Those of you familiar with the Christian Bible will know the expression, "Faith without works is dead." This is found in James 2:17, and means that our faith needs to be manifest in our actions, or it doesn't have any substance and can't bear any fruit. But there is another, equally famous, passage, I Corinthians 13:13, which tells us that love is greater than faith, and that faith without love is not only empty, but sinister. If faith without works is dead, faith without love is deadly. (Click "Read More" to continue)
We have seen this truth manifested in our own lifetimes, and throughout history. And it is not limited to any one religion. Christians, Jews, Moslems, even atheists whose faith is rooted in science or self, are capable of carrying out atrocities, great or small, in the name of their faith. Faith can justify any action, because faith is open to interpretation, and people generally tend to conform their faith to their actions rather than vice versa.
But love is not so malleable. Faith compels us, but loves moderates the compulsion. Faith demands action, but love demands that our actions be tempered by the right motives. Faith shows us right from wrong, but love shows us that there are more important concerns than "right and wrong." Faith gives us the standards by which we measure righteousness, but love requires us to use those standards to measure our own righteousness, not others'.
Many wars have been fought and conflicts driven forward in the name of faith, but none in the name of love. This is because love is an individual quality, something that resides within the heart. It cannot be reduced to a code or law like faith can. It is not something we do, but something we are.
I am not talking about religion, but something far more important. Religion is rooted in faith. It is learned and taught, and embodied in ritual and liturgy. Love is universal. It is instinctive and intuitive. It does not need to be taught, because it is already there. We can be taught to act without love, but we cannot be taught not to love. It is the common thread binding every human being together, regardless of their religion.
James Henry Leigh Hunt captured this truth in his poem "Abou Ben Adhem":
But love is not so malleable. Faith compels us, but loves moderates the compulsion. Faith demands action, but love demands that our actions be tempered by the right motives. Faith shows us right from wrong, but love shows us that there are more important concerns than "right and wrong." Faith gives us the standards by which we measure righteousness, but love requires us to use those standards to measure our own righteousness, not others'.
Many wars have been fought and conflicts driven forward in the name of faith, but none in the name of love. This is because love is an individual quality, something that resides within the heart. It cannot be reduced to a code or law like faith can. It is not something we do, but something we are.
I am not talking about religion, but something far more important. Religion is rooted in faith. It is learned and taught, and embodied in ritual and liturgy. Love is universal. It is instinctive and intuitive. It does not need to be taught, because it is already there. We can be taught to act without love, but we cannot be taught not to love. It is the common thread binding every human being together, regardless of their religion.
James Henry Leigh Hunt captured this truth in his poem "Abou Ben Adhem":
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:—
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said
"What writest thou?"—The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still, and said "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men."
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.
As we head into 2013, the most important resolution we can make is to love.