If an individual is prejudiced and discriminatory, it’s likely their belonging group is too, because education is what allows a person to deny equal human rights to others. Like-minded people often gather to advance their political agendas, even at the cost of morality. Our sense of belonging is so strong that it often leads us to compromise our personal values. It can blind even the best among us, which is why religious conflicts can endure for centuries.
Ideally, our places of worship are meant to connect us with God Almighty. However, we often end up following political agendas within our religions, blindly adhering to the words of God’s messengers. The true purpose of worship should be seeking the divine source, but instead, we often absorb extremes from our religious institutions.
Our problems arise when human individuals present themselves as the voice of Godly knowledge. Each of us is connected to a group and tends to favor that group politically. We become entrenched in our politics of belonging due to loyalty, even ancestral, perpetuating our differences.
Unfortunately, this divisiveness is what has led nearly two hundred countries to the brink of further fragmentation. Politics of belonging drive such divisions, as some individuals uphold historical knowledge, fostering our divisive policies. These policies have not served us well, having brought us through world wars and left us on the verge of another. Despite our civilization and progress, we should transcend our animal instincts to embrace spirituality, but our leaders often mock such ideals. Events like Brexit and the continued influence of leaders like Trump are clear signs of a resurgence in outdated, preservationist group politics.
God naturally becomes secondary as religious manifestos evolve into more than mere guidelines, becoming entrenched rituals and traditions passed down as political systems. Ideological spread becomes a source of power and domination rooted in our animal instincts. When these instincts dominate, they overpower individual human behaviors.
Consider within your own religion, where do spirituality and God stand for you personally? If you struggle to answer, it may be due to political loyalties within your sense of belonging. Personally, I believe politics permeates every aspect.
If you seek spirituality and God, look no further than within the individual and humanity as a whole. Despite genetic and political affiliations, we are distinct from other creatures. Observe the world around you. Remember, you cannot see if you refuse to look. Look around: populations are becoming a blend of diverse genetics, transcending black, white, or brown distinctions.
Our religions, constrained from evolving, cannot keep pace with growing tolerance for equal human rights. Racism increasingly becomes a stigma, while gay marriage gains acceptance within our justice systems. We now acknowledge not only human rights but animal rights as well, all due to embracing fundamental aspects of being human.
Though we currently face outdated group politics, human awareness reminds us that our reality involves an elusive understanding of God Almighty, rather than the messages of mere messengers who, despite their knowledge, remain human. Even prophets, as humans, are susceptible to political pressures.
The true message from God emphasizes compassionate spirituality for mortal individuals, not politics-based, divisive religions. Looking at the warring history of religions, it’s evident that messenger messages often emphasize group political superiority and dominance over nonbelievers and rival groups. Regardless of their spiritual intent, these messages often fail to eliminate prejudice and discrimination from religions.
Consider this: placing God at the foundation of any justice or political system challenges nonbelievers. In matters of life and death, absolute proof is required, yet understanding God remains incomplete for many evolving beings. Therefore, religions should serve purely as spiritual systems, not justice or political ones. In today’s globally connected world, enforcing practices like beheading or amputation for theft becomes impossible as such actions invite global ridicule.
In summary, whether against opposing groups or individuals, the message often implies God is for some but not for others. As evolving individuals, who are we to judge one another, particularly as humanity evolves? Reflect on how much humanity has transformed in the last century alone. Our judgments, based on incomplete knowledge, should deter us from enforcing religious laws to extremes. Committing an error like taking an innocent life can be a spiritual catastrophe, urging us to avoid conflict over religious differences, given our ever-evolving knowledge.
Individually or collectively, our understanding of God, spirituality, and humanity should evolve as our ultimate truth. Otherwise, our focus remains on racism, nationalism, and extreme religious beliefs. As we evolve, consider this: should we condemn those who hold differing views? Particularly when none of us possess absolute knowledge? Interestingly, religions and even political parties preach against prejudice and discrimination, suggesting change begins one person at a time.
If delving into complex philosophies doesn’t appeal, simply seek answers by questioning why humans possess free will. Consider why we inherently understand justice and injustice, and why these concepts exist from birth. If knowledge is taught, why do instincts, as seen in the animal kingdom, evolve into survival tools? Cats possess claws and fangs for hunting, deer and rabbits run swiftly, while ants and bees perform programmed tasks. Why then are humans above these creatures? Not only genetically gifted, we are spiritual beings, yet some fail to embrace free will.
Look at siblings raised in the same household; despite genetic and environmental similarities, differences arise.
On the surface, it may seem innocent, logical, and inherent to our nature, but the politics of our sense of belonging is powerful enough to suppress even an educated and evolved human individual’s ability to exercise free will. Remember, free will isn’t something we learn; it’s innate, brought with us from before birth — a gift from God, not from any group, whether national or religious. If anyone preaches killing in the name of their group, it’s our individual responsibility to critically examine the politics of belonging, guided by our personal sense of justice. The politics of group belonging should be seen as a significant issue, not an asset to humanity.
