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Love: The basis for a renewed democracy
Originally published online on November 3, 2022
Over the centuries, political philosophers developed the theory that democracy is a social pact in which people, for their own good, submit themselves to collective decision-making. But even the strongest of democracies needs constant renewal. How can this be accomplished? What if love broadened our interest beyond ourselves to include all mankind? What if we all had an interest in loving for the great fulfillment and joy that come from knowing who we truly are as children of God, Love? That would be the basis for a new, unifying social contract.
The book of First John in the Bible says that God is Love. And Jesus illustrates God’s nature as Love in the parable of the prodigal son, in which a compassionate father welcomes back his son, who has treated him most disrespectfully and wasted his inheritance before finally admitting his wrongdoing. The father rejoices in his son’s return, showing how God sees and loves each one of us—not as an imperfect human being but as His spiritual expression.
Since our origin, our Father-Mother, is divine Love and infinite Spirit, it’s our nature to be loving and spiritual. This means that the aggressive language sometimes used in politics, the virulent attacks, and the tendency to think of those whose policies we oppose as enemies, are not only profoundly anti-democratic but also profoundly alien to our true selves.
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