We Are One

I have often heard the claim “we are one.” In the best possible world, all humans would recognize others as brothers and sisters, not in the usual familial sense where brothers and sisters fight among themselves, but in an ideal sense of loving, respecting and protecting close kin. 

You could argue that an ultimately good future religion would champion this single truth and provide guidance towards sustaining harmonious coexistence. To know that we are one is to transcend human nature. Although different teachings have suggested that transcendence is the goal and offer practices to achieve the goal, the task is formidable and seldom, if ever achieved.

The simplest explanation of the difficulty is that differences are more important to humans than similarities.

When you acquire true knowledge and acceptance of human nature, you are ready to begin a journey toward We Are One.

Human nature and human destiny lies within programs in the old brain. Individuals can transcend the old programs by diligent learning and practice but individual effort and learning does not change the genome. Whatever we value about civilized human existence - culture, knowledge, social justice, respect for human rights and dignity must be practiced anew and stored as modifications of each person's neocortex. Success at humanitarian efforts within a society reveals that portion of human attitudes, beliefs and behavior that can be modified and/or are supported by innate tendencies.  Failure of moral authority reveals the extent to which innate negative tendencies prevail no matter how diligent the effort to modify or suppress them.

Each person must understand and modify four innate tendencies:

1.  The tendency to criticize, blame and punish others is inevitable in humans and opposes the tendency to cooperate with and care for one another.

2.  The tendency to form exclusive groups and discriminate against others is also universal and opposes the tendency toward tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

3.  The tendency to covet the property of others, to lie, cheat and steal is also universal and opposes the tendency to respect the integrity of the other, to cooperate and share.

4.  The tendency to anger, hatred and killing is also universal and opposes the tendency to recognize the common humanity in the other and opposes the intelligence of seeking ones’ own well being by protecting the well-being of others.

Religion for the 21st Century 2010 is available in print or download formats. The book is intended for a well-educated smart reader, who is interested in a world view of religious expressions past, present, and future. The main theme is that each religious group has its own  claims and stories and will tend to reject others. A reader committed to one point of view may not accept the egalitarian review presented here.

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The  Psychology & Philosophy series was developed by Persona Digital Books. All rights to reproduction by any means are reserved. We encourage readers to quote and paraphrase topics from Religion for the 21st Century, 2010 edition, published online and expect  citations to accompany all derivative writings. The author is Stephen Gislason. Located on the Sunshine Coast, Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada.