Confronting Fundamentalism

The events which transpired in Norway this past week are deeply disturbing and horrifying.  The portrait emerging in the news is of a madman so devoted to his own twisted ideals that he could kill so coldly; he clearly feels no remorse, no shame, and no compassion for his victims. So in thrall was he with his vision of a 'perfect' Norway - a white Norway - that he meticulously devoted his resources, time, and energy to fulfilling his own messianic role in a "cleansing" of political elements not in line with his vision of the world.  Shades of fascism rearing their heads within our world yet again.

Last night I watched Rex Murphy of the CBC present a passionate and indignant response to these events.  I kept waiting for him to connect the powerful dots of his arguments to the bigger picture.  He did not.  I was very disappointed.  He wanted to individulize this event, and not turn it into a "political football" (his words).  At the same time, by avoiding the clear racial and ethnic dimensions involved in these acts, he weakened his own moral position.  I wonder if he would have individualized these attacks if a Muslim had committed them in the name of Islam.  I am not so sure - but this remains my speculation in light of the deep bias that is often at work in situations such as these.

In fact, in the hours that followed the attacks, the media were already (erroneously) suggesting that these acts were committed in the name of Islamic fundamentalism.  It's always uncomfortable for the West to examine the shadow of its own culture - its own fundamentalism, racism and hatred.  The fundamentalisms at work in our world today mirror each other.  Fundamentalism and extremism are the scourges tearing at the fabric of unity, diversity, love and compassion - regardless of whether these beliefs are being exercised by a Muslim or a Christian.

Our task, as a global populace both individually and collectively, is to transform fundamentalism and extremism.  There are, and will continue to be, disagreements about how to best do this - and about the degree of cultural openness a society can expand towards while honouring the paradoxical aim to preserve cultural traditions and values.

The symbol of this task is best embodied not in a particular religious symbol, but in the sacred and universal symbol of the circle.  Each individual sits in the circle in their full integrity, but the circle can ever expand to hold more difference and diversity without erasing the identity of its participants. Indigenous cultures - ones which were often subject to the kind of  ethnic "cleansing" the Norwegian extremist espoused - often practiced the wisdom and truth of the circle that the world so desperately needs today. 

The circle is inherently inclusive, loving and infinite - without beginning or end.  It envelops us all in an embrace of belonging, as our deepest source of belonging does not reside with our families or even our cultures, as central as these forms can be to our identity.  First and foremost, we belong to the earth and to all that is - to this great cosmic mother whose various creative chemical and biological permutations through billions of years resulted in the extraordinary event of each one of our births.  When we deny this truth, our hearts shrink and close, and we become more intent on control and perfection. The identification with an ideal that lives outside of the earthly realm becomes a fantasy of "purity."

United in the truth of our deep connection with the earth, our hearts can expand to receive and honour all of life.  In so doing, we can hold an ever increasing consciousness of the truth of diversity.  Diversity supports life - it is at the heart of the life process itself. 

May this wisdom come forth to guide us through the rocky storms ahead.