It matters what you believe

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 17, 22 September 1987, Page 13

It matters what you believe

Often it is stated, "that it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you believe something." I wonder whether that is true? For instance, when the death of Rudolf Hess was announced in Germany, and plans made for his funeral, ex-Nazi's came out of hiding from all over the place to demonstrate. And, not only ex-Nazi's but neoNazi's. The shock was that intelligent, 20th century people could really believe in the theory of racial supremacy which saw the inhuman destruction of many millions of their fellow human beings - infants, babies, children, young people as well as the aged. Recently, a two part series entitled the Sword of Islam was screened on TV One. The same sort of in-

human fanaticism displayed in the Nazi era came across - but this time in the name of religion. Does it really matter what we believe? I think that it does, and I bet you do too! You see, at the very least, civilisation is the development of societies and cultures to the point wherein there is a place for all persons. On that track, democracy develops giving each person within that civilisation the opportunity to express opinions on how economic, social and political decisions are made. Justice, equity artd peace are to be seen as the outward and visible sign of a happy, healthy, developing civilisation. Basic values develop within such civilisations, some secular, but most are centred in religion. Whose values are right? If

confronted with religious values which say: "I am superior"; "I will go to heaven and will kill anc. destroy to get there" or "Love your neighbour as yourself'; "I will give my life out of love for you", i.e. 'Greater love hath no man than this, than that he lay down his life ...' - Which values are right? Jesus Christ came into this world to see that we had life and had it abundantly! He came to show us how to live. He came to show us how to care. St. Paul, in catching that vision wrote that majestic Chapter 13 in his First Letter to Corinth, you know how it begins, "Thou I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love ..." I think you would agree with me, IT DOES MATTER WHAT WE BELIEVE!