THIS VISIBLE WORLD IS NOT THE END…

 

“This visible world is a trace of that invisible one and the former follows the latter like a shadow”, says Al-Ghazali (c.1058 -1111), a polymath Muslim scholar and theologian.[1]  Affirmingly, the lesson we learn from  Mary Magdalene and the Apostles’ encounter with the risen Christ is that “this world is not all that there is”, says Bishop Barron. We know little even about the natural world. Death, known to be the end of our lives, need not be the end either. For, example, a seed dries, dies, but spurts with new life. Similarly with our natural death a “new heavens and a new earth” springs up.  God’s creative process continues to show up something beyond human imagination and understanding.  The impossible happens.

This earthly life is towards a higher growth and maturity,  something more permanent. The daily discoveries of the universe are a proof of this continuous expansion of creation. The least harmonized human understanding of the world is incomparable with the grandeur of the mysterious universe. It makes little sense to explain this creative wonder. The differences between our understanding lies in each one’s different emphasis based on the  appearances. Human being are just pilgrims on this endless journey. Neither history and facts, nor witnesses are going to fathom  the whole story. All will have difficulty in grasping the reality.

Human presumptions prevent us from knowing the truth, and this   ‘blindness’ is historical, which is always limited.  For example, the Jewish followers of Jesus thought " he was the one to redeem Israel." But that expectation is overturned overnight with human discouragement and dissolution.  The transitional time which is a process,  is itself timeless. “The transitional period until the messianic kingdom, which the Apocalypse seeks to postpone until the end of time," explains Renaud Silly. In Mark's Gospel, after the Transfiguration, the disciples "questioned among themselves what rising from the dead meant" (Mk 9:10). For many Jews of that era, who expected a general resurrection of all the elects, this idea was indeed strange - some of them, the Sadducees, did not even believe in the resurrection of the dead. There is a different order of reality – where the perishable and the imperishable unite.

There may be  a different order of reality which we do not know now, but  in future will.  The  identity of  mortal living beings as man and woman  or animals and insects,  as we see them dying is only a visible reality. The ambiguity of a different kind of body may be clear in the future too.  If time is timeless at the end, the matter and flesh also transform in identity. That which is perishable turns into imperishable ( cf. 1 Cor 15:42-44).

Observable facts or history are not only reliable evidential proofs for mortality. The credibility of any event is based on  to a multitude of witnesses. But the value of the witnesses can be varied. Only a summation of all testimonies and observation or tests, give  an objective understanding, but strewn with bit of subjectivity or all of it.  For example, all “visionary experiences, are fundamentally subjective" explains Daniel Marguerat.[2] Often  hallucination, can give a true understanding of an unexplained event.  Historians too are not credible in their writings in its totality. They need verification of the reality in context then.

Similarly, an excavation finding is not a visible proof of something the excavators wish to establish (race, culture, etc.) To know the truth, the most important thing is what is not seen. The basic ground of any observable or analytical finding is the thesis, a presumption which is proved in the process. The real objective experience is subsumed in a metaphysical experience, with a leap of ‘faith’ –a presumed belief. Therefore, as Renaud Silly states, "Sensory vision is not enough, but signs lead to an understanding.”[3]

What we humans are doing on this visible earth is solving a puzzle, as far as we can go, and sometimes  various pieces intuitively fall into place. Often, they are coincidental.   The whole of creations and its understanding hangs in balance.  However we try to get it partially after few attempts,  we will never get the whole secret and the mystery, because mystery always remains a mystery.  The puzzle will remain eternally unsolved.

Knowing things in its entirety is a constant battle dominated by tensions, an outright conflict, that opens up a brighter and broader perspective of reality.[4] The turning point in human history would be realizing this radical novelty; that is, facing reality, in which this turning point is not visible. Humans face and see the war, with its destructions and endless conflicts, but reality resists faith in the unknowing. Oscar Wilde once wrote, “The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.” This visible mystery calls us to delve into the depths of what lies before our eyes. At first glance, it underscores the value of tangible and observable aspects of reality. Yet, upon deeper analysis and reflection, it reveals a philosophical interplay between perception and reality. More than the mystery of the unknown –that which is still hidden from us – the observable hold greater intrigue. Beyond the layers of familiarity associated with the visible world, there is an intricate patterns and interconnected ecosystems, manifested gradually as we pill off what is seen outside and exploring the inner world. We unveil wonder. However, at the same time, that which is unseen, the invisible —the mysteries of the human psyche, cosmic forces, and underlying reality—has captivated human imagination. Plato’s allegory of the cave and quantum physics exemplify this quest for knowledge beyond the visible mystery. Therefore, the visible and the invisible are intertwined in a balance. In order to understand the world, like a painter’s dimensional shades to create depth, understanding the world requires the apparent and the concealed aspects of reality. While we depend on the reliability of our senses, contrary to what Wilde confirms, we care compelled to question our perception too, because the fuller reality is beyond the realm of both our senses and perceptions.[5]

