Personally, I don’t want to live on a planet or even a country or city where everyone is the same. Nor do I want to travel to areas exactly like the one where I generally reside and spend my time. You see, I like the nuance, the differences, and the unique’ness. I want to see, feel, touch, taste, smell, and appreciate all that is, I want to experience something different. How about you? If you are nodding yes to all or any of those statements, then stick around and let’s talk.
Not long ago, I watched an interesting CSPAN TV Book Review at Baylor University featuring Os Guinness, who talked about soul liberty, that until we have freedom of thought and religion we cannot have a global peace. His book sounds quite philosophical, the title of the book is:
“The Global Public Square: Religious Freedom and the Making of a World Safe for Diversity,” by Os Guinness.
His Amazon description explains the problem;
“How do we live with our deepest differences? In a world torn by religious conflict, the threats to human dignity are terrifyingly real. Some societies face harsh government repression and brutal sectarian violence, while others are divided by bitter conflicts over religion’s place in public life. Is there any hope for living together peacefully? Os Guinness argues that the way forward for the world lies in promoting freedom of religion and belief for people of all faiths and none.”
And his answers are quite interesting, doable, and almost a modernized version of our founding father’s vision for freedom of religion only globally. Os wants to see the “freedom of the soul, and the inviolable freedom of thought, conscience and religion.” He also discusses in the book that it’s time for our countrymen, leaders, and global mentors to stand up and free men’s souls in the public square.
Yes, what a concept, what an idea, and why isn’t everyone giving Os a standing ovation? Why do we expect everyone to be the same, act the way we expect? Are we afraid, afraid of what? Why would we want to help maintain the social order of the Borg? It really makes no sense. We shouldn’t be forcing diversity, nor should we be pummeling those who are different, rather we should relish, cherish and celebrate the unique’ness and diversity. I wonder perchance if you might engage this thought for a couple of minutes after finishing this article.
Perhaps you might shoot me an email or look up that book and read it. Until then, please consider all this and think on it.
