1. On similarity of religious concepts.
In conclusion from the earlier observation, we can say that ‘conceptual similarity does not imply similar identity’. I was alerted to this when speaking to a minister of a Yogananda gathering in Encinitas, CA, USA in the late winter of 2005.
conceptual similarity does not imply similar identity
After his sermon I approached the minister and noted a pronounced similarity between some central principles he had explained and those of P.P. Quimby (1866d.), his country man. He was not impressed, nor interested and it must have shown, because my travel friend Dianne came over to rescue me, as she confided afterwards.
Another tell tale phenomenon is that so called spiritual leaders - say in the Buddhist tradition - hardly ever talk to each other or make references to like minded groups. The same can be said for denominational groups in other religious traditions, not to speak of the violent feelings of hostility that come to expression in some instances today.
So, conceptual similarity may provide a valid point of contact to explore, but a more attractive place to begin maybe in the exchange of food and the conducting of common celebrations. New Year’s is a good example, but even this one is found objectionable by the Saudis!
Returning to the idea that there are conceptual similarities, I would like to add the following. The mentioned similarity must be valued and not dismissed, but rather seen as an outcome of a religious tradition reaching a common ground held by all. Then, each tradition can be seen as a unique expression of the mystery that I have given the name ‘Existence Divine’ and to which we must give room and opportunity to express in its evident diversity.
2. Morality of the economically ‘good‘.
Often we hear that it has been a good season for the stores when the consumer opened the purse strings and spent money, or for the Banks when the profits trumped last year’s and may result in higher dividends being paid out to the investors. In general we say a company is doing well when it is making money and nationally when the economy grows.
This view is based on the idea that all of the interested parties will benefit monetarily in some way and can be labelled as utilitarian, meaning that the greatest good is distributed to the largest number.
But, what is it that we consider good? To enumerate some choices: Is it more money, higher profits or less poverty and more equitable distribution of wealth and resources? On what ground do we make such choices, that is on what basis do I call something good or beneficial and who is allowed to make such choices?
But, what is it that we consider good?
To make a case in point consider the train derailment at Lac Megantic, PQ, last July, from which came great harm to the local people. In retrospect it has become clear that the shipping process in question exposed the town to a much greater danger than was locally known; but did others know about the danger of these crude oil loads? And what would have been the cost to the railway to increase the operational safety?
The increase in safety may have been desirable - good - but been too costly and was maybe not required under the existing regulations. So, here we have the dilemma of which ‘good’ to choose, the one that increases profits or the one that increases safety? Or should we explore a compromise, which was not reported as done.
Today our entire industrial world globally is full of such dilemmas, while as consumers we all want lower prices, giving us the bigger bang for our buck-skin, skin because it was a dollar for the skin of a buck during the fur trade!
Another disaster this year was the collapse of the clothing factory in Bangladesh, confronting us with this new interconnectedness of our global economy, the ‘globality’ of morality and the moral values I, as consumer, hold and exercise.
Conclusion:
In our human adventure of our globalising human traditions - religions and cultures- , trading, manufacturing, values and identities, we are engaged in a discovery process. As such, we are constructing a global society by trial and error, making decisions for which outcomes we have to take responsibility at all stages of that process.
it is our responsibility … assuring equitable living conditions and benefits to all members of humanity.
As we are so taken up in this inevitable process, it is our responsibility to be guided by criteria -making profits, values -the good and principles -respect your neighbour, assuring equitable living conditions and benefits to all members of humanity.
<8:14pm and 8:45pm edited~