We can only persevere in the evolving reality where everything changes. The law of engagement is replaced by the law of the unknowing. The  deficient ‘WE’ are not the ‘almighty master’ of human history, but God is.  Therefore, a life lived in mystery is the ultimate human endeavor to be pursued upon. This, of course, will not change the course of historical reality, but place them in a broader perspective where the hope of a fulfilled life is possible.

 

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[1] Cf. Al-Ghazali, in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Ghazali, 16.4.2024.

[2] Cf. Guillaume Daudé, The accounts of the Resurrection in the Gospels, https://international.la-croix.com/pray/the-accounts-of-the-resurrection-in-the-gospels, 7.4.2024

[3] Cf.  Guillaume Daudé, The accounts of the Resurrection in the Gospels, https://international.la-croix.com/pray/the-accounts-of-the-resurrection-in-the-gospels?at_source, 3.4.2024

[4] Cf. Arnaud Alibert, Easter: God's battle?, https://international.la-croix.com/pray/easter-gods-battle, 7.4.2024.

[5] Cf.  Oscar Wilde: 'The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible,' in, The Socratic Method, https://www.socratic-method.com/quote-meanings-and-interpretations/oscar-wilde-the-true-mystery-of-the-world-is-the-visible-not-the-invisible, 7.4.2024

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

"Peace is a divine gift but at the same time the fruit of human efforts," the Vatican message for Ramadan 2024  states. It continues, “The desire for peace and security is profoundly rooted in the soul of every person of good will, since no one can fail to see the tragic effects of war in the loss of human lives, the toll of serious injury and the throngs of orphans and widows."  Because of this, Ramadan calls for respect for the gift of life, the  conviction that hatred, violence and war – which is “fratricide, useless, senseless, and dark” – must be rejected and peace preserved. For preserving this peace, we need "closeness and friendship"  in order to "extinguish the fire of war and light the candle of peace."

The ongoing production and trade of arms as the primary driving force, accompanied with the enduring human aspiration for control, geo-political ambitions, and economic interests are the roots of conflicts. The global  human family suffers much from the devastating effects of the use of arms – as “dipping a morsel of bread in the blood of our brother”, says Pope Francis.  Inter-State conflicts, armed clashes, military combat,  criminal organizations, armed gangs, killing of innocent civilians, millions of people displaced, arms trade, immoral commerce, have been on the increase. This increase in hostilities is transforming “a third world war fought piecemeal” into “a genuine global conflict.”

Like the Christian Lent, Ramadan focuses more arduously on prayer, fasting, almsgiving. In fact, all religions consider human life sacred. Therefore,  it must be respected and protected. Consciences are to be formed "to respect the absolute value of the life of each person and the right to physical integrity, security and a dignified life."

Giving peace a chance requires courage and conviction, especially in a digital landscape where outrage and polarization often reign supreme. Yet, if we are to truly honor the legacy of Jesus, we must rise above the fray, resist the temptation to engage in hostility and vitriol, and instead strive to cultivate a culture of empathy, understanding, and respect.

Ultimately, living the Lent and Ramadan, or celebrating Easter, Resurrection or Id AI-FITR in the present times, is not just about restoring religious faith and practice and defend its ‘sacredness’ and its ‘greatness’, but about giving peace a chance. It is about reclaiming the transformative power of universal message of love and peace – a message that transcends time, culture, and ideology and speaks to the deepest longings of the human heart; reclaiming his message of compassion and kindness, and applying it to the challenges of the modern world. By embracing the values that each religious belief embodies and promoting a culture of dialogue and understanding, we can work towards a more peaceful and just society.

We recall the words of Jesus himself: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9). The word, Islam, coming from an Arabic root,  etymologically means peace, salaam, or shalom in Hebrew. In a world torn apart by conflict and division, may we be instruments of peace, channels of love, and beacons of hope, both online and offline. The followers or believers of the world Religions must form a peace-attitude of the mind and heart that outlines a life program for them. It implies a total sharing of peace and unity as the way of life and a mission. All must imbibe the ability to observe it and put it into practice.

