LOVE OF GOD AND MAN!

By

John Roberts(2003)

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)

Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,

And saw, within the moonlight in his room,

Making it rich and like a lily in bloom,

An angel writing in a book of gold:-

Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,

And to the presence in the room he said,

“What writest thou?” - The vision raised its head,

And with a look made of all sweet accord,

Answered, “The names of those that love the Lord.”

“And is mine one?” said Abou. “Nay, not so,”

Replied the angel.

Abou now spoke more low,

But cheerly still; and said, “I pray thee, then,

Write me as one that loves his fellow men.”

The angel wrote and vanished. The next night

It came again with a great wakening light ,

And showed the names whom love of God had blessed

And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.

(James H. Leigh Hunt)

Having read this little poem as a child, either in Sunday School or Primary School, I promptly forgot

it, until, whilst working my way through the Oxford Book of English Poetry, I recently re-discovered it. Very shortly, it conveys a most important principle of life and re-confirms doctrines established by Jesus of Nazareth (and, probably, earlier teachers) and later reaffirmed by various religious reformers, during intervening Centuries. It embodies the principle of “Love to the Lord and Love to the Neighbour”.

Our poem reveals, succinctly, the essential truth that one cannot profess to “love” God and, in the same breath, deny love for one’s fellows. Most Social Systems, throughout history, have acknowledged the obligation of love and support, towards one’s kith and kin, but the extension of such a duty to those men and women to whom one is unrelated by ties of blood, is unthinkable. Indeed, such an idea would be particularly abhorrent, if one dwelt in a community in which perpetual feuding and banditry was the rule, rather than the exception. For such a proposition to apply across racial or religious boundaries, would also involve the suppression of feelings of mistrust, suspicion and long in-bred hatred, travelling back through the mists of time, to distant generations: involving a lengthy period of animosity and blood-letting. It seems, that in such an environment, the germs of the doctrine of love might hardly find suitable fertile soil in which to develop.

Indeed, as I have had occasion to observe numerous times, during this series of essay/sermons, the human race does not, at the present moment in our evolutionary process, appear to have progressed, appreciably, during the past two and a half-thousand years, which is about the period during which we have been thinking and recording our ideas.

If it is merely a question of acknowledging our duty, not merely to kith and kin or to our local community, then it is quite a simple matter. We merely need to extend our personal horizons, to include those with whom we have daily contact, be it at home, work, school, church or play situations. We qualify for inclusion, with Ben Adhem, on the list of those that love “God”. This done, we have merely to acknowledge our duty in a patriotic sense, to really shine. We cannot be expected to carry loyalty or the spirit of public service beyond this point. Our National allegiance demands no more of us than this.

When we contemplate “foreigners”, it is with an admixture of contempt and indifference. The greater the extent of racial variation between us, the greater the measure of intolerance and misunderstanding.

Thus, we find ourselves at the present day, engrossed with the idea of patriotic duty, as the ultimate ideal for the individual. Our propaganda machines are actively undermining what remains of traditional morality, leaving us with a mere shell, an echo of the past, when spiritual values still maintained sway in the deliberations of men and women.

At the commencement of a new Millennium and Century, our world is threatening to become polarized, increasingly, between those who are privileged and those who are classified as “inferior” races. This will be so, in spite of public declarations as to the validity of diametrically opposite principles. Lip- service will continue to be paid to the need for more equitable distribution of goods and services, yet with no prospect of any serious change in the manner in which human affairs are being conducted at the present time.

The churches continue to proclaim the truth and validity of their individual doctrines and, increasingly, become more and more subservient to those worldly influences, which control the social and political life of the Western nations. Nowhere is such a situation more glaringly evident than in the environment of the United States of America. In that nation, more than in any other, religion goes hand in hand with politics, although, in principle, the doctrine of the separation of powers is superficially maintained. “Religion” is to be understood to mean the “moral force” underlying all public action and, therefore, includes all forms of activity deemed to be expedient and in the “best interests” of the community.

When it comes to talking about “God”: this gentleman is very much a product, “Made in the USA!”, and intended to benefit that nation and its citizens. In fact, it is universally acknowledged, “He” lives in the United States and, like all tribal deities, smiles favourably upon the denizens of that country, or, at least, the more respectable members of that society. Those individuals who maintain such concepts, so comfortably, find no difficulty in deducing, therefrom, evidence of their own undoubted superiority over the residue of humanity. Nor would they feel that such a concept of Deity is, to any extent, inadequate.

Hence, it comes as no surprise, to perceive that our world is falling apart about our ears: or that nobody, or very few people in our own particular environment, is able to understand the nature of the misapprehension which is plunging us into the abyss.

