Despite escalating wars, and rumors thereof, ours is an increasingly united, albeit complex world. More than ever, all reference to the future demands global perspective — economically, geo-politically, and religiously. Internationalists hold promise of presumed perks — e.g., harmony and security — and, to those ends, incite primordial awakening to universal consciousness. By ballyhooing the collective common good, academics join politicians and religionists alike in championing practical politics. For example, come June, Director of the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly Andreas Bummel will join presenters from Yale and Johns Hopkins for a two-day event in Brisbane. There, within the context of planetary integration (as if straight from the Baha'i playbook) academics will explore challenges relating to world democracy, justice, and security in view of regional crises.

Global Oneness Day, October 24
(Kah, Hope for the World Update, 7)

While the Guinness Book of World Records recognizes seventy-eight feet as the largest wave ever surfed, it pales in comparison to today’s tidal wave of one-world interfaithism. Those riding the wave’s crest — from virtually all of the world’s major religious groups — are expected to increase in number, hence influence, by 2050. Enthusiasts apprehend their sacred selves and, along with fellow demi-gods, advocate for official sanction of a Global Oneness Day. Come October, “enlightened” participants will engage in Drumming Circles, Sunday Oneness Services, and a major telesummit featuring New Spirituality gurus Neale Donald Walsch, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Ken Wilbur, Jean Houston, and Ervin Laszlo.

In persistent effort to unite our world, the United Nations has instituted an annual International Day of Peace and Vigil, supported the Buddhist Yun Lin Temple, the Mennonite Central Committee, the Aetherius Society, Church of Scientology, and In the Light. Celebrations and concerts, rituals, ceremonies, meditations, and prayer meetings all herald world harmony.

Additionally, the first continental North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) Connect Conference will draw trend-setting interfaith groups as United Religions Initiative, the Parliament of the World’s Religions, and the New York City-based Temple of Understanding. Problem is, deceptive, one-world cries for “peace and safety” are destined instead for sudden destruction.

The Sacred Self: PantheaCon, Paganicon, Festival of Faiths, International Day of Yoga
(Kah, Hope for the World Update, 4-6)

Self-god purportedly paves the way for global co-existence. Toward this end, February 2016 will mark the twenty-second year for PantheaCon, serving the pagan community in the Bay Area of California with workshops on goddess spirituality, ceremonial magic, shamanism, and (you guessed it) green living. In March, Minneapolis, MN will host the annual convention, Paganicon, a nationally recognized event, drawing pagans (including Druids and Wiccans) to their sacred fires and rituals. Participating at the Kentucky-based Festival of Faiths, otherwise known as “the Sundance of the Sacred,” will be a potpourri of Hindu teachers, Islamic scholars, prominent mystics, and even an ambassador under six US presidents, Thomas Graham, Jr.

Dubbed a petri dish for postmodernism, attendees of the Burning Man festival postulate “what the world could be” under pagan influence. A standard-bearer of transformation and counterculture events, this clothing-optional event in the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada is certain to inspire self-discovery, inclusiveness, and visions of global utopia. Never mind the fate of pagan societies historically relegated to ignominy. Pagan pride is alive, well, and slated for global celebration with over one hundred public events to be held mostly in the US, Canada, and Brazil, but increasingly in Chile, England, and Italy.

Interfaith Dialogue
(Kah, Hope for the World Update, 4)

In February, the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week will coincide with a Toronto film festival exalting the Paradigm of the Sacred Bee. By gathering nectar and pollen from spiritual gardens of Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna, Master Peter Deunov, Master Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov, and other spiritual traditions, the “sacred bee” ostensibly ensures human survival by combining science, art, and spirituality into a collective, sacred attitude.

Arguably, attitude and dialogue matter but, in the real world, they cannot possibly bridge the chasm between diametrically opposed, counterintuitive worldviews. True, Tibetan Buddhism is among many pagan religions broadly accepted today, even in the West, but the wellborn son of a feudal lord who summoned fortune tellers at Buddha’s birth doesn’t hold a candle to the son of God. Despite Buddha’s title, Tahagata, or “truth-winner,” Jesus is Truth personified. Whereas Buddha’s religion was devoid of the supernatural, the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus to heal, deliver, and restore. While Jesus assumed the intrinsic character of a slave, Buddha felt elevated above peers; and unlike Buddha, who abandoned his wife and son at his Great Going Forth, Jesus never broke sacred vows.

Better to cast down imaginations that challenge the knowledge of God. Forging fellowship of light with darkness is folly. Case in point: Chrislam — that is, “ecumenical reconciliation” between Christianity and Islam. Truth be told, correct practice — i.e., orthopraxy — depends on orthodoxy, not congeniality, as Chrislam would have us to believe. Keep in mind the Qur'an explicitly subjugates People of the Book (Jews and Christians) as second-class citizens, subject to burdensome fees and Sharia Law. Believers are allowed to live, yes, but only under Islamic terms.

Moroccan scholar Fatema Mernissi fingers the centrality of fear within Islam, but the Bible equates God with love that casts out fear. In the words of Caesar Farah, “Allah may vary his ordinances at pleasure, prescribing one set of laws for the Jews, another for the Christians, and still another for Muslims.” In contrast, with the God of the Bible, there is no partiality, no variableness — not even a shadow of turning!

According to Dr. Moorthy Muthuswamy, “About sixty-one percent of the contents of the Qur'an … speak ill of the unbelievers or call for their violent conquest; at best only 2.6 percent of the verses … show goodwill toward humanity.” To “gently unite” with Islamic zealots is inconceivable; nevertheless, the Doha Interfaith Conference intends to promote the same with interfaith dialogue aimed at resolving world conflicts by restoring peace and harmony.

ISIS has yet to get the memo, but no problem. By merging “science” with spirituality, attendees of the annual Science of Consciousness conference commission assistance of quantum and neuroscience, artificial life and virtual reality, transformational encounters, paranormal experiences, and — of course — yoga to realize the vision. However, as offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divine nature is like an image formed by the art and thought of man.

Even so, today’s “inner voice of humanity” purportedly begs for “a pure moment of one” whereby, contrary to biblical mandate, the clear boundary between physics and metaphysics is obliterated; and scientific study of the universe (cosmology) defers to its worship (cosmolatry). The UN-endorsed International Day of Yoga may well create “elevated” consciousness, but “yoking with Brahman” is an unlikely solution to climate change as proponents suggest. Truth be told, God Himself is sovereign over laws and principles that govern nature. Even the storms do His bidding.

Conclusion

While the Bible advances no cosmic plan for global enlightenment, collaboration and empowerment apart from the Lord, Jesus Christ, what it does offer exceeds human imagination and desire. Ultimately, by His doing, the believer partakes of the divine nature — but only in measure and in strictest accordance with God’s plan. As recorded in John, Chapter 17, Jesus prayed to the Father that His followers would all be made “as one” together with the Father and Him (God incarnate).

To realize this destiny, the Christian disengages, not from terrestrial illusion, but rather from sin, defined biblically as “transgression of law.” Jesus’ redemptive work bridged the sin gap and thereby provided believers access to Christlikeness. In no way do they commandeer His godhood, but Christians share a common portion of the Father in much the same way that human offspring possess the nature of their biological parents. In fact and indeed, God’s children are fashioned over time so as to reflect “a measure of stature of the fullness of the Christ.” Primordial awakening to the universal consciousness has nothing to do with it!