I entitled this article Spiritual Awakening and Murder, Death, Kill because focus of attention and where it is placed will determine how you perceive what is taking place in the world. What many do not see or understand is that in a spiritual awakening all things are accepted, while one has a preference of things being different and nothing is fought against. Many believe that when everything moves to a spiritual awakening then there will only be peace, joy and love. However, those whole have had a quote “spiritual awakening”, as opposed to a “religious awakening” understand that the opposite of peace, joy and love is always present as they are the opposite sides of the same quarter and that you experience that which you give your focus of attention too. As a example…
Noor Khalidi, regular columnist for the CollegiateTimes spoke of the need for acceptance beyond tolerance amoung different faiths in his recent article…
I recently came across “Out of Cordoba,” a documentary aiming to muster up exactly that — appreciation between the world’s major religions for what they, together, have brought to the world. The documentary highlights contemporary individuals who challenge the idea that the West and the Muslim world inherently and inevitably clash, following the legacy of two great philosophers from Cordoba, Spain — Averroes the Muslim, and Rabbi Moses Maimonides the Jew. The film shows how Muslims, Christians and Jews can reach for coexistence amid heightened extremism in all three religions, as well as a commitment to understanding their religious traditions as sources of democracy and human rights. This documentary was so well-received that it was screened at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City this past February. It is interfaith efforts such as this that will, in due time and with enough vehemence, resonate to bring about mutual appreciation and respect.
World-renowned author Deepak Chopra has also brought attention to the everlasting need for interfaith dialogue, going as far as naming one of his articles on the subject “Only Spirituality Can Solve The Problems Of The World.” He defines spirituality as an awareness of our universality. And he attributes interfaith dialogue and spiritual awakening to the prospect of “healing” the troubles and animosity entrenched in the world we know.
It is clear that a movement toward awakened acceptance beyond mere tolerance is on the horizon. Instead of fleeting from the increasing heterogeneity of religious culture in each nation, coming to grip with the reality of diversity will be inevitable. No nation can afford to cling to the past, meaning the only way forward will be accomplished through dialogue that stirs appreciation and respect for the value difference offers.
While you may not agree with all of Mr. Khalidi’s reasoning in the full article the above portion points to an area of hope. What Mr. Khalidi has not come to and understanding of yet is that there is a difference between a religious awakening and a spiritual awakening.