It is amazing to reflect upon how interwoven our lives are.

The Catholic Church sex abuse scandal demonstrates the vulnerability of conservative institutions to liberal laws that allow morally questionable practices to flourish. The vulnerability of religious leaders serving within conservative institutions working in societies where liberal lax permissive laws allow morally questionable behavior to flourish provides justification of fear.

Citizens living in Middle East ultra-conservative religious societies may have fear concerning spiritual consequences of negative influences allowed by free democratic societies. The Catholic Church sex abuse scandal may demonstrate that individuals as well as institutions can be infected by viral like immorality

All major religions have central themes.

A religious institution needs an authoritarian structure to uphold God’s law. God’s law and morality is not a matter of public debate. God’s law and morality is not something that can be decided by a public poll.

Laws of the Catholic church that forbid priest to marry assert the human spirit can supernaturally triumph over natural physical laws that govern the universe. In a perfect universe the human spirit should be able to triumph over natural physical laws of the universe with God’s help.

However, we do not live in a perfect world with perfect people. Daily exposure to immorality may have a negative effect upon the human spirit.

Another central theme found in most religions is ‘what goes into a man does not corrupt a man’s soul, but what comes out of a man can wreak a man’s soul and cause complete spiritual ruin’. Ultimately, society cannot be blamed for innate sinfulness in-built into the human soul. Free democratic societies encourage individuals to take responsibility for behavior and work on personal spiritual problems.

Strict authoritarian religious structure can create a forced mechanical rote response to developing a better stronger relationship with God or Allah. Spirituality is enhanced by an openness and willingness to explore profound spiritual issues. In a free democratic society human pride is tested and broken down better than in any other more controlled authoritarian society.

Strict authoritarian ultra conservative societies try every way possible to protect vulnerable people. Strict authoritarian ultra conservative societies try every way possible to help vulnerable people dwell only upon what is good and pure. Texts of sacred scripture admonish a person to avoid evil and dwell only upon what is right, good, and pure to overcome sinfulness of the flesh.

Free democratic societies that allow less strict authoritarian more liberal moderate practice of spirituality do not necessarily conflict nor completely diverge from belief systems of ultra conservative societies that exercise more authoritarian control. At some point, free democratic societies that allow practice of more moderate forms of spiritually share complementary goals with ultra conservative religious societies.

An examination of patterns found in history provide support for the belief that God or Allah is actively working to accomplish His Divine will on earth. The Spirit of Truth and Discernment attest that what God has allowed to happen must fit within God’s Divine Plan. Logically, belief in an omnipotent omniscient God or Allah dictates acceptance of the assertion that what God has allowed to happen must fit into God’s Divine Plan.

The Catholic Church canonized Joan of Ark as a saint. Joan of Arks brave actions created a new social and political atmosphere in France. John Locke was from France. John Locke helped shape the ideas of the founding fathers in the United States.

Should we now choose war to destroy what God has accomplished within the human heart? Can we not choose cooperation and commitment to ultra conservative values found within the ultra conservative Muslim society of Iraq? Cannot love for one’s neighbor and fellow man prevail?

It is amazing to reflect upon how interwoven our lives are. If not for the brave actions of Joan of Ark, today I may be prohibited from making the following assertion:

My understanding of the term Jihad is a spiritual conflict with the earthly physical nature of the material world after receiving messages from God in prayer. If the soul of an individual is in a peaceful nonviolent conflict with the world, than the concept of Jihad implies freedom of speech.

The great Muslim Prophet Muhammad, who founded the Islamic religion, may have been an early freedom fighter.

The early battles of Islam may have stymied the growth of cruel barbaric practice occurring during the Inquisition. The curbing of unusually cruel barbaric practice occurring during the Inquisition provides solid ground to believe the great Islamic Prophet truly received a Divine message from the Archangel Gabriel.

The curbing of unusual cruel barbaric practice occurring during the Inquisition may be considered a great service and contribution provided by Islam. The world may be very different today if Islam did not intervene.

My writing these complimentary words about the historical origins of Islam may have resulted in myself being drawn on a rack and gutted if not for the brave actions of Joan of Ark.

Bookmark this page now, than click here to read the entire feature article entitled, My Two Cents: A Peace Proposal No One on Earth May have Contemplated Yet.

About the Author

Author byline and Bio: Mark Gaffney is a contributing freelance writer. Mark has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a concentration of coursework in physiology, biology, and computer science. Mark is in the process of trying to start a new Not-for-Profit Foundation entitled, Wonderful Life Foundation. Mark plans to submit his online work as a thesis project to earn his Doctorate (PhD.) degree and officially become a Nanotechnology Sociologist. Bookmark this page now and click here to review preliminary plans for organizational development of Wonderful Life Foundation currently published on www.ServeNet.org. ServeNet.org, Idealist.org, and Network-for-Good.org are associated with the government web site portal, www.freedomcorp.gov, an initiative of President George W. Bush to promote volunteerism and provide services to help Not-for-Profit organizations.