This weekend's episode of Religion & Ethics Newsweekly will air a segment on Have A Little Faith, Henry Covington, and I Am My Brother's Keeper Ministries. Hosted by Bob Faw, the segment--"Kindred Spirits"--addresses the power of faith and the message at the heart of Have a Little Faith: despite our differences, we are all men of God.
Please check your local listing for air date and time on your local PBS station.
Reading Analysis, "Have A Little Faith." A sample of Humanism and New Age, the religion of the 21-century.
"Have a Little Faith", by Mitch Albom is an incredible book about religion, human nature and basic aspects of life. On his journey to a poor, run-down church he meets a man named Anthony Castelow ("Cass"). Mitch is a bit hesitant in giving the Church money considering the preacher was a former drug-user/seller. Also he was but in jail mulitple times and Mitch wasn't sure he could be trusted. However, after speaking with Cass all things change. Cass tells Mitch the story of his own personal life. How when he was struggling and had nothing to live for Henry, the preacher, was there for him. When Cass didn't have a dollar to his name or even clothes on his back Henry supported him and even let him live in his house for over a year. After hearing the rough stories that Cass has gone through and all the sacrifices Henry made for him, his perspective changed dramatically. He learned to no longer judge people based on their past but on the present and what they will accomplish in the future.
An important theme in the book "Have A Little Faith" by Mitch Albom is acceptance. Acceptance is the ability to have different views with people but still maintain a stable environment. Whether it's a Catholic who disagree's with Hindu beliefs or simply a man who is asked to do a eulogy for a passionate role model, acceptance is key. The book's main focus is for people to learn to have individual views and ideas but not question other people's beliefs. If questions erupt and arguments break out peace is not in order and therefore the society becomes unbalanced. An unbalanced society isn't able to function properly and causes major damage in the future.Why fight about certain beliefs if it's simply easier to accept other viewpoints and move on?
True peace comes from understanding that we can never attain this physically in the society we live in. Jesus himself warns us in the Passage John 16:33: 33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. As long as crime exists in one form or another then we are at war. Moreover, is this passage He state that peace only abide in Him, “that in me ye might have peace;” no Mahomet, neither Buda, nor the Virgin Mary or any one of the saints, nor through the Karma, reincarnation or Yoga, only in the name and person of Jesus. Religion might bring a temporal level of calm, as well as an aspirin produce a temporal relief of pain, but the diseases are still there, but there would always be elements of imbalance that make it impossible for this calm to be eternal.
The peace we seek is the knowledge that our Lord Jesus is the only truly source of peace, happiness, social balance and justice. Doesn’t matter what kind of imbalance exist in our society, we know that if we abide with the Most High that gives us peace in our hearts. True peace is Christ and the acceptance of Christ in our hearts. He brings the balance to all things by teaching us how to live contently without those things that we think we ought to have, as is quoted in Mark 4:37-39, “37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”.
He also teaches us how to live without revenge, anger, hatred and all the facets that are part of our surroundings. We can make our surroundings better, improve our livelihood but given our lust, vanity, desires and human wisdom there would always be the imbalance in society. Even the fear of death can cause this imbalance internally within us. Our Lord and Savior has taught us how to accept death with the knowledge that this comes first before resurrection. In the bible we are given the words: For this, king of Salem, priest of the most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;'
Our Lord and savior is not only peace in name but he is peace in spirit and understanding.
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