Nationalism and Spirituality?
By Odin27
@Odin27 (63)
Australia
July 22, 2007 3:57pm CST
Can nationalism still have a place with a broader perspective and understanding of humans and their shared experience? It seems to me to be just an illusion designed to foster cooperation between people in a limited location, but it still creates an arbitrary seperation. If one can erase the borders of a village/city/state/race/class to form national unity, why should seperateness still remain next door over the border? over long enough time all the factors that define a people and their place change drastically (Think empire, invasion, natural disaster, migration). While I see some short term benefits such as responding to a threat or crisis, It seems to me to create more problems longer term if people cling to it irrationaly.
2 people like this
3 responses
@vivienna (582)
• Venezuela
22 Jul 07
True spirituality never can include nationalism, but there can be elements of patriotism, in form of love to one's country and culture. Everything that exceeds this natural affect we have for the place we grew up and made most or our life experiences, has no place in a spiritual mind. The "Right or wrong, my country" point of view is an insane claim, born in a very earthly mind.
When Christianity rose, one of it's most distinguishing features was the complete abolition of barriers between people of different background. All men are God's creatures, nations are human inventions. Therefore humanity must overcome the artificial separations of nationalism, without destroying the cultural and ethnical riches of mankind.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
22 Jul 07
This is true.. about the cultural and ethnic riches of mankind...
:)
@sheenshaukat (2617)
• Pakistan
23 Jul 07
Spritulity is an old concept. This could be followed by every one easily. It relates to belives of the people. But nationalism is a political issue. It teaches that you should love with your country and nation first. Spiritualism has secondary values in nationalism. It causes to weak the religious belife. It is an attempt to give strength to your country and nation.Nationalism confines you in some limited boundries, While spiritualism is global and historic old message. Both of the concepts have their own values. Spirituality give preference to religion and nationalism is an idea to make your nation and country important and strong, but it is very difficult to convert the religious world to nationalism.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
22 Jul 07
Well.. I'll tell ya this.. I won't be leaving my doors open at night.. It'd be great if I lived in a world where I could.. But I don't think the time is yet..