The very first greeting of the Resurrected Jesus is: “Peace be with you.” This must be the be-all and end-all of all faith practices. Faith is not just a subjective experience for one’s own salvation; rather, it is a way to peace, love and unity. Otherwise, all Religions are a fraud and fake. Universal peace is  the fullness of God Kingdom on earth. True, that peace in this imminent world is not all. There is still a greater possibility for God to be up to a permanent peace. And the path of permanent peace is ever open to everyone. Jesus went all the way to death seeking this eternal peace – peace for all. The stunning lessons from Him and from the world-evil should stimulate us all to work for lasting peace.  

Human beings are often trapped in their own remorse, unable to see hope at the end of the tunnel; they feel helpless, discredited.  Peace is not the absence or removal  of outside problems though; instead, peace infuses trust and hope for a better future; disheartened people are put at peace with themselves. Therefore, we move from remorse to a peace-mission, by breaking out of ourselves, from the self-absorption, from our self-centered imprisonment. Peace is an irreplaceable fruit of justice and human Rights; it is the absence of evil in us, for evil has its price. We, therefore, cannot run far away from our duty of finding peace through justice and Rights, thus emerge from the depths of abandonment – a sense of being unwanted. Peace is about being freed by setting our feet on the ground and keep walking in the midst of uncertainty. Consequently, peace rehabilitates us and lifts us up from the human dungeon of hopelessness, dispelling the darkness and fear that are residing within us. Peace touches our inner core to raise us up to confidence so that through a shared mission we can live a fuller life on earth. A renewal of peace happens, therefore, when we stoop humbly to serve and bind the wounded, and those broken hearted.

Pope Francis tells the Christians and Muslims, and all people of goodwill, to extinguish “the fires of hatred, violence and war, and instead light the gentle candle of peace.” God loves all those who devote their lives to the service of peace. Peace is an outcome of justice; it is the fruit of human efforts to build a just world. Human being is called to lay the conditions necessary for its preservation by “drawing upon resources of peace that are present in our rich human and religious traditions” and by acting as “witnesses of hope”. Again, at Easter “Urbi et Orbi” on Wednesday, 3^rd April 2024, the Pope called for peace in the world amid global conflict, war, human suffering, destruction, homeless refugees, social tensions,  humanitarian crises, human rights violations, and human trafficking,  proclaiming Jesus Christ as “the way of peace, reconciliation and fraternity.”  War is "always an absurdity” and “a defeat."

In the midst of these conflicts, people of goodwill of all Religions and non-believers are to enter into dialogue for building up of peace through “encounter, coexistence and pluralism”  especially in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Ukraine, Russia, Western Balkans, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Rohingya in Myanmar and Africa. Let us all break the ‘Good-Friday-Ramadan fast’  along with other religious groups, including the Bahá', Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Taoists, in fellowship, friendship, solidarity and peace. Let our greetings to each other be: Shalom, Shanti, Peace, Salam, and serve our neighbors in need, thus contribute to the common good of the society.

 

 

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REHABILITATE JESUS IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

 

Jesus was crucified. He died, but he rose to a new life. This is the foundation of Christian faith. If the historical evidences prove that He rose, and if we accept it to be true and believe it, then we need to rehabilitate Him in our midst, in the modern times. He needs to be ‘re-installed’ in the new updated ‘version’ of humanity today. The Christ in Jesus evolves, and this process continues. So, too the ‘processor’ that has to process him, has to be upgraded with new programming and coding. New wine must be put into new wineskin.

The present world process is full of violence, divisions, injustices, inequality, injustice and hypocritical. Within the religious circle, a large section of people does recognize the spiritual and religious importance of Jesus, but his teachings are little known. Often believers of other faith  perceive the Christians as "hypocritical" (50%), "judgmental" (49%) or "arrogant" (32%), according to a  Ipsos survey (2022). In an era dominated by the rapid dissemination of information through social media platforms, where information spreads like wildfire and opinions clash incessantly, the figure of Jesus Christ remains a subject of both reverence and controversy, misconceptions and misinterpretations. While some uphold his teachings of love, compassion, and forgiveness, others manipulate his image for personal or political gain, leading to division and conflict. However, amidst the chaos of the digital age, there is a pressing need to rehabilitate the essence of Jesus's message of compassion and understanding, and revive the pursuit of peace through justice and human Rights; and within the existing noise of digital discourse, it is an opportunity to rehabilitate Jesus and propagate his message.

