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Writer's pictureChetana Karla Shakti

The Future of Religion : Minimalism & Love

Updated: Oct 25, 2023



At the core of each religion there are some shared threads. Minimalism and love are two main concepts of each popular faith. While the actual appearances of these religions looks quite different there are commonalities in the core of them. These similarities are social rules which include observances and peace in public among all beings, as well as personal wellbeing practices including meditation, concentration, devotion, and faith. The social and personal practices of each religion help people reach their inner core. Even though every faith has many different characteristic like style of worship, hairstyle, wardrobe, places to pray, etc. I call those characteristics a religion's shape. Unfortunately people judge a religion by its shape versus where we should really focus "the core".


Minimalism


I define minimalism as living according to your needs rather than your wants. Needs are also very subjective differing from one person to another. Basic needs include necessities such as food, water, shelter, healthcare, education, safety, social connection, and emotional well-being, essential for human survival and well-being. For example, in Islam people have to own just what they need, and are expected to give away excess belongings and food. Every religion has a little bit of these principles. As far as I know, there are no religions that promote greed and wealth. In the pursuit of minimalism individuals and communities are encouraged to share the abundance of money, belongings, or food with others less fortunate. Minimalism is living simply only consuming and keeping what you need for living. To live in peace around the world will require minimalism. It will reduce consumption, economic inequality, and competition for finite resources which could potentially starve war and conflicts creating a more tolerant and global society. All religions aim for this result.


Love


I define love as thinking positively about everything and taking care of self and others where possible. Love is one of those things like minimalism that is in each religion. Love, like needs, is also subjective. In Islam, for example, if you cut a tree you are likened to killing many people. Across religions, the emphasis is on kindness, forgiveness, selflessness, and tolerance. To live in peace around the world will require love. If you feel and behave positively it will come back to you positively as well. All religions aim for this result.


Individual Motivations


Individual motivation is defined as personal development in terms of saving ourselves from our primitive nature. Like minimalism and love, it is very subjective and can include achieving the patience, perseverance, work ethic, and consciousness to achieve our goals and our dreams. This also leads us to self awareness. To live in peace around the world will require self awareness. By understanding our differences, our feelings, our good or bad characteristics, therefore we can tolerate the diversity among the people. (We can build a social piece)


Individual motivations aren't separate from the others, there is some relationship between them. If you aren't a well person you can't love anything and you can't be a minimalist. An individual you cannot create minimalism and love.






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