A Soft-Heart Look Behind Religion and Human Rights "A hardened heart might be deprived of the day's exquisite view; get a surgeon."

What lies behind religon and human rights? The first thing that comes to mind is how ridiculous the question sounds. The more literal say there is nothing to look behind. We are dealing with ideas (religion? human rights?) they are abstractions. We can't look behind them. The more accommodating say, "Give him a break." He just wants us to think about religion and human rights; just think about it. Believers say, "Figuratively speaking, something lies behind religion and human rights that are rarely seen." But it takes the soft-heart view to see the hidden facts.

I might be willing and have every intention to view the hidden facts. But if I don't have the soft-heart view, I would never be able to see them. Lack of the soft-heart is not a barrier to those who are not people of faith or who have shown very little interest in human rights. People of faith, whatever their faith traditions, might themselves lack the soft-heart. So there is no monopoly on it. It belongs to no one, but the willing. People who have, by whatever means come to the conclusion that consensus-building across lines of differences, treking through the thorns and thickets of different interests, discovery of cultural commonalities, and daily soul-searching about the world and its diverse populations is not trivial.

The soft-heart view is not a virtue, it is not a sanctimonious call to sainthood or anything nauseatingly pretensious. It is just me saying, the clashing of religious worlds does not condemn those religions. Their mininterpretations are not evidence of a black hole deep inside them that suck the unsuspecting into dogmatism that permits no justice. There is an unpretentious core in Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism etc. that for thosands of years has lived tenderly. That core has its own voice that cares about and won't let go of the simplest elements of survival: respect for life, love, self-reflection, contemplation etc. What seems harmless causes us a little anxiety when each in its own way tries to turn this tender core into law. Some might say, "Oh stop, we've already legislated 'respect for life.' Nothing is wrong with it!"


Well, friends, the discussion continues... I invite you to visit us another day for more on the "Soft-Heart" view and what lies behind religion and human rights. My deepest thanks for visiting and always remember change begins with you!!!