As the present generation is engaged in communicating through the social media in a  digital world, it must be engaged with religious world as well for human spiritual progress. The AI-aided social media needs to be used to ‘rehabilitate’ Jesus in the post-post-modern world, to make Jesus’ presence and his teachings felt.  In an age of swift communication, people  – believers, atheists, skeptics,– all over the world are very much aware of the Church conflicts and confusion over abortion, homosexual couple’s blessings, clergy sex abuse scandals, etc.  Christian fundamentalists, liberals, modernists and especially the hierarchy, have tarnished the People of God (Church) and, “obscured the image of Jesus Christ”.

In the present reality of political polarization, gender equality, poverty, immigration, ecological crisis, war, terrorism,  following the initiative taken by the campaign "He Gets Us" (2022) – the Church as a whole, needs to be relevant by trying to address different aspects of  Jesus’  life  and his teachings through digital efforts. People must come to know that the experience of Jesus’ living presence is relevant to the present society infested with loneliness, anxiety, mental health issues, etc. All Christians especially the young believers will have to engage social media, design and organize them to evangelize the culture with Christ. Through these means they need to connect with the Church and its teachings;  clear doubts and disputes through dialogue and debates; inter into inter-faith dialogues and discourse on religious freedom; bring the Christian families together;   be aware of the divisive and diverse Christian denominations which draw their identity from the single Christ and work towards reconciliation and unity.  A rehabilitated Jesus within the present reality would embody the value of love, compassion, justice and peace.

The AI-aided social media has revolutionized the way information spreads, enabling instant communication on a global scale. Yet it is often fraught with polarization, misinformation, and sensationalism. In such an environment, the image of Jesus is frequently distorted through misinterpretation of his teachings, seeking to promote their own agendas. True, the social media platforms have made Jesus more accessible to people. His teachings, once confined to sacred texts and religious institutions, are now shared, discussed, and dissected across the digital landscape. But this accessibility allows both for widespread dissemination of his message, and also opens the door to distortion.

One of the primary challenges in rehabilitating Jesus, therefore, is navigating the myriad interpretations and agendas employed for personal or political gain. The religious fundamentalists and the atheists often deride him as a mythical figure. Jesus is frequently reduced to a symbol that serves their interests. Yet, at the heart of Jesus's message lies a call for love, understanding, and reconciliation. His teachings emphasize empathy, kindness, and the pursuit of justice. He championed the cause of the marginalized, healed the sick and forgave even those who persecuted him. It is this message of hope and redemption that needs to be reclaimed in the age of social media.

 It is imperative, therefore, to emphasize the core principles that underpin Jesus’ message. At the heart of his teachings lies a profound call to love one another, to show compassion to the marginalized, and to seek peace even in the face of adversity. Through discernment a concerted effort is to be made to counteract the spread of misinformation and hatred. It is essential to embrace the entirety of his message which transcends narrow political or ideological boundaries. Instead of engaging in divisive debates or using Jesus as a weapon to bolster one's own beliefs, individuals can use their platforms to  foster a culture of dialogue, bridge divides and promote understanding, empathy and reconciliation. It can connect individuals from diverse backgrounds and foster meaningful conversations. By engaging in respectful discourse and listening with an open mind, we can promote empathy and compassion. It certainly offers unique opportunities for innovative forms of outreach and community-building inspired by Jesus' example. Online forums, virtual gatherings, and social media campaigns can serve as spaces for people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs to come together in dialogue and mutual respect.

To truly rehabilitate Jesus in the age of social media, it is imperative to embody his teachings in our everyday lives. This means actively working towards peace, justice, and reconciliation in our communities and beyond. Whether through acts of kindness, advocacy for the marginalized, or efforts to promote social justice, each of us has the power to make a positive difference. However, the task of rehabilitating Jesus in the age of social media extends beyond mere online interactions. It therefore, necessitates embodying his teachings through daily witness– to be agents of justice and peace in a world plagued by division and strife.

To conclude, Jesus Christ remains as relevant today as ever. As we navigate the complexities of the digital age, it is incumbent upon us to rehabilitate him in the world today. Christ’s followers can rehabilitate Jesus if they use the social media to bring about social change by communicating truth, hope, love, peace, light and life, which Jesus himself bore witness to. By embracing his teachings to evangelize cultures, and by fostering a culture of empathy and understanding, we can strive towards a more harmonious world for the post-digital generations to come.