At this critical juncture the religions should show the way. First of all they can resolve the tensions between the universal and the particular; the individual and the communal aspects of life. Only religions can do this. They can give life its meaning and goal and restore human dignity. Thus the identity crisis can be settled. They can remove the rising pessimism about the progress of humanity. They can demonstrate with their age-old wisdom that the problems faced by men and women today are not inevitable or unassailable. The world has survived grater calamities. They can offer human beings hope in the midst of frustrations. People shoutd be encouraged to use the potential resources of religion. Religions can show the transcendental dimension of life. They can
lead men and women from fantasy to reality, from selfishness to sacrifice, from dehumanization to re-humanization. Self-actualization or self-fulfillment is the goal of all religions. They can help people to adopt a simple life style and minimize their wants. This is the only way to fight a consumer culture. All religions have to cooperate with each other if we have to resist the forces of globalization and bring about a new humanity. Gone are the days of exclusivism, antagonism and rivalry. If mankind has to see the new millennium cooperation is the only way.
Global citizenship not only includes privileges but also responsibilities. The problems and challenges have to be faced by all. For solving the problems faced by the world, not only religions but all human institutions should work together. We should take a holistic and multidisciplinary approach in this regard. Our destinies are interlinked. It is not an anthropocentric, but a cosmotheandric understanding of the reality that can save the world. It is not a homogenized global culture, but a multitude of local cultural preferences and values which can facilitate the transition from today's society to that of the third millennium. Previously the slogan was "think globally and act locally." Now it should be "think locally and act globally." It is time too for us to become globally "proactive."
Do you agree with the statement of Abraham Oommen? Explain your answer.
