Becoming Human

Feb 20, 2016 by M. Marmer Verhoeff

More and more, I am realizing that people waste enormous amounts of energy trying to prove their way is the right way or that their belief system is the only correct way to view the universe or why we are here. When in fact, the opposite is the only truth. We are all the same. We all have the same hopes and dreams, the same capacity to love or hate, the same basic human needs.

There was a time long ago when I would wonder if those who were overly zealous about their faith were on the fast track to favor and approval in the heavenly realm. That somehow, they were right and I was wrong…about what, I’m not sure. That they were as righteous as they claimed to be and were right to condemn my actions for being far less pure.

I know better than that now. Given all the woes of the world that fall into a religious context, it would be hard to believe otherwise. The priests who commit sodomy. The Hasidim, who commit physical and sexual abuse, the Muslims who commit murder insisting that it will please God. We know the list can go on and on and also, in every single religion around the world. There is truly good and bad in every segment of society, in every culture, in every religion. Why? Because we are all human.

I am not implying for even a moment that religion should be abandoned or shunned in any way. I think for many, myself included, religion can be one’s best ally in expressing faith and belief that the universe is a very special place created by something far beyond our human ability to grasp. In fact, faith is paramount to being human. It is simply that there is a stark difference between true faith and zealotry.

For me, the best expression of how I feel about God and humanity or why we are here, is through my Judaism. I find contentment in it in the same way others may find it in their Christianity, in Islam, in Buddhism, Hinduism, and so on. I believe that one of pure faith can look at other religions and respect them. That the person can say to them self, I don’t believe what you do but I respect the fact that you do, and also, that it gives me joy to see that you derive a contented faith from your belief. That to me, that is what God wants to see and hear. Common respect because in essence, that is a quality more akin to being God-like.

We have such a long way to go in that regard. People are so hard on each other. People don’t look out for each other often enough. People spend more time wasting their energy on creating differences when in fact their energy should be nourishing our common ground. Our humanity.

In an ideal world, people have finally figured that out. Everyone respectfully allows each other to exist in their belief system, their culture, their way of life, and does so, with equal rights for all, regardless of gender or orientation. In the world known as reality, we have a long way to go.

My greatest wish is that more and more, we hate and disrespect, less and less.