I lay in bed a few nights ago, thinking about this problem of human ideas about God and of the manner in which we invent our own peculiar concepts of Deity. We cannot begin to wrap our thoughts around such abstract ideas as that of a ‘Divine Intelligence”, as this concept is insufficiently concrete to enable us to enter into any sort of a personal relationship with such a Deity . Hence, mankind has, traditionally, manufactured its Gods: from the original Egyptian Totem-Gods, through the “Golden Calf” of the early Jews, to the sophisticated and tolerant Deity of our own time. Our Gods are well and truly “made to measure” and suit us down to the ground. It is thus, with a clear conscience, that the professional Gangster can reconcile his violent trade with his role as a family man and member of an, outwardly, respectable community. It is also the reason why our modern politicians are able to make a display of subscription to outwardly formal religious practices, which everyone knows is mere show, conforming to a thoroughly false and hypocritical charade.

It is not, therefore, surprising to note that, particularly in America itself, a considerable body of thinking people have withdrawn from the ranks of the major religious groups and are seeking spiritual insight in more personal and intimate experiences. Many folk understand that “God” is not to be comprehended via the activities of priests, clad in silk and cloth of gold but in the deeper meditations of the human breast. There are numerous non-conformist groups, all sincerely, no doubt, seeking ultimate truth, in accordance with their understanding and comprehension of spiritual laws. Many Westerners are turning to Islam or other faiths of an oriental origin, for their inspiration.

Of considerable concern to the proponents of formal Christian doctrine must be the constant erosion of the influence of the Churches in the public life of a nation. This is a factor of great importance in the rise of militarism and extreme nationalism within the USA at the present day. The failure of traditional sanctions to influence determinations of the Governing body must lead, as it inevitably has, to a weakening of moral influences, in the setting of standards for the policy makers, within the executive itself.

A glance at the role of the American Churches, during the developmental years of political life, in the fledgling States of the Union, will demonstrate clearly that they were quick to adapt to the demands of social expediency. Where standards of public morality came into conflict with the demands of the Slave Trade, the former gave way, in favour of the latter. Many clergymen were guilty of manipulating the scriptures, in such a manner as to produce perverse doctrines, supporting the right of superior races to enslave inferior. Again, during the McCarthy years, half a Century ago, Churchmen were vociferant in their condemnation of Communists and Socialists, who represented a threat to the “American way of Life!”

An objective glance at the United States today, gives no reassurance of any change in this situation. What an outsider observes there, is a situation in which morality has been totally subverted to the demands of an aggressive and secular administration. There is no sign of the calm, steadying influence of intelligent people, who can perceive the disaster, which is presently overtaking the people of the USA. This will be a disaster of their own manufacture, not something imposed by Terrorists, but a complete social and moral breakdown, in which all sense of right action is distorted by the propaganda machine, which plays such an important part in the moulding of all our lives, these days. The signs are already in evidence, in the decline in moral standards so evident in the recent, degenerate outpourings from the studios of MGM, Paramount, etc.. This influence, it must be confessed, has spread its foul tentacles into the homes of most of those nations which have access to television programmes. Does one need to elaborate on the nature of the modern “Movie”? Nudity, continuous foul language, lavatory scenes, constant simulated sex, obsessive preoccupation with sexual topics, etc., etc.. If this reflects public standards, then it becomes clear that the modern generation is thoroughly degenerate.

Here in Australia: an essentially Western Enclave created accidentally by Great Britain, when it still had pretensions to “Empire”, some two-hundred years ago, we find ourselves a microcosm of the United States. In the last fifty years we have become, no-longer Colonial British, but Satellite-American in tastes and mentality. There was a time when it seemed that Australia would develop a culture, uniquely “Australian”, but all that is now well and truly disappeared. Even Aboriginal “Culture” will never be the same, with the Credit-Card, never-never economy now very much a part of tribal life. Tribal life could not survive for one moment without the fortnightly dole payout, which, fortunately for Australian unemployed folk, still comes regularly and provides the minimum basic standard of life for all our poor people. Not so, the great and powerful USA, where dole money eventually peters out, to be reduced to the weekly food-parcel.

We Australians are daily permitting our uniquely equitable and fair-minded system to be dismantled before our very eyes and are too apathetic to do anything to defend ourselves. The media have us well and truly bamboozled and, guess who controls everything here, that is capable of sending out a message of any description? Why, Rupert Murdoch’s US-based media Empire and Frank Packer’s equally monocular, Capitalist-orientated organization.

Mr. and Mrs. Average Australian, like their US counterparts, are generally open-minded, kindly-natured individuals, but they have had such a good run of prosperity, for many, many years, that they are incapable of suspecting that the good times are being deliberately dynamited, in favour of capitalist enterprise. So far as our Politicians are concerned, one is convinced that the majority would be delighted if President Bush declared this island another ‘State of the Union”. One is thankful that such a development is highly unlikely to occur, at least in the foreseeable future.

The point of my last few paragraphs, is to indicate my conviction that our moral standards in Australia are on a par with those of the average US citizen. We are all thoroughly brainwashed, to the stage wherein we are incapable of thinking for ourselves. In this state of mind, we are extremely vulnerable and permit ourselves to become convinced that “black is white”, and not vice-versa. This situation first became evident in the 60's, when Australia permitted itself to be led by the nose into the horrors of the Vietnam War. This was a one-sided affair, leaving about 3-million Vietnamese dead and relatively small numbers of Americans (57,000) and few Australians, (500odd). What this massive and thoroughly unwarranted assault upon Vietnam did reveal, was the nature and extent of the US War Machine. It also displayed the fact that this vast armament was in the control of irresponsible elements, having political control of the United States of America.

The subsequent history of the past thirty years has confirmed the worst fears of all liberal minded individuals. We are now witnessing the deployment throughout the world of an invincible military power, the like of which has never before been conceived and which appears likely to continue to assume control of each Continent, as and when its controlling forces deem it expedient to do so.

As at the time of typing these notes (24 May 03), the USA has confirmed its control over Iraq, with the sanction of the United Nations. This in spite of the plain fact that the attack against Iraq was for the express purpose of securing Iraq’s oil for the use of the USA. The claim that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction for use against his enemies was, clearly specious, and, in spite of persistent US efforts, no concrete evidence of such material has been produced. We were all perfectly well aware of Bush’s intentions and are not surprised to see that he has succeeded very well, in securing control over Iraq, at least for the foreseeable future. The tragedy is, that he has managed to persuade the United Nations to endorse his actions in invading and destroying Iraq and murdering thousands of its citizens, in the process. Is this grotesque and monstrous criminality to be “swept under the carpet”?

What is the function of the International Court of Justice, if it is not to prosecute charges against War Criminals, such as George W. Bush, Tony Blair and John Howard, who all conspired to invade Iraq and to kill its nationals?

We are now witnessing the “White-Washing” phase of operations in Iraq. The role of US forces is now being pressed upon us, as that of “Liberators”. Chaos now reigns in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the inevitable product of US aggression against both those nations. It does not appear that stability will be established in the near future and the people given an opportunity to live their lives free from fear of banditry and mayhem. Civil War in Afghanistan continues and it seems, very probable, that such a situation will prevail within Iraq, unless the various tribal groups can arrive at an accord between themselves. In the meantime, the US is able to ship out the oil and there is every reason to believe that they will prove to be highly efficient at this.

Whether the people of America now feel more secure than before the US embarked upon its “War against Terrorism”, remains to be seen. Their economy is still in the “doldrums” and people will not feel secure for a considerable time to come. Their President now comes under internal attack, for his failure to adduce evidence of the threat which Iraq posed to the USA, prior to the destruction of that country. Whether it is the cost of the War that is causing alarm or the moral question of the justification for War and its consequent bloodshed, we do not know. Let us pray that it is the latter. However, we take comfort from the signs of a crack in the facade of hypocritical righteousness which is apparent at the present time.

Thinking people, like myself, must also take comfort in the consciousness, that there are still many Americans who opposed this wicked attack upon a small and helpless nation. We trust they will do their best to bring their own criminals to account and to bring to a halt the unwarranted persecution of innocent persons unlawfully apprehended, transported, and incarcerated in their Federal Prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

In the meantime, the murderous conflict in Palestine continues with, only now a sign emerging that the combatants may be about to sit together, in order to attempt to arrive at mutual solution to this impasse. Perhaps both sides realize the necessity to avoid further bloodshed. Would it not be desirable for Jews to sleep soundly, free from the threat of the suicide-bomber. And how nice it would be for Arab mothers not to have to convince themselves that their sons are dying for a righteous cause.

Of course, the United States, that bearer of the olive branch, is in the thick of the negotiations. George W. Bush, that champion of “Peace”, whose every second breath utters this noble word, is anxious to bring about a solution to the “Problem of Palestine”, whilst assuring Israel of its continued “support”. Genuine lovers of peace can have little confidence in the “peaceful intentions” of this man, the butcher of Afghanistan and Iraq: commander of invincible armies, who has only recently used them so effectively against the soldiers of Saddam Hussein. No! George: we, true lovers of mankind, do not accept your role as a latter-day dove. Nor do we believe that your name will be found in the list of those whom “love of God hath blessed”. For we are assured that you are no lover of your fellow men.

Finis

John Roberts

24th May 2003

Sydney,

Australia.

mailto:robertsjno@ideal.net.au