WHAT IS A REVERENCE FOR LIFE?

Dr. Schweitzer’s great quest to discover a grand unified theory of ethics was comprised of two segments; namely, an incontrovertible principle of ethics that was spiritually created and derived, resulting in a terrestrial application that was without bounds, that could be applied, must be applied to every creature found on our shared home. 

Quite an undertaking, to say the least. 

Our last blog explored the spiritual portion or foundation for this ethos, a foundation predicated upon acknowledging mankind’s link with the marvel of creation, which leads inexorably to proclaiming our link with the Creator.

But what then?

For the great doctor, life is to be lived, humanity is to be involved intimately with all life.  

The kindly humanitarian left us much guidance as to the form our involvement should take, often placing such guidance within the many definitions he composed of a reverence for life.  

Let’s commence with this one:

“The ethic of a reverence for life is the ethic of love widened into universality.   It is the ethic of Jesus now recognized as a necessity of thought. ”

And further:

“In loving self-devotion to other life, we realize our spiritual union with [the Creator].”

By adopting a reverence for life as our ethic, we shoulder a sacred duty of involvement with that life, of caring, nurturing, protecting, enhancing life.

We demonstrate our possession of the love of Jesus by sharing that love, conferring it on all beings who cross our path.

And as the great doctor notes, in so doing we solidify and magnify  our nexus to the Creator, which results in a greater spiritual connection, then our providing even more love: a virtuous circle if ever one existed.

Next up: a bit more granularity.