After he left office in 2007, Tony Blair went across the pond and spent time teachÂing at Yale. Exit Prime MinÂisÂter Blair. Enter ProÂfesÂsor Blair. DurÂing the 2008-09 acaÂdÂeÂmÂic year, Blair and Miroslav Volf co-taught “Faith and GlobÂalÂizaÂtion,” a course designed to help stuÂdents underÂstand the two interÂtwined forces shapÂing our world. In some ways, reliÂgion is the real focus here, and it is Blair’s arguÂment (above, for examÂple) that “If you canÂnot underÂstand the world of faith, whether you are in busiÂness, or in pubÂlic affairs, or in polÂiÂtics, then you actuÂalÂly canÂnot underÂstand the world.” The full course can be accessed on iTunes, and we have also added it to our large colÂlecÂtion of free coursÂes from top uniÂverÂsiÂties. For more inforÂmaÂtion on this course, please visÂit Yale’s Faith and GlobÂalÂizaÂtion webÂsite and also be sure to access Yale’s Open Course iniÂtiaÂtive.
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It is an interÂestÂing course to emphaÂsize on the issue that we are residÂing in a world where memÂbers of difÂferÂent faiths and culÂtures live togethÂer. Also in this globÂalised world, the issue of the difÂferÂent faiths and culÂtures become more imporÂtant, because we, memÂbers of difÂferÂent faiths and culÂtures, interÂact more freÂquentÂly and more closeÂly with one anothÂer. So in this world, diaÂlog, underÂstandÂing, and tolÂerÂance among memÂbers of difÂferÂent faiths and culÂtures is a necÂesÂsary and obligÂaÂtion to estabÂlish a world where we, all humanÂiÂty, can live togethÂer in peace, love, and harÂmoÂny.
In estabÂlishÂing this peaceÂful world based on the uniÂverÂsalÂly acceptÂed human virtues (like love, humÂbleÂness, sinÂcerÂiÂty, trustÂworÂthiÂness, brothÂerÂhood, hardÂworkÂing, humilÂiÂty etc.), the eduÂcaÂtion beginÂning from childÂhood is very imporÂtant and cruÂcial.
I can sugÂgest more readÂing about interÂfaith and culÂturÂal diaÂlog, and eduÂcaÂtion as folÂlow:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/world/asia/04islam.html
http://www.rambles.net/carroll_dialog07.html
http://www.amazon.com/G%C3%BClen-Movement-Sociological-Analysis-Moderate/dp/1402098936
http://fethullahgulenconference.org/houston/read.php?p=fethullah-gulen-vision-transcendent-education
http://fethullahgulenconference.org/houston/read.php?p=fethullah-gulen-philosophy-of-education-activities-of-movement
http://gulenconference.org.uk/userfiles/file/Proceedings/Prcd%20-%20Bruckmayr,%20P.pdf
http://fethullahgulenconference.org/houston/read.php?p=fethullah-gulen-contribution-muslim-christian-dialogue-abrahamic-cooperation
http://gulenconference.org.uk/userfiles/file/Proceedings/Prcd%20-%20Capes,%20DB%20(FP).pdf
http://gulenconference.org.uk/userfiles/file/Proceedings/Prcd%20-%20Keles,%20O.pdf
The only probÂlem with this entire line of thinkÂing is that there is a spirÂiÂtuÂal sigÂnifÂiÂcance behind everyÂthing. To say that all faiths will “get along” someÂday is simÂply inacÂcuÂrate. Why? because there are spirÂiÂtuÂal forces at work. Islam & ChrisÂtianÂiÂty, for examÂple, will nevÂer co-exist peacefully.Why? Because there are spirÂiÂtuÂal forces at war with each othÂer. BibÂliÂcalÂly speakÂing, anyÂthing that is not of the Holy SpirÂit is of an anti-christ spirÂit. Jesus said that He came to tesÂtiÂfy to the truth. The rebelÂlious hearts of men will always walk away from that Truth unless the Holy SpirÂit changes their hearts & reveals the one true Son of God. This line of thinkÂing will simÂply be at odds with anyÂthing else the world has to offer. This conÂflict will push us towards the RevÂeÂlaÂtionÂal time periÂod of the Bible. Any politÂiÂcal stateÂments for us to “get along” are simÂply irrelÂeÂvant — Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace.
In the nature of any faith, there is absoluteÂly no force or advoÂcaÂcy for vioÂlence or any othÂer bruÂtal action, but rather faiths emphaÂsize on peace, love, tolÂerÂance, forÂgiveÂness and so many othÂer uniÂverÂsalÂly acceptÂed human virtues.
UnforÂtuÂnateÂly, memÂbers of the difÂferÂent faiths interÂpret their reliÂgions accordÂingÂly their physÂiÂcal and carÂnal desires. That is why all the probÂlem arise. I believe that we as humanÂiÂty can achieve the peace, love, and hapÂpiÂness among all humanÂiÂty through the diaÂlog and underÂstandÂing with sinÂcere intenÂtion as the ultiÂmate goal of all faiths.
UnforÂtuÂnateÂly, that line of thinkÂing if filled with holes. Why have faith in anyÂthing if we, as peoÂple, are the answer? The answer… humanÂiÂty, with its carÂnal & physÂiÂcal desires will someÂhow accomÂplish… what exactÂly? A utopiÂan sociÂety withÂout God? To say that there is no force for vioÂlence has no credÂiÂble eviÂdence for what comes from the human heart. What exactÂly are carÂnal desires? What is evil? When man gives a tolÂerÂaÂbly, vague answer to these quesÂtions, othÂer men will still conÂtinÂue to seek a highÂer powÂer for truth, good & evil, the meanÂing of life, etc. ForÂtuÂnateÂly, the ONLY credÂiÂbilÂiÂty that ChrisÂtians have is that the Holy SpirÂit is alive & that He moves. If faith was easy, it wouldÂn’t be faith. this is why men & women lay down their lives daiÂly for the sake of the Gospel in non-vioÂlent fashÂion all over the globe. The Holy SpirÂit moves through their marÂtyrÂdom as he did through Jesus Christ & the aposÂtles. He is alive today!
have you ever thought about to ask GODS view on globÂalÂizaÂtion after all HE S the one that creÂatÂed it and mankind .Or is it that man is tryÂing to creÂate GOD . SO IF GLOBALIZATION WAS TO WORK , YOU HAVE A MAP AT THE BEGINNING OF TIME , TO SHOW YOU WHY IT DIDN’T WORK THEN, AND WHY IT WONT WORK NOW! THE TOWER OF BABBLE IS A GOOD START OR YOU COULD GO BACK FARTHER THAN THAT SAY THE BEGINNING WHEN ADAM AND EVE SINNED AGAINST GODS COMMAND AND HIDE THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY WERE DISOBEDINT TO GOD OR YOU COULD ASK JESUS WHY GLOBALIZATION WONT AFTER ALL HE DIED FOR ALL MANKIND GOD LOVES ALL MEN BUT ALL MEN DONT LOVE GOD