If the European
Continent is Christian,
It Can Still Live
Up to Its Chosen Values
Carlos Cardoso
Aveline
Federalism is an
important idea to implement in Europe and around the globe, as long as it is
done with balance and mutual respect.
The ideal of a worldwide commonwealth of countries dates
from ancient Rome: emperor Marcus Aurelius organized a council of nations. In
modern times, Immanuel Kant pointed to the same direction in his famous 1795
essay “Perpetual Peace”. The planetary
community of our Earth, however, is older than the present mankind itself.
Dating from time immemorial, it embraces all forms of life and could not be
limited by political or bureaucratic structures.
Life has more power and strength than politics. No improvement
in society can endure unless it expresses the progress of human souls in the
direction of altruism: and for that, ideologies are of scarce use. There is no
need, for instance, to choose between “nationalism” and “globalism”. Common
sense is better than propaganda or narrow-mindedness. Each nation has its own
cycles, its various intrinsic timings, and they all deserve consideration. Unity
does not mean uniformity, and Theodor Herzl wrote:
“Old institutions need not go under at one blow in
order that new ones may be born. Not every son is posthumous. Parents usually
live along with their children for many years. It follows that an old social
order need not break up because a new one is on the way.” [1]
Theosophists work for universal brotherhood. They also
love their own countries. Helena Blavatsky had a deep affection for her native
Russia and Ukraine. The Raja Yogis who directly helped found the theosophical
movement made it clear that they loved their native India dearly.
Universal brotherhood is therefore not the opposite of
nationalism. A planetary commonwealth must be built with complete respect for each
nation. The affection for one’s country is an altruistic sentiment and flows on
the higher levels of consciousness, as long as it is combined with discernment.
Nationalism, which Helena Blavatsky praises in her
book “The Key to Theosophy” [2], is
a natural feeling. It must be noble and world-friendly. A healthy individual
has concentric circles of love for his family, his city, his country, for the
continent where he usually lives, for other countries around the world and
humanity. He also loves his planet and the entire Universe. These concentric
feelings are inseparable from each other.
The principles of mutual help and solidarity inspire citizens
of good will. World federalism and regional initiatives like the European Union
are beautiful ideas, but their political structures should not be worshipped.
Compassion and Mass Immigration
Europe, the “fifth continent” in esoteric philosophy,
is prosperous if compared to other continents. It has an ethical duty regarding
the poor nations of the world.
This does not mean that in order to fight injustice
European nations must open their doors indiscriminately to migratory waves that
would disrupt their sense of cultural identity. Compassion ought to be
practiced with discernment: social problems can only be healed if tackled by
their Causes, not their effects.
The right way for Europe to show solidarity regarding
the poor nations around the world is to actively promote economic and social
Equilibrium in international relations. Fighting migratory chaos and promoting
cooperation with Israel and Russia will be helpful. Humanity must get rid of
nuclear proliferation, Cold War, terror organizations and anti-Semitism.
It is not a bad idea to trace the capital investments
flowing behind Radical Islam, Islamic terrorism and anti-Israel “grass-roots”
movements. Compassion should not be accepted as an excuse to promote a migratory
chaos in Europe and around the world, or to accept terrorism: the very origin
and foundation of social injustice ought to be unmasked, instead.
People must be able to live with dignity in their own
countries in the first place. The international obligation of Europe and the
United States is not to open their borders: it is to help create right
international relations on the social, cultural, political and economic realms.
The Moral Duty of the Vatican
Let us see an example: the Vatican and its long-enduring
role in history.
The disproportionate treasures accumulated in the
Vatican are a perfect symbol of the social injustice practiced in previous
centuries.
One after another, the popes in Rome seem to care for
the poor. This is good. As soon as they become sincere, they will give the vast
Vatican treasures back to the nations from which they were stolen in colonial
times. The decision will demonstrate that the Vatican has real respect for the
teachings of Jesus, which recommend voluntary simplicity.
Francis of Assisi taught the same.
If Europe is still a largely Christian continent, it
must live up to its higher values. The riches of the Vatican may be used to
help promote a solidary economy around the world. The Bank of Vatican would do
well in abandoning its traditional practice of money-laundering and ceasing its
cooperation with the Mafia in Italy. Police authorities and Italian judges
might help the pope and his cardinals in taking steps in that direction. The
bank of the pope will do well in donating its money to projects stimulating
mutualism in poor nations, and ceasing its involvement with organized crime.
These are but a few examples of the many ways
Compassion and Discernment can inspire new policies in Europe, helping
eliminate the Causes of poverty and terror while unmasking the absurdity of
nuclear proliferation. A long-term peace must be built that is based on
unconditional justice, ethics and good will.
NOTES:
[1] “The Old New Land”, Theodor Herzl, Markus Wiener
Publishers, Princeton, 2000, 296 pp., see p. 289.
[2] “The Key to Theosophy”, Helena Blavatsky, Theosophy
Co., India, p. 44; in the edition of Theosophy Co., Los Angeles, see pp. 44-45.
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An initial
version of the above article was anonymously published at the July 2016 edition
of “The Aquarian Theosophist”, pp.
3-5, under the title of “The Ideal of a World Federation”. The text is also
published in our blog at “The Times of Israel”.
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