George BernardShaw is credited with saying, “The United States and Great Britain are two countries separated by a common language.”
They speak English, we speak American; we use the same words either pronouncing them differently or giving them different meanings. For example, they drop the ‘c’ in schedule and emphasize the second syllable and drop the second ‘r’ in controversy. They say ‘lift’ we say elevator, they say ‘boot’ we say trunk.
Women and men are also separated by a common language.We use the same words but with different meanings. Take shopping for example; women shop, men hunt. My wife can wander through the whole store trying on items, picking things up and looking at them, then leave without buying anything; it is an experience for her. I know what I am looking for, I go to that section of the store; I bag it, I tag it and I am out of there.
Women are instinctually more social animals, men tend to be more individualistic. Gathered around the cave or hut cooking and caring for the young, women chatted continually comforting the babies, guiding the toddlers, supporting each other.While on the hunt, men could not speak and had to communicate nonverbally to be successful. It is not about one being right or wrong but about understanding the needs and desires of the other.
Religion and Science are also separated by a common language. Atheist scientists say there is no God because we have sent our space craft out to the ends of the solar system and have not seen a physical being called God. Devout fundamental religionists discredit science because it does not prove what they believe. Yet, if we were to go past the dogmatic clinging to being right, we could see that religion and science are proving each other.
Scientists speak in terms of Universal Laws, Religion speaks of Divine Laws. When we understand them within their individual contexts, we can see how these concepts support each other. Johann Kepler, father of modern astronomy, had a realization of this when he said, “O God, I am thinking Thy thoughts after Thee.”
Albert Einstein, father of modern physics, also realized the importance of each tradition when he said, “Religion without science is lame. Science without religion is blind.”
Rabbis have told me that Christians do not understand the Old Testament, it is not their book. It is not intended to be interpreted literally as factual history. These are teaching stories that teach moral and spiritual principles.
Three thousand years ago we needed the simplistic nature of these stories, what Paul called allegories (Galatians 4:24), in order to learn the lessons we needed to learn at that point in the evolution of our species.
Both Matthew Fox, a noted theologian, and Brian Swimme, a modern physicist, have called for a new cosmology: the theory of the origins of the universe. We may not need a new story but we do need to expand our understandings of the old stories. As the sciences, religions, peoples and cultures continue to collide a new reality is shaping and forming. “The times they are a changing.” (Bob Dylan) Resistance to change only causes pain and suffering.
Nonresistance, acceptance of what is, is an expression of love an expression of God. “For God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.” (1John 4:16.) Anyone who hates or who believes God could hate does not know God.
Mother’s day is this coming Sunday. So we honor our Mother’s by connecting with God Love here, now and always. Love is considered to be the Mother aspect or nature of God just as law or principle is the Father aspect or nature of God. Both co-exist and live in harmony with each other.
We are the ones who choose to see conflict where harmony exists. Harmony is not sameness but the ebb and flow, the highs and lows, the ins and outs, of relationship. “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” (1Corinthians 13:13)
Blessings of peace, joy & love. Rev. Matthew E. Long, Peace Unity Community