We may acknowledge our prophets as wise, possessing divine knowledge and understanding everything. While this may suffice for some groups, the crucial question remains: does it suffice for humanity as a whole? Let’s ask: can anyone quantify the innocent lives lost throughout history due to our religious beliefs? I wager no one can, because the politics of belonging have manipulated and corrupted spiritual systems across all religions. Yet, as ordinary individuals, we all perpetuate prejudice and discrimination in the name of God.
From ancient swords, arrows, and spears to modern weapons of mass destruction and suicide bombings, our history is riddled with countless tragedies linked to prejudice and discrimination. Personally, I connect these phenomena with all our present social ills and label them as the cancer of humanity, which has plagued us throughout history, regardless of religion. They have been with us, are with us, and unfortunately, may continue to persist for some time. Thus, individually and collectively, we must begin to address these issues, striving to eradicate them from our societies, one person at a time.
As an evolving species, just look around — beyond religion, humans have consistently progressed in all aspects of life. Though we may falter, our civilization continues to advance. While people still gravitate towards the politics of group belonging, modern societies demonstrate greater tolerance. Despite hindrances to humanity’s potential, progress persists. Imagine a world without religious, nationalistic, security-driven, and hate-fueled political conflicts; undoubtedly, humanity would be much farther ahead, with far less loss.
Interestingly, today humanity is called upon to unite in addressing shared challenges like global warming-induced weather extremes, borderless social crimes facilitated by the internet, and the threat of infectious diseases such as Ebola and coronaviruses. However, our politics often keeps us divided, fostering prejudice and discrimination against one another.
We remain apprehensive of injustices perpetrated by our own kind, despite being evolved spiritual beings. These fears are deeply rooted in ancestral experiences of injustice. While our ancestors were less evolved and committed injustices against each other, today we must strive to collaborate despite our differences — akin to how we cooperate on space stations, climate monitoring, tsunami warnings, and combating infectious diseases like Ebola and coronaviruses.
Had every race, nation, and religion advocated for equal human rights in our distant past, the devastating death toll from the politics of group belonging might have been averted. Our religious texts often point towards days of reckoning and judgment. Unfortunately, with today’s weapons of mass destruction, the extreme politics of group belonging, and pervasive prejudice and discrimination, we risk turning these prophecies into reality. Unless we shift our allegiance to humanity as a whole, we may hasten the day of judgment upon ourselves by failing to evolve with the demands of our time. Earth is our home, humanity is us, and our allegiance should be to humanity as a whole, not to divisive groups as has historically been the case.
There is nothing wrong with having a belief system or loyalty to ancestry, as long as today we leave no room for prejudice and discrimination, and make ample room for evolution. If you are scientifically and technologically advanced, you should also be advanced in medicine. Similarly, if you are medically aware, you should understand the power of emotions and love. Just as being politically aware requires spiritual awareness, ask yourself: do you consider yourself an evolved individual? Are you capable of juggling everything demanded in today’s hectic life to achieve personal success?
As mortals, we must proudly wear our spiritual virtues like compassion, forgiveness, sacrifice, and love as our spiritual jewelry to achieve success in all aspects of life. Personal, collective, and social growth depend on these virtues. Without our innate spiritual nature, we would never have achieved equal human rights. Unlike animals, we can see beyond instant gratification — or at least we have the potential to do so.
Looking back at our history as physical creatures, not long ago, we fought with other creatures and among ourselves over resources. So, I ask, if we consider ourselves evolved and civilized human beings, why do we still resort to killing each other over the same issues? It seems we are still a work in progress. Hence, I believe we are evolving beings from within; our spiritual side requires nurturing from all aspects, forming a love triangle. As individuals, we must learn not to deprive others of love.
Some still adhere to the politics of survival, superiority, prejudice, and discrimination. Despite our progress in living peacefully among mixed races, nations, and religions, we still need further evolution. We must evolve beyond killing each other over our sense of group belonging.
A simple and universal spiritual rule is to treat others as you would like to be treated, or how you would treat your loved ones. This principle alone should suffice, yet we struggle to overcome the politics of our sense of belonging. Spirituality forms the foundation of humanity and is universal; goodness is independent of nationality, race, gender, or religion. Unfortunately, group politics often promote prejudice and discrimination, drawing individuals into extremes due to personal insecurities and loyalty to their groups.
I firmly believe it’s crucial for each of us to take a personal and spiritual approach, viewing ourselves as cells within the greater organism of humanity, or as integral parts of the physical body of God.
