WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
America is divided. So are many other countries around the world. Why can’t we get along? The United States was founded as “one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all” yet we spend millions of dollars on social media to bash each other and spew hatred.
America has become a “we” vs “them” mentality and the lines of race, religion, political party and policy seem to have been drawn in the sand. Even the 2 party system isn’t working because there are so many divisions and factions within the parties themselves. How do we find common ground? What is the secret to peace, unity, and love?
The good news is that we are a country of people who have a wide variety of religious beliefs that have given us a foundation to build upon. If each of us would adhere to the primary principles that our own religions teach us there would be a love revival going on in America as we have never seen before.
According to studies by the Pew Research Center Studies, over 60% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. There are those who have not stated any religious beliefs and others are atheist or agnostic but I know plenty of those folks and they are good, kind loving people who often live a much better example of goodness than those of us who have put it out there that we are followers of God, Jesus or some other peace loving higher power. Here is who we said we were in 2020 in America. or at least what religion we were willing to admit we were followers of. It was brought to my attention that there was nothing listed for another group that seems to have had the most influence in the foundation of our government than any other group besides Christians. The Indigenous People.
WHAT WE BELIEVE?
Each of these “religions” have a foundational belief that they are to follow if claiming that they are followers of that religion. Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish and even Mormons all believe in the 10 commandments and the old testament of the Bible. Jewish, Catholic and Mormons have additional books that they follow. but all of them have the same theme of LOVE and UNITY. The following verses from the various religions would bring us more unity if we would only follow them. (Notice that most of them are not suggestions but directives!)
CHRISTIANITY-
Protestant, Catholic and an estimated 33,000 other denominations that call themselves Christian in the USA (there is a clue that we are not all that unified)
Romans 14:19
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
I Corinthians
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
I John 4:7-8
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is Love
Matthew 5:43-44
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…’” (Matt. 5:43-44).
MORMON- Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon
“Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ” Moroni 7:48
“A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.”
“Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.” Moroni 8:16
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
JEWISH- (They use books from the Old Testament and additional writings)
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MUSLIM QUOTES FROM THE QURAN
“O You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow in the footsteps of satan. He is an outright enemy to you.” (Holy Quran: 2, 208)
“You cannot guide those you would like to but God guides those He wills. He has best knowledge of the guided.” (Holy Quran/28: 56)
“But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance / love]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do. (Holy Quran 31:15)
And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive (Holy Quran 76:8)
“We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude. (Holy Quran 76:9)
HINDUISM
“Love cures pettiness, hate and grief. Love loosens bonds; it saves man from the torments of birth and death. –Atharva Veda
Love binds all hearts in a soft silken symphony. Seen through the eyes of Love, all beings are beautiful; all deeds are dedicated. And all thoughts are innocent. The World is one vast kin. –Atharva Veda
“Of course, one must love all mankind; all are children of God. One must not emphasize the differences between Nations or between castes and creeds. Cultivate Universal heartfelt Love.
“When there is love in our heart, only love will come out.” – Radhanath Swami
“There is a magnet in your heart that will attract true friends. That magnet is unselfishness, thinking of others first; when you learn to live for others, they will live for you.” – Paramahansa Yogananda
QUOTES FROM BUDDHA (he expanded on the Hindu beliefs/traditions
- True love is born from understanding.
- Let a man avoid evil deeds as a man who loves life avoids poison. Radiate boundless love towards the entire world.
- Love is a gift of one’s innermost soul to another so both can be whole.
- If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.
- In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.
- Love the whole world as a mother loves her only child.
- Radiate boundless love towards the entire world — above, below, and across unhindered, without ill will, without enmity.
- Just as one feels loving-kindness, when seeing a dearly-beloved being, so one should extend one’s love to all creatures.
NATIVE AND ALASKAN INDIAN BELIEFS
Over 5 million Indigenous people from 574 registered tribes in the United States and each tribe has their own beliefs, traditions and practices but the foundation of them all is to be at peace with others. In an article by Terri Hanson called How the Iroquous Great Law of Peace Shaped Democracy, we learn things that most people don’t know. It was the example set by the Onondaga leader Canassatego in 1744 who gave a speech urging the contentious 13 colonies to unite, as the Iroquois had at the signing of the Treaty of Lancaster. Benjamin Franklin was inspired to print Canassatego’s speech because of the need for peace between the colonies. The speech reads:
“We heartily recommend Union and a good Agreement between you our Brethren,” Canassatego had said. “Never disagree, but preserve a strict Friendship for one another, and thereby you, 
as well as we, will become the stronger. Our wise Forefathers established Union and Amity between the Five Nations; this has made us formidable; this has given us great Weight and Authority with our neighboring Nations. We are a powerful Confederacy; and, by your observing the same Methods our wise Forefathers have taken, you will acquire fresh Strength and Power; therefore, whatever befalls you, never fall out one with another.” Canassatego used a metaphor that many arrows cannot be broken as easily as one. This inspired the bundle of 13 arrows held by an eagle in the Great Seal of the United States.
In 1987, the United States Senate acknowledged that the Great Law of Peace of the Iroquois Nations served as a model for the Constitution of the United States. (U.S. S. Con. Res. 76, 2 Dec. 1987). You can read more about it here.
“Life is a walking, a journey. So, if life upon Mother Earth is a journey, there are two ways to walk. We can choose to walk forward or we can choose to walk backward. Forward Walking choices are rewarded with consequences th
at light the way to peace, happiness, joy, comfort, knowledge, and wisdom. Backward Walking choices bring to the Two-Legged beings consequences of misery despair, and darkness.”― The Seven Paths: Changing One’s Way of Walking in the World
WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
So what choices do we have if we are going to love one another as our own faith requires of us? How do we do it? The first step from my vantage point as a counselor and a practicing Christian (I say practicing because I am still not proficient at loving and forgiving others as God has done for me) is to be humble.
The Bible says “The meek shall inherit the earth” so why would we think that all the boasting and arrogance and negativity and anger is going to get us lifted up into a place of honor?
Or if we act as though we are better than others and we call them names, act rude and send them away because they aren’t living up to our standards or don’t meet our criteria for help, why would we think that we will be afforded the grace that we refuse to impart to others?
Or if we lie, and cheat and steal just to force our way to our own agenda because we simply don’t trust God to use others to do his will who are different than we are why are we surprised when things don’t go our way. It is simple. That is not God’s way. That is not the spirit that God created our world and those of us living in it. He made us to love each other.
Love is a choice. It also is a command, not a suggestion as is quoted from every religion above. (love they neighbor as thyself, love one another etc.) The question is, are we living our own beliefs? Are we reflecting the kindness and care that we know deep in our souls that we should be emanating?
Let us all seek to be true to our faith for in so doing we can live in harmony with others and be as we were intended to be, ONE nation UNDER GOD, INDIVISBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
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Linda Larson Schlitz is a Master’s Level Counselor, Speaker, Author and Life Coach. She is the recipient of the Athena Leadership Award and the Red Cross Hometown Hero of the Year. She has written 4 books and is a paradigm pioneer who is passionate about helping to validate the value of every person and bringing unity to the world through discovering our God given purpose.
