Miroslav Volf, like many people in our modern world, believe that once humans set their minds to something, they can achieve it. Even as a devoted Christian, Volf cannot help but have this humanist ideology seep into his own theological viewpoints. In his book Flourishing: Why We Need Religion in a Globalized World, Volf takes on the task to reconcile market-driven globalization and world religions because he believes each has something to offer the other. Globalization, for all its apparent benefits—world connectivity, people are getting richer, a faster and more efficient spread of revolutionary ideas, and more—there are some downsides, most which happen exactly in line with those same benefits. Fear, terrorism, a noticeably disconnect of
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He advocates the desirable idea of one religion needing to respect another, as opposed to fighting them, to keep the general peace in a world with so many religious options. To back the claim that this can be done, Volf believes that all world religions have some notion of the Golden Rule, and, when it comes to the sharing of faith, we should live by that principle (Volf 117). He quotes Matthew 7:12, a verse he says all World Religions can get on board with. “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (English Standard Version). He uses this in his argument about the need for religions to tolerate other religions, as they would like to be …show more content…
He simplifies religions into a handful of elements (Volf 68-69), and highlights the noble qualities and most of the time downplays the gaps in their theology or practice. Again, not every follower exemplifies the religion’s ideals through their actions. However, even just looking at the theology of a religion on its own, he assumes many are even about the business of bringing good to the world. In seems to me, though religions certainly desire good health, basic food, shelter, and clothing, ect. for all people, in religions like Christianity, your ultimate allegiance is to God first, not those physical needs. Yes, ordinary life is recognized by religion as important, but it does not matter one bit when put up against heavenly things. In fact, a component of all world religions is that “Human beings can attain the good even if they fail to achieve health, wealth, and longevity” (Volf 69). The few good parts of globalization that Volf suggests are helpful to faiths, are not really their primary concerns. What takes precedence often is “what is true, just, and good for all human beings, irrespective of their local cultures” (Volf 68). Religions, more so Eastern religions, are not primarily “Red Cross” organizations about helping people—they are means for salvation. Hinduism, for instance, might view helping a poor person as infringing upon their ascent into a higher form in their next
He advocates the desirable idea of one religion needing to respect another, as opposed to fighting them, to keep the general peace in a world with so many religious options. To back the claim that this can be done, Volf believes that all world religions have some notion of the Golden Rule, and, when it comes to the sharing of faith, we should live by that principle (Volf 117). He quotes Matthew 7:12, a verse he says all World Religions can get on board with. “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (English Standard Version). He uses this in his argument about the need for religions to tolerate other religions, as they would like to be …show more content…
He simplifies religions into a handful of elements (Volf 68-69), and highlights the noble qualities and most of the time downplays the gaps in their theology or practice. Again, not every follower exemplifies the religion’s ideals through their actions. However, even just looking at the theology of a religion on its own, he assumes many are even about the business of bringing good to the world. In seems to me, though religions certainly desire good health, basic food, shelter, and clothing, ect. for all people, in religions like Christianity, your ultimate allegiance is to God first, not those physical needs. Yes, ordinary life is recognized by religion as important, but it does not matter one bit when put up against heavenly things. In fact, a component of all world religions is that “Human beings can attain the good even if they fail to achieve health, wealth, and longevity” (Volf 69). The few good parts of globalization that Volf suggests are helpful to faiths, are not really their primary concerns. What takes precedence often is “what is true, just, and good for all human beings, irrespective of their local cultures” (Volf 68). Religions, more so Eastern religions, are not primarily “Red Cross” organizations about helping people—they are means for salvation. Hinduism, for instance, might view helping a poor person as infringing upon their ascent into a higher form in their next