Human progress has been tumultuous, with ups and downs, due to our group politics pulling us back towards viewing ourselves more as animals than as spiritual beings. By now, we should have progressed further towards embracing our spiritual nature and distancing ourselves from animal instincts. Yet, our wars continue, social injustices persist, our prisons overflow, and, to top it all off, obesity rates are higher than ever before in human history.
What does this tell us about humanity? Are we constantly seeking instant gratification in all aspects of life? If so, it indicates animalistic dominance. Unfortunately, our politics of group belonging are responsible for much of this; when our animal side dominates, we behave more like animals, forming alliances to strengthen ourselves at the expense of others. Spirituality takes a back seat when political interests prevail.
What does a love triangle have to do with voting? If you gravitate towards a world dominated by animal instincts, your vote will prioritize personal survival and security, favoring those who promise protection and dominance over others. You may subscribe to a “dog-eat-dog” philosophy, focusing on self-preservation. Conversely, a spiritually inclined vote would lean towards equal human rights, humanitarian aid, social welfare, and universal healthcare as basic human rights.
Considering the love triangle metaphor, it encapsulates love, encompassing the deep-rooted cores of both animal instincts and spirituality. The capacity for love and sacrifice is a spiritual trait, something every human being is capable of possessing. Our challenge lies in addressing the emotional wounds that can lead us into internal turmoil, turning us into slaves of our animal instincts. This not only drives us to act in passionately aggressive ways but also robs us of compassion, a cornerstone of our spiritual side.
If you sincerely ask yourself: what guides your decision-making process? Do you exhibit compassion? If not, what caused you to lose it? Did someone, even God, deprive you of love during your formative years? Why does your animal side overpower your spiritual side? If none of these scenarios apply, yet you still feel dominated by your animal instincts, you must ask why. If you find yourself surrounded by individuals who uphold a “dog-eat-dog” philosophy as the only viable path, consider the strength of your sense of belonging. If your thoughts align with your group simply to fit in, gain approval, or seek admiration, remember you were born with free will. If your sense of belonging inhibits your ability to exercise free will, it reflects personal weakness rather than the strength of your group membership.
Assuming you are otherwise healthy, consider your genetic makeup: you are neither a warrior ant nor a worker bee; you are a capable human being with a fully functional physical body and a capable spirit within. You are an entity that embodies the entirety of humanity’s spectrum, from good to bad and everything in between. Should you choose to embrace a “dog-eat-dog” mentality, your focus will be on physical survival alone. While crucial, spiritual starvation may ensue unless you aid those in need, irrespective of your resources or voting against those advocating for social assistance. Remember, God does not need your assistance, but by aiding the less fortunate, you indirectly assist God, as every living individual represents a spiritual cell of God. God holds significance only when spiritual concepts assume physical form, a task undertaken by humanity.
Since we are here to reciprocate, life is not fulfilling if we choose to live only in the physical realm. Spirituality brings peace of mind, happiness, and contentment that may be absent in a purely mortal existence. It is our spiritual side that elevates us above mere animals.
Compassion, the ability to sacrifice, and the capacity to love originate from our spiritual side. While one may argue they love as an animal does, such feelings are often influenced by hormonal reactions. True love is intertwined with spirituality, allowing one to love others deeply enough to make sacrifices, such as dedicating oneself to a cause or serving God without expecting anything in return. It includes the willingness to donate to nations even if they are considered enemies during a crisis. What motivates people to act in such ways? Why do some socialist nations rank higher on the happiness scale compared to religious ones? Shouldn’t religious nations, if they practice spirituality, achieve similar happiness levels?
While personal freedom is essential, we are all profoundly connected to humanity. It’s not about choosing one over the other but maintaining balance deeply within our core. Achieving balance there enables us to balance our mortal lives. We can love our partners, our children, and our families, as well as our communities, nations, religions, and all of humanity equally. This can only be achieved by becoming strong enough to be the CEO of our own lives, capable of creating equilibrium in every aspect. Embracing mortal life means experiencing everything it offers, from chemical emotions to spiritual insights, all wrapped into one exclusive package. The wisdom of mortal life is deeply personal and must be lived firsthand; opting for one experience over another denies us a comprehensive understanding.
To attain the wisdom of happiness, one must learn to be adaptable and fit into the flow of time rather than trying to force time into one’s own schedule. Remembering our mortal nature is crucial; no one escapes it, no matter how special they may feel. Sometimes, we must learn, unlearn, and then learn anew, akin to the cycles of planting, harvesting, and replanting. While scientific inquiry may lead some to question the existence of God, in the face of mortality, acknowledging spirituality not only makes sense but becomes essential for finding comfort in our mortal existence. Our evolving knowledge necessitates keeping an open mind, as becoming overly entrenched or radicalized in any scientific or religious ideology reflects ignorance, regardless of the type of knowledge.