this: Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12)
5. UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD TO ALL PEOPLE:-
Consider these steps from prejudice to “unconditional positive regard” to all people. Not judging, nor “starry-eyed view of humans, but a realistic acknowledgement that each person has their own history, even Hitler (an interesting revelation about his childhood), and the right to be treated with dignity and respect. We can create a new world that does not continue to create victims.
