By Robert Atkinson,
On this 11th anniversary of World Interfaith Harmony Week, created by a United Nations General Assembly Resolution, following upon their longstanding promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue and cooperation, it is more important than ever to acknowledge and put into action the universal moral imperatives of all religions.
This message of interfaith harmony and goodwill, based on love of one’s neighbor, regardless of convictions or beliefs, is expressed in many different ways around the world the week of February 1-7. This year, the Abbey of Hope will partner with Chime and Music Makes Community for a virtual evening of words and song, Thursday, February 4th at 7pm. Join us in a call to action for the realization of “A Global Ethic for the Human Family." For more information and to register.
World Interfaith Harmony Week is a celebration honoring all branches of the sacred tree of spirituality, an understanding at the mystic heart of all the world’s religions. Though they differ slightly from one another, all branches are attached to the same trunk and draw nourishment from the same roots. This is our point of connection to each other and the sacred. A universal ethic unites us in a common vision, a common purpose. Each branch shares a common message of compassion toward all creatures, understanding between all people, and a commitment to serve the common good of all.
The oneness of Divinity is also evident in the image of this ever-growing sacred tree. From the same source, it nourishes the Indigenous branches (all the ancient and modern Native spiritual traditions throughout the world), the Abrahamic branches (the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Baha’i traditions), and the Dharmic branches (the Hindu, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh traditions).
This unity of religion is evident in the Pawnee saying, “All religions are but stepping-stones back to God.” All spiritual traditions have similar expressions of this continuous, interconnected nature of spiritual truth, as seen in the Buddha’s view: “I am not the first Buddha, nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise in the world… He will reveal to you the same eternal truths,” or in Christ’s vision: “I have many things to tell you… when the spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you unto all truth.”
In the mid-19th century, foreshadowing the current interfaith/interspiritual movement, Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i Faith, proclaimed, “Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship,” as this will “promote unity and concord,” because, as he adds, “This is the changeless faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future.”
With such a holistic view of creation, we can see an unbroken line of prophets, spiritual teachers, and visionaries, all inspired by the same spiritual energies that have forever transformed human hearts, shaped and re-shaped institutions, and expanded circles of unity. In our time, we have been guided to a consciousness of the oneness of humanity; we are preparing to realize our collective coming of age.
Robert Atkinson, PhD, author, educator, and developmental psychologist, is a 2017 Nautilus Book Award winner for The Story of Our Time: From Duality to Interconnectedness to Oneness. He is also the author or co-editor of eight other books, including Our Moment of Choice: Evolutionary Visions and Hope for the Future (2020), Year of Living Deeply: A Memoir of 1969 (2019), Mystic Journey: Getting to the Heart of Your Soul’s Story (2012), and The Gift of Stories (1995). He is professor emeritus at the University of Southern Maine, founder of One Planet Peace Forum, a member of the Evolutionary Leaders, and deeply committed to assisting the evolution of consciousness toward wholeness and unity. www.robertatkinson.net
