We are examining the stages of human consciousness, or integral theory as we learn more about the evolution of religion. This will allow us to gain the necessary categories to better understand our systems of belief and to help them mature.
Last week we
examined the first stage which I called the
FORCE-o-meter. Those who are dependent on appeasing an outside
force now move into a system of
retribution, or a
ledger sheet faith. I call this the
FEAR-o-meter.
The Fear-o-meter is steeped in the "Us vs Them" mindset. You are either in or out. You are a friend or a foe. God is either for you or against you.
Within this framework, there are serious consequences for straying from the herd. You risk losing, social, economic, political, or racial power. Communities use the fear-o-meter to control people and unify beliefs. Fear of loss, suffering, or hell. People are subsequently united by what they are against.
Our headlines are flooded with images of ISIS and the brutal acts of terrorism that are done in the name of religion or God.
Atrocities in the name of God occur because the God-concept at this stage is seen as rejecting nonbelievers or the non-compliant or the uninformed. Your in or out. It's always black and white in this stage.
I've read the Quran at least three times and I can tell you that each chapter starts with "In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful." Interestingly, the God-concept depicted is that of a
God who is against the sinner or the unbeliever, but who is merciful to the one who believes. The gap is closed by the believer. We all get emails and FB posts about hatred for Islam, but this theology is not unlike what we see in modern evangelicalism. "God loves you so much, unless you don't believe, then he will punish you forever in hell, so join our church."
When reading the Old Testament, we see a similar
God-concept depicted. Joshua is said to be commanded by God to kill all the men, women, children of the non-believers. (Joshua 10:40) God was seen as for Israel, but against all others.
A key distinction that I have found between the Old Testament and the Quran, is that the Old Testament is interlaced with these rare glimpses of a God not hating the sinner or unbeliever, but actually loving them so
much that God himself actually closes the gap; "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." (Jeremiah 31:3)
Interestingly, the Christ story is revolutionary at this stage because it says that God became sin so that we could become righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21) The "Us vs
Him" gap was closed entirely from God's side. This is unthinkable in some theologies.
I highlight these examples so that you can see how a FEAR-o-meter creeps into the way we hold our faith. It is a part of all of our development, both personally and corporately. The "Us vs Them" mentality is not just for the religious. Atheism also shares this very strong Fear-o-meter. It shows up in all our prejudices.
The point is that these distinctions help us at first, but then later entrap us. They give us an identity in which to grow, but ultimately that identity is far too small to answer life's real questions, so we must transcend it.
Religious freedom in America has allowed centuries of contextualization and varied applications of the scripture. (thus countless
denominations) This has allowed a maturation and growth in the Judeo-Christian mind that divorced many from an Old Testament mindset. Many in the Muslim world are also seeking such freedom to advance Islam from many of its fundamental frameworks that prohibit contextualization. It takes a mature faith to resist a knee-jerk reaction and succumbing to our prejudices and the gravitational pull of our own fear-o-meter.
Think you are
better than that? How do you feel about those with different political views? Religious views? Business philosophies? If there are groups you don't want to see rise up, then the Fear-0-meter is a part of your framework.
Next week we will see how this maturation process began to empower people in new ways.
