This is why I think the religious view point of the Carpenter’s son was so radical for its time and is still so radical now. Nationalism is an infectious disease that results in a nation isolating and protecting itself from its neighbors and putting up both physical and economic barriers between itself and other nations.
Religious ethnocentrism also results in the chosen people syndrome and serves to foster spiritual pride in believers. It seems to me the whole point of effective religious people is to tear down barriers and build bridges between people.
Technology in modern times has resulted in our highly interconnected global society; not only are we economically more and more dependent upon each other but also socially, as communication and the Internet specifically, have made it possible for us to talk to people all over the world from many different cultures and nationalities.
Yesterday I chatted on messenger with a Buddhist monk who is living in a monastery in the mountains of Bhutan. This was not possible even as recent as 20 years ago. He sent me pictures of the recent snowfall and his monk brothers.
The prince of peace taught a way of life that when put into practice results in better relations between friends, family and nations. As global tensions increase we need more and more people to step forward advocating peace and brotherhood. As the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, “when nations are in chaos, then strong leaders appear.” Be a strong leader for your nation and for the world. ❤️🍀
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