focus | spirituality of unity
What future for a multicultural, multiethnic, multireligious society?
Chiara Lubich
We publish here excerpts of a talk by Chiara Lubich on June 19, 2004, in London's Westminster Central Hall. It remains a theme relevant for today and as the topic of focus for this edition of Ekklesia.
For the full talk, see: Dialogue among religions
In recent years, our European societies have been changed by significant patterns of migration from East to West and from South to North. This phenomenon is having a profound impact on the physiognomy of our continent, bringing to our cities an ever-greater diversity. We see it as we walk down the streets and note the presence of mosques, for instance, but also of many temples, in countries that, until a short while ago, were almost exclusively Christian.
At the same time, the communications media is bringing people and nations close to one another, even though in reality they are very far apart […] No one is “foreign” to us any longer because we “see” people, because we know about them. Furthermore, economic and financial globalization has woven together all our interests. They are no longer separated from one another. Many problems are of interest to humanity as a whole, problems which no nation can face in isolation from all the others [...]
This is why we need to spread among as many people as possible the idea and practice of fraternity, and - given the vastness of the problem - universal fraternity. Brothers and sisters know how to look after one another, they know how to help one another, they know how to share what they have. And to meet this unprecedented challenge, the contribution of religions is decisive. From whom, if not from the great religious traditions, could a strategy of fraternity begin, a strategy capable of marking a turning point even in international
relations?
[…] Our experience tells us that whoever wants to move the mountains of hatred and violence in today’s world faces a task that is enormous. But what is beyond the strength of millions of separated, isolated individuals becomes possible for those who make mutual love, understanding of one another and unity the driving force of their lives.
[...] What future, therefore, for a multicultural, multiethnic, multi-religious society? A future where all people will live as one family, a family of brothers and sisters who love one another beneath the gaze of one Father. Or, for those who do not know God, a family united in the name of truth, the truth that speaks powerfully in every human conscience.
There is no alternative if we want to avoid plunging our planet once again into a
sea of disaster, fear, hatred, war.