James Morcan
asked
Tony Sunderland:
Given that things seem to be spiraling into insanity on the political world stage, how much are ancient religious conflicts or unresolved religious disputes causing or contributing to all this?
Tony Sunderland
I sincerely believe that we are at a turning point with regards to spirituality and how people can create meaning in their lives. Judaism was reformed and reborn during the first century with the emergence Rabbinic faith practices. Christianity had its first reformation in the 16th century.
Today there are an increasing number of people who wish to escape and reject the trappings of postmodernity. The evangelical missions of fundamentalist Islam and Christianity are now an attractive alternative for those people who desire certainty in the practice of their faith. These faiths offer a religion that provides a template for a life well lived and the promise of eternal salvation for those deemed righteous and worthy. All unworthy individuals are condemned to eternal damnation. Those who belong to the elect will rejoice in paradise. Salvation is selective and only for those people who surrender to the will of God in all things.
The challenge for any faith tradition in the twenty-first century is to claim the best of the communal aspects of our spiritual journey and also infuse into this the personal quest for individual enlightenment.
Today there are an increasing number of people who wish to escape and reject the trappings of postmodernity. The evangelical missions of fundamentalist Islam and Christianity are now an attractive alternative for those people who desire certainty in the practice of their faith. These faiths offer a religion that provides a template for a life well lived and the promise of eternal salvation for those deemed righteous and worthy. All unworthy individuals are condemned to eternal damnation. Those who belong to the elect will rejoice in paradise. Salvation is selective and only for those people who surrender to the will of God in all things.
The challenge for any faith tradition in the twenty-first century is to claim the best of the communal aspects of our spiritual journey and also infuse into this the personal quest for individual enlightenment.
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