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Interfaith
Spirituality
Although we respect each person's right to question this point, Earth's Kids reflects the conviction that we are each spiritual beings, and that through the nurturing of our inner life, and our relationship with our higher power, we are all more fully empowered to live well, live safely, and to create positive solutions to life's challenges.However, we do not seek to promote any particular religion or spiritual path. Rather, we embrace the importance of religious freedom and interfaith tolerance along with universal human ideals such as compassion, integrity, truth seeking, responsible action, and justice.We strongly believe that community building is one of our greatest resources for taking action and making positive change, both locally and globally, for the future of our world and its children. And yet building community is often hindered by fear ― the fear of differences and the fear of being persecuted or excluded because of our differences.It is a sad irony that spiritual practices and beliefs, which lend us so much strength, often become a source of divisiveness, thereby diluting the strength we would gain from building community across groups. In fact we cannot help but wonder what would happen if all the people of our nation, of our world, could pursue their own spiritual or philosophical path but lay aside petty arguments over:
Perhaps we could stop bickering over religion, and simply support each other as seekers of truth, virtue, and positive change. And then, rather than each of us feeling lost on the endless wheel of the daily grind... instead of struggling, and often failing, to keep alive a daily sense of hope and of purpose, we could be reminded that each of us is connected and supported through a power greater than ourselves. Perhaps too we could remind each other to call upon that higher truth to guide and sustain us in our daily living and through major life challenges.
If we could do this , then our
faith in ourselves, in our own true inner power, could grow day by
day. And our sense of what is possible, of what we can accomplish --
and of how
we
can accomplish it, despite obstacles -- would be a light that
illumined the road before us. Sure.. this is a dream. An ideal. A goal. But regardless of whether such an ideal could ever be wholly realized, or is even practical, it is certainly one that we can keep in mind as we make the choices that set the course for our future and our children's future. It is an ideal that can guide us to act with tolerance toward others, to focus on what is shared rather than what is different. This is not to say we would each abandon our search for for truth, meaning. It does not mean that those of us with traditional faiths would have to lay them aside, or abandon their teachings for our personal lives. It only means that we would practice sufficient wisdom and humility to hold a larger perspective. One that acknowledges the power of the divine to love all people, and acknowledges too the in-dwelling power within each person to seek truth. It is a perspective that acknowledges that none of us has a perfect knowledge or understanding. Instead, we are each doing our best. And if our hearts our open and our intention firm, and our demeanor toward each other is one of mutual respect and tolerance, then we are all seekers together. The question is, will we help each other on this quest? Or be sidetracked by focusing on that which divides? Rather than condemn may we bless. Rather than seek to tear down or put down, may we move in ever strengthening partnership, wisdom, and peace as we connect to that which sustains us and informs us. May we keep in mind what is at stake, the welfare of our planet, our children, and in fact all of Earth's children.
If our goal is spiritual tolerance, then it may help to have insight into the sacred texts and principles of other faiths. Perhaps we may even gain new insight into our own. Enjoy!
"The
Master views the parts with Compassion
-- Lao Tzu, the Tao Te Ching
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