Diplomacy in Faith and Religious Understanding
Diplomacy in our faith and religious understanding.
And God said let there be light and it was, he separated the darkness from light, so we could see clearly. But in a too bright world full of new ideas and beliefs we find ourselves with hazy vision. Our lives driven on the fuel of Diplomacy to a destination named success, it is easy to get carried away and doubt our faith or religion as an institution. In today’s super connected world everyone is connected with everyone, we celebrate different ideas and aspects together. Somehow we have come to a stage where diplomacy seems to be the currency on which the economies of our social lives run. We have become more diplomatic than ever, and this has largely been a result of a sudden connectedness with the world that we share via the medium of Internet, Television, Social media etc.
This level of diplomacy has also shown its considerable presence in our religious lives. An amount of initiation has taken place when it comes to religious ideas; we have welcomed new ideas and raised the bar as to what's acceptable and admissible. There seems to be an involuntary and silent agreement made on our part that we will conform to the understandings of others. And this would ensure we enjoy more acceptability and goodwill among our peers. We've been diplomatic in our thoughts and actions, and the same applies for our stance on our faith.
Diplomacy in faith refers to the initiation of different ideas that are knowingly and unknowingly welcomed by us. So that following our religion becomes a bit easy and acceptable to our neighbors and society as a whole. We sometimes incorporate ideas from other religions as well. This happens because we want to look familiar and accepting to our neighbors and we like to give an impression that we are like them. It’s a good thing to celebrate with our neighbors but we have to be cautious, in being nice to our neighbors we cannot afford to offend our Almighty father. We need to be very particular about our perception of faith.
A common notion is that Religion is a sub-division among the believers of God. This could be the most inaccurate definition of it ever to be made. As we know there’s a lot more to it, its way more gigantic and panoramic institution than a division that clubs us into different sects. Religion is a way of life, a way which defines us, defines our thoughts, the way we perceive things and also our ability to relate to instances. It also determines how we are perceived by others around us. It’s quite like our OS (operating system) or programming language on which the computers of our minds run.
On a mobile phone the operating system on which it runs decides as to how the device would respond to a particular situation or command. Also it is a basis on which we build an impression of the phone in our minds before going and buying one. It works quite the same way for us and our faith. It’s not only our identity but also the basis, to how we'd perceive situations. The values which our faith engraves and embosses on us define us. It plays such a crucial role as to how we’d shape up to be. It works the same way our DNA works in helping us to grow and become a human Being and not just an arrangement of cells. It’s the DNA for our spiritual and all around social growth, and thus deep devotion for it must be practiced
Diplomacy in Religion is not a new debate, we’ve often found ourselves getting into it in our everyday lives, whether its youth that conforms to the trends of the day or our priest asking us to stay strong on our front, being the example for others to follow. We are faced with this situation on a regular basis, and most of the times it’s a passive request from our minds to be more welcoming and accepting. We want to be a part of everything; we want to be as cosmopolitan as possible. We want to be the families talked about in social circles. We like to go for the easier and less painstaking way, but we have to remember the illustration of The Narrow and Wide Gates given in Matt 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Religion is a basis of belief, which provides us with the means to confide in God. It’s a passage, which leads us to Him and a refuge that keeps us in His Shelter. And having said that it’s a passage and shelter we wouldn’t want our passage to God to become confusing with unnecessary road signs or detours, rendering it incapable of leading towards Him. Our shelter, our fortress, our faith, protects us from the uncertainties and temptations of the world. We certainly wouldn’t like a breach in our fort walls or in any way compromise its security. Our faith is of such crucial importance and significance in our lives, and thus it’s our job to upkeep our shelter and the passage to God.