Killing in God's name

We must set an international example by ceasing that unwarranted nonsense.

Now, in todays world, everyone seem to be murdering everyone else in the Middle East and streams of refugees are fleeing for their lives by road and sea in unprecedented numbers. We direct all our retaliation at ISIS and its associates while ignoring Boko Haram in Africa whose record of violence is so bad they make ISIS look like saints.

We also ignore the advance of Hindu nationalism in India which is beginning to tear that great nation apart. Similarly, too many support the right wing extremists who control the American Congress and want to punish all who live in poverty on the grounds that they are 'lazy' even though it is their own economic and social policies that caused the poverty in the first place.

What this all means is that if we can raise our minds above the politics of the goodies and the baddies, we will find that there is a God of all humanity who gives us the power to do good, not in His name, but because our faith and common decency propel us to do nothing less.

This brings me to the key point of my thoughts at this moment.

Peace depends on each one of us accepting the value and integrity of all with whom we live and move and have our being, particularly those whom we don't like personally.

Our quest for personal peace will be enhanced if the religious leaders of every nation meet regularly with goodwill and find common ground to do good together instead of just wringing their hands and expressing anguish about the violent world. They can reject all fundamentalism and open closed minds to the reality of a modern world that needs a new expression of the good life that will enhance all humanity irrespective of social status, race, gender or religion.