We want to know how our universe exists and have come a long way from the mystical beginnings of the study of cosmology and the origins of the universe. Most hypotheses only led to more intriguing and complex questions. We have Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and the mythology that Adam and Eve were created by God to be the first humans and of course, the explosion from nothing… the Big Bang.
It does not matter to me how this world comes about but it saddens me that the selfish gene in man is setting its roots deeper and deeper into humanity and becoming one of savage competition, ruthless exploitation, deceit and survival of the fittest. Richard Dawkins’ book ‘The Selfish Gene’ touches every aspect of social lives, loving and hating, fighting and cooperating, giving and stealing, greed and generosity. Dawkins shows that the selfish gene is also the subtle gene. If society is one of universal ruthless selfishness, then it is certainly a very nasty society in which we live. Unfortunately, no matter how much we may deplore, it does not stop it from being true. Malignant self love is the norm of society. I scratch your back, you scratch mine. How sad indeed…..
The Catholic Church teaches social justice as a respond to the cause of problems and social charity as a respond of the effects of problems. Justice in the world developed by a Synod of Bishops in November 1971 signed by Pope Paul VI says that action for justice is a requirement of our faith and that action for justice must happen at all level. Social justice is respecting the transcendent dignity of man. Advocacy for social justice is to give a voice to those who have no voice. We are called to speak out, not chicken out!
Looking back, if God decrees it all, did He decree evil? Did He somehow allow evil to get its ugly hands on His beautiful world? Did He mean for evil to distort and destroy human lives? No Christian theology actually advocates evil but yet most Christians live with the notion ‘every man for himself’. We only need to remember the ecstatic “Sieg Heil” chanted as a ritual Hosanna to Hitler to know that many consented to the monstrous evils of the Nazi regime. Why??? In order to ensure their survival, they have no qualms to live an unauthentic life…. the very manifestation of the selfish genes.
Life is ambiguous. Has the Catholic Church with Her affluent, powerful and educated people become too self-centred and insensitive to other’s people’s plights? The survival of the fittest prevails among the elites. Without the grace of God, men would not know how to discern the often narrow path between the cowardice which gives in to evil and the violence which under the illusion of fighting evil only makes it worse. Only the practice of justice alone makes us capable of respecting others and their rights. How can we condone an appalling act just because we are beholden to certain people? We can’t hold hands with evil and rejoice with truth at the same time… that’s absolute antithesis. Truth is reality when it matches God’s purpose. Truth is a person whose acts and words blend to draw a profile of human life as God meant it to be lived. Can we call ourselves Christian if we live, acts and behave like a pagan? Can we truly answer to God and live with our guilty conscience for putting self before others? It’s time for us to look seriously at the ethic of reciprocity before we lost our basic fundamental moral value. It’s a sad, sad life, no doubt!
