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In recognition of the Paris Declaration, which was signed on November 12, 1995, the United Nations instituted November 16 as the “International Day for Tolerance”. The date was chosen to pay tribute to the signing of UNESCO’s constitution in 1945....

Temple of Divine Ecumenism

The time is coming when we shall all understand the importance of having a fruitful and fraternal spiritual, social, religious, political, scientific, philosophical, sporting, and so on, interrelationship. This is a survival strategy, which finds...

Globalization and pluralism

In Reflexões da Alma (2003) [Reflections of the Soul] I wrote that in a globalizing world that so often crushes respectable traditions underfoot, it is prudent not to ignore the pluralism that exists in every nation, and even in small...

Ecumenism

Human Beings Were Created for Life

Article published in the "Diário Popular" newspaper in São Paulo, Brazil, in January 1998.

Human beings must be proud of existing and tirelessly fighting for Life, as they triumph over themselves in such a way as to conquer their spiritual dignity forever, “the treasure that thieves do not steal and neither moth nor rust destroys” (The Gospel of Jesus according to Matthew 6:19 and 20).

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André Luiz

“A winner is he who triumphs over himself,” advocates André Luiz (Spirit). God, who is Life, created individuals for Life. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) said that repetition is the best figure of rhetoric.

Tela: Jacques L. David (1748-1825)

Napoleon Bonaparte

It is good to reiterate this warning from Jesus: “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Because you do not believe in this you are badly mistaken” (The Good News of Christ according to Mark 12:27).

This is why when death reaches them, they do not inherit eternal oblivion or idleness from it, but more and more Life. . . God did not create us to kill us.

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Graham Greene

In his meditations Graham Greene (1904-1991), the famous English writer, concluded hopeful that “our world is not the whole Universe. Perhaps there is a place where Christ is not dead.”

Now, we know for sure that this splendid dimension is a reality. The Master Himself left in His Gospel according to John 14:1 to 3 this comforting revelation for His followers that, over the millennia, they should persevere until the end:

“Jesus comforts the Disciples
Tela: James Tissot (1836-1902)

 “1 Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.

“2 In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

“3 And when I go, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

Before and after Life there is Life. Say no to suicide!

Tela: Rembrandt (1606-1669)

Paul

Those who seek suicide succumb to error, because death will dazzle the eyes of those who seek the shadow of intended inaction with more light, in other words, with more Life, and severely hold them accountable for former commitments they assumed. Before and after Life there is Life and the incorruptible laws that universally govern it.

Let us remember the warning of the Apostle Paul: “God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Epistle to the Galatians 6:7).

The biggest reform of all: that of human beings

The Earth is very beautiful! It invites us to succeed. But human beings have not always known how to respect it. For this reason, the essential reform is that of human beings themselves. In this end of cycle, this urgently needs to precede other reforms. That is why Education with Ecumenical Spirituality is so important, since it is the safest step a nation can take in favor of the freedom of its people, because the more ignorant they are the more enslaved they will be.

Life is a daily conquest. A lesson of Accomplishing Faith requested at every moment, so that we do not fall into idleness, the mother and father of the worst ills that ravage the Spirit and consequently make the physical and social body sick.

In fact, it is not enough to have acted well yesterday. It is necessary to do better today and even more gloriously tomorrow.

Stagnant water: mud. An idle life: hell.

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Schopenhauer

These words by Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) are very much to the point: “‘Life consists in movement,’ says Aristotle, obviously with justification; and just as our physical life consists in and persists through continuous movement, so also our inner, mental life constantly demands occupation, occupation with anything, through action and thought.”

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Goethe

Goethe (1749-1832) observed that “a useless life is an early death.” 

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Oliver Goldsmith

And Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) suggests: “Like the bee, we should make our industry our amusement.” God is the Creator of the Universe, Great Life, in which all His creatures survive. The Cosmos, therefore, is dynamic. In His Gospel according to John 5:17, Jesus, the greatest of thinkers, sums it all up: “My father works unceasingly.”

Hubble & NASA

In these times of pronounced transition, no country will be able to develop without promoting Social and Sustainable Development, Education, Culture, Art, and Sports with Ecumenical Spirituality, so there may be Socio-environmental Awareness, Food, Security, Health, and Work for everyone, in the awakening of the Planetary Citizen in them.

Human existence without productive activity and leisure is death itself for citizens.

José de Paiva Netto is a writer, journalist, radio broadcaster, composer, and poet. He is the President of the Legion of Good Will (LGW), effective member of the Brazilian Press Association (ABI) and of the Brazilian International Press Association (ABI-Inter). Affiliated to the National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Union of Professional Journalists of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the Union of Writers of Rio de Janeiro, the Union of Radio Broadcasters of Rio de Janeiro, and the Brazilian Union of Composers (UBC). He is also a member of the Academy of Letters of Central Brazil. He is an author of international reference in the concept and defense of the cause of Ecumenical Citizenship and Spirituality which, according to him, constitute “the cradle of the most generous values that are born of the Soul, the dwelling of the emotions and of the reasoning enlightened by intuition, the atmosphere that embraces everything that transcends the ordinary field of matter and comes from the elevated human sensitivity, such as Truth, Justice, Mercy, Ethics, Honesty, Generosity, and Fraternal Love.”