Where to Now?

For the most part, I would guess that the vast majority of us are not in fear because of physical survival. There are places in the world, like Iraq and Isreal, where physical survival is a real everyday part of life. For those of us not directly threatened by the fear of physical harm, why do we in large part behave as though differences in our worldviews are a threat to each other?

We have worldviews about religion and yet we are taught to believe that our particular worldview (a belief system created by human beings) is superior to others. I know that I was taught as a Catholic in catecism that ours was the only true religion. And unless the other poor souls of the planet could not be converted to our belief system, they were doomed to Hell for eternity. Although this description is simplistic in words, it appears to me that is how the world seems to operate today.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that a major source of conflict and resulting fear is that many, if not most, of our strongly-held beliefs are presumed to be "truths." And that is where the problem of reinforcing fear by each of us begins. For example, the belief existed , as a truth, that the earth was flat. We laugh at such a "truth" today. Or that the center of the universe was the the earth, and unmoving! To challenge that truth was punishable by death. But then we come to some more modern-day beliefs, or truths.

Capitalism is the best economic system for everyone. We are the richest nation that ever existed, consume something like 30% of the world's resources, and have about 30% to 40% of our population health uninsured. And I could go on and on. Capitalism appears to fit best individually-oriented societies. But most of the world's population are group-oriented, by nature. In truth, I don't claim to know what is best for someone else or some other society. But I do know from teaching diversity for more than 20 years that "one size usually never fits all."

The point is that if we are going to come together as planet of people truly interested in peace and compatible existence, we are going to have to re-examine some of our most fundamental assumptions about others we live and work with. As I have stated before, I am not speaking of some policy led by world leaders, or even local leaders, because, in truth, they are accountable for where we find the state of the world, and indirectly our lives, today.

This transformation will led by each of us making a conscious decision to examine the patterns of our lives in terms of:

1) Information gathering about how others view and experience the world. Using the internet or through direct experience. "Be more interested than interesting." The only truth we really have is our direct experince of someone else, not what we are told about others through the interpretation of their experience! To realize this simple truth is a breakthrough.

2) Acceptance of how others interpret their experience without the necessity of feeling threatened because it is different or divergently different. Engagement within our our own minds of realizing that their interpretation is just as valid as our own provides the space for them to come to the same conclusion. Now we have the basis for exploring a totally new way of thinking that compatibly embraces both! Such a process is what human evolution is really about, not simply the revolutions we have made in technological developments we commonly cite as human evolution or of our limited ability influence nature. Not control It!

3) Experience of differences; people, foods, music, climate, religions, family structures, values, etc. Experience is the most powerful phenomenon on the planet for transformation. What we do not need is a new agreement or policy within our present way of thinking and believing, but a transformation from survival-based thinking to creative-adaptive thinking. Where we automatically view differences as an opportunity to learn and grow rather a fear-based reaction of how we think may be invalidated.

4) Transformation is the process of realizing that our perspective is not a universal truth. But the unique way we have programmed our experiences to fit our societal or personal belief system. In a fear-based way of thinking, the most threatening possibility is that we are wrong. Because everything is seen through the eyes of "Wrong or Right." Transformation helps us to see that there is a way of thinking that transcends "right and wrong," and validates our view as part of a greater whole, from which we learn that we each are a piece of a larger puzzle, not the whole thing! This again, is a breakthrough to human compatibility.

5) Adaptation and integration creating a new system of human existence based upon mutual respect, collaboration, and love. Yes, love, which I define as the unconditional acceptance and support of another's growth, happiness, and mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. These are nice words, and you are possibly saying that such a way of living is only possible in an idealistic world. I would probably say, "You're right, and it's very realistic for each of to live this way on an individual basis! Particularly, beginning with those we love. And then extending it to those whose beliefs we fear."

In conclusion, living without fear is the systematic process of constantly experiencing transformation about those ways of thinking that are different, sometime divergently different, than our own. Transformation is always freeing and unlimited and reorders our way of living to produce the quality we say we desire. However, freedom, quality, and living without fear